Kentucy Lake question

[voeller101]

I've never fished Kentucky Lake before but I've wanted to for several years. My question is, how tough would you rate this lake for a first-timer? I consider my self a fairly competent fisherman (excluding trips to Laurel Lake). I've got a good GPS/depthfinder. Have quite a bit of experience fishing grass (shallow grass at Guntersville). Fish a lot of rock at Cumberland as well.

[buzzking]

Tough to find fish I assume is your question? For a lowland reservoir I would rate it a 2 (1 easiest/5 hardest) to find some fish. Now bigger fish is a different story. But if you are accustomed to fishing strictly highland lakes it takes some adjusting to. Like sitting a half mile from the nearest bank. Don't really get that at Laurel. Another thing about KY is season. From December to August the lake is fun. From Sept to November its spotty. I suggest going this weekend. The lake is low so most obvious places show themselves right now. If the wind doesn't get to rough this weekend you should be able to load the boat.

[offdtop]

To navigate can be dangerous even though the lake is as huge as it is, you can be in places in the middle of the lake right now get out of the boat and not get your rear end wet! Navigation aside if your a bank beater you can catch 'em, if your a structure guy you can catch 'em, I agree with BK I'd give it a 2 on his scale also, Timing is everything! To best get an idea you have to factor in the summer night bite, shad movement, spawn weather etc.. after hurricane Ike came through it politely ripped the grass up on a majority of the north end of the lake. So you had to hunt for grass, the further south you went the more you found. In my opinion you want fun - see if the yellow flowers bloom this year!! Others will tell you it is like a drug and you can't wait to be on the lake every minute you can when those boogers bloom.

Don't let the shear size effect you, study maps and make it smaller - Blood River is like a lake in itself, the same goes with Little Bear Creek, Big Bear/Malcolm/King creeks are all combined, Jonathan Creek is a huge area, fish it small and have fun, but be warned you'll be back.

[swimjigboy]

The 2 lakes down there are very different in each other and from any lakes I usually fish. The first time down I hated it! Then spring came, what dreams are made of. Listen to these guys they're right, Offdtop help me out a lot last year.
Very seasonal oriented and when the water comes up take a number!!!!!!!!!! And post spawn looks like a checkerboard of boats now. Been told march is best for the big girls! Look for warmin trends and the big ones move first.
My passion became obsession. Crowded yes, big yes, love it yes!

[Col Forbin]

The 2 lakes down there are very different in each other and from any lakes I usually fish. The first time down I hated it! Then spring came, what dreams are made of. Listen to these guys they're right, Offdtop help me out a lot last year.
Very seasonal oriented and when the water comes up take a number!!!!!!!!!! And post spawn looks like a checkerboard of boats now. Been told march is best for the big girls! Look for warmin trends and the big ones move first.
My passion became obsession. Crowded yes, big yes, love it yes!

I don't think it ever seems crowded here. Not until after memorial day. But even when there are alot of boats out, there is a ton of good fishing.

[Dave Stewart]

As far as crowded...that depends on the wind and how many tournaments are going on if you are fishing on a weekend....still bigger than any other water you will find east of the Mississippi other than the Great Lakes. As far as finding fish...if you know how to eliminate water you can do as well if the fish are biting....which they are most of the time but any lake can be tough on some days...even the best of them. The bite is very good right now.....especially in front of the numerous cold fronts coming thru..but it has been windy...just find you a place out of the wind and go fishing......plenty of ramps here.

Word of caution...if you get outside the navigation bouys...you better know where you are...or you may find yourself without a lower unit.
Dave

[elnutsmalljaws]

The wind makes these 2 lakes VERY dangerous at times. I will tell you that these lakes you will want to know which direction is is coming from and how hard it is blowing EVERY time you get on these waters. NNW wind direction is the worst, with SSE being a close second. The reason is that these 2 directions are the ones where the wind blows straight up or down KY Lake and a mere 10-15 mph wind can cause 2-4 footers, 20 mph and higher pretty much makes running Ky Lake with these 2 wind directions almost impossible and very dangerous. Seen and been on the lake with 20+ mph and the lake is rolling 6 footers in no time. The reason is very flat, very shallow water and STRAIGHT lake. Not like any other lake I ever fished in that the lake takes turns or has high mountains around. East and West winds don't make the lake running impossible but does blow straight into all the major bays off KY Lake on both sides of the lake. I think with the wind, when it blows, Ky Lake fishes like 4 lakes, North and South side of the lake and the LBL and West side because when it blows it is not just that simple to cross the lake or run the lake. When you do get either of the 2 worst wind directions and it blows hard, then North Barkley becomes a parking lot for this is where guys go to fish and get out of the NNW or SSE wind directions the most. Watch your map and stay in the channel on either of the lakes. You can be 200 yards from either side of the bank idleing right in the middle of some of the pockets and look down and be in 3 foot of water, or running the main lake right in the middle and see birds sitting right on top of the rock ledges. Pretty much both lakes are only at Summer Pool from about May thru August. I know there is only a 4 foot variation from Winter to Summer Pool levels during a normal year but 4 feet at Ky and Barkley is like 25 feet at Cumberland, 20 feet at Dale and Barren. I am amazed that how there are not as many boats left without lower units or totally busted up with all the joy boaters out in April and early May for I see people running all over in and out of the marked navigation channels. I for one navigate inside the navigation channels all year long when I fish these lakes. Best lakes in KY for greenfish and when they asked KVD at the Classic a couple of weeks ago to which lake was he looking forward to fishing the most this Elite Series year, his response was Ky Lake. He went on to say best ledge fishing lake in the Country.

[swimjigboy]

I agree better to trailer when possible. Also down 1st wk of may the last 2 years and couldn't believe the pleasure boaters. Sking all over little river, watch out, and huge boats running around and parked almost like they were trying to block the back of creeks in North Barkley. I'm trying to be careful as possible, then here comes some house flying bye. Yet the $50,000 bass boat is the one who loses a prop or the lower unit.
And I didn't mean anything bye the crowded part but the last 8 yrs every year gets worse. And that is everywhere but especially Barkley/KY lakes because the fishing first of all but ESPN doesn't help the crowded part! Still love the place!!!