Countdown to Ky Lake

[elnutsmalljaws]

I have fished Ky and Barkley 3-4 days each if the past 3 weeks. Fished North Ky on LBL side, south Ky down to Byrd Bay and North Barkley. Caught fish everywhere but this is the weirdest April I have ever seen. Catchemall (my Billy Westmoreland Champ Partner), his buddy Paul (REMEMBER WOODS AND WATER GUIDE SERVICE WHEN BLOOD RIVER ALMOST BECAME "BLOOD" RIVER", had days when it was 86 degrees. This past weekend and yesterday it was winter gear 39 degrees to start and nothing came off. 99% of the fish came in water 5 feet or deeper on jigs, shaky head and Texas rigged lizards. I fished with my buddy 3sons this weekend and we absolutely hammered the fish on humps and ledges in the mouths of the bays. The fish are so confused they don't know what to do. 3 weeks ago water temps were 73, 2 weeks ago they were 68 and yesterday morning they were 62. I personally had 22 off one hump and 57 off another hump on Saturday and totaled 119 myself for the day. It is like it is May because they were stacked on the humps. We had right at a 100 on Sunday and 40 yesterday in only 3 hours. Very few flowers in the water and it will take another foot for the flower bite and no shot at flipping the buck brush because you can walk on the bank between the brush and water line. For the first time in all my trips there, my boat stayed on Barkley the whole time. The fish are everywhere and you have to adjust. First trip it was jigs and shaky heads and I could not but a bite on a lizard. Second trip, jig, shaky head and lizard. This trip EVERY fish came on t rigged lizard. 5-8 was biggest with 4 fish over 5. Saturday was my personal best day with 119 total, probably 40 keepers, 20.5 lb sack, and a ton of 3-3 1/2 pounders off that one hump.

Best part, fishing wise, was hammering 22 fish around my marker bouy inside Poplar Creek with about 15 BFL boats watching Saturday morning with 16lbs in the boat before pulling up bouy and moving. Then that afternoon catching 3 pounder after 3 pounder on the hump where 57 more came to the boat. For 2 straight hours every cast was either a fish coming in, setting the hook or getting hung up. I know exactly where about 30 pieces of 3/8 tungsten sinkers and 2/0 Gama hooks are. The wind was blowing so hard that lighter sinkers would not get in the brush and produced nothing.

Best parts, non-fishing was spending time with my buddies 3sons(Mike), Bassman30(Mark), Catchemall(John) and his buddy Paul. Plus there was that Blood River minor incident with a GUIDE that almost landed me in jail and Blood in Blood River but that is another story that Catchemall will have to tell because the blind RAGE that I was in fogs my memory

[TR21Bassin]

Good luck and have fun and be careful.

Probably won't be any flowers in the water and you'll have some company with USA Bassin Classic out of KY Dam Thursday and Friday, about 225 boats.

[swimjigboy]

I know will have to learn to fish different. And we are moving mid-week to cadiz to get away from the classic.

Good luck and have fun and be careful.

Probably won't be any flowers in the water and you'll have some company with USA Bassin Classic out of KY Dam Thursday and Friday, about 225 boats.

[bigwormy]

Im heading down saturday night for my annual trip. i to go first week of may so i can flip bushes and buzz flowers and bushes. hopefully God will make it rain!!!

[skeeterjames]

Where are you staying at when you get down there? Are you fishing Barkley or KY?

Was hoping for the bushes as well, but doesnt sound favorable. Talked to a buddy who was down last week and he said just pick how you wanted to catch them. They caught them shallow as well as deep, front to back. He said the fish are so confused from this weather they dont know where to go or do. LOL

[oktex56]

Hi all,

First post and wanted to let you all know this is the best info. I have seen on searching KY Lake. Thanks to all.

I have fun fished all my life and just joined a bass club this year. (Tri-County Bass out of IL) We have a tournament at KY Lake this weekend 28-29 out of Country Club Marina off Jonathon Creek.

I have gone to KY Lake for past 7 years out of southern end Mansard Marina and love this lake! We usually camp and have a group who fishes crappie and bass. Always a blast.

I am super pumped about this tournament and am paired with a semi-pro who won here last year and is a good friend.

I usually whack em in the button brush and back of bays but sounds like water level may keep this pattern out of bounds. I am sure we will find em and do well based on all the intel above.

I never heard the term flower bite but instantly knew what you were talking about. In the past the water levels always were going crazy this time of year. Different story this time so it will be interesting.

I hope to add info and learn from all of you and thanks again.

oktex56 aka Steve

[bigwormy]

Where are you staying at when you get down there? Are you fishing Barkley or KY?

Was hoping for the bushes as well, but doesnt sound favorable. Talked to a buddy who was down last week and he said just pick how you wanted to catch them. They caught them shallow as well as deep, front to back. He said the fish are so confused from this weather theyse dont know where to go or do. LOL

I'll be fishing Barkley. We are staying at the relax inn at Kuttawa. My dad and brother are coming as well. We Will put in at kuttawa everyday. My buddies are ther now. They are catching them good cranking. Saw some nice pics. They fished with Dave last year too. I will be with Dave on Monday. If I get to it, I will post from phone each night. My daughter must have the iPad so I can't take it with me

[skeeterjames]

Call or Txt me if you can with a report on Monday. Have a great trip and don't sore lip all of them.

Skeeter
6065717281

[swimjigboy]

we also are staying at relax inn sat - tues then going to cadiz the rest of week. We will be the white and red rangerz19 and white chevy avalanche. LOL

I'll be fishing Barkley. We are staying at the relax inn at Kuttawa. My dad and brother are coming as well. We Will put in at kuttawa everyday. My buddies are ther now. They are catching them good cranking. Saw some nice pics. They fished with Dave last year too. I will be with Dave on Monday. If I get to it, I will post from phone each night. My daughter must have the iPad so I can't take it with me

[bigwormy]

Awesome. ill b staying there sunday thru thursday. ill be in a white denali and white and green commanche unless the boat shop dont get done with it today..lol.. gonna be in my buddies nitro if not! Ill look u up! Good luck.. and james, ill shoot u text.

[dcbasser]

Fished Ky last week Mon - Thursday. Hammered the fish but like Elwood said been the oddes patterns in the four years that I have been there. Water temps would drop 5 degrees at night, fish would back off and we would catch them anywhere between 8 to fifteen feet.Shakey heads and creature baits dragged slowly and they just absolutly crushed them. People were beating the banks to death waiting for them to pull up but it never happened while i was there. Caught well over 150 and lots of 3lb + fish. Greatest lake in the world in my opinion . Can't wait to go back. Elwood sorry I missed you there would have been great to see you.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Fished Ky last week Mon - Thursday. Hammered the fish but like Elwood said been the oddes patterns in the four years that I have been there. Water temps would drop 5 degrees at night, fish would back off and we would catch them anywhere between 8 to fifteen feet.Shakey heads and creature baits dragged slowly and they just absolutly crushed them. People were beating the banks to death waiting for them to pull up but it never happened while i was there. Caught well over 150 and lots of 3lb + fish. Greatest lake in the world in my opinion . Can't wait to go back. Elwood sorry I missed you there would have been great to see you.

I stayed at Poplar Creek Lodge and for the first trip EVER my boat never left Barkley. Put in at Poplar Creek and ran a grand total of 8 gallons of gas in 3 days. We will have to plan a trip down. I am going back down Sat, Sun and Mon in hopes of catching 1 or 2 more