April 29
2008
WATER LEVEL AT KENTUCKY DAM: 358.8
WATER LEVEL AT BARKLEY DAM: 358.9
KENTUCKY LAKE WATER TEMPERATURE: 65 DEGREES
LAKE BARKLEY WATER TEMPERATURE: 65 DEGREES
The water levels are finally down to normal levels
for this time of year and the fishing is reflecting this fact. The last
10 days have been the best Crappie fishing of the season with some limit
catches being taken on jigs cast to spawning structure. The size of the
fish has been excellent with several fish in the 2-3 lb. class being
caught. Make sure and check out our photo gallery for some recent photos
of these catches, click on photo gallery, click to enlarge and run slide
show. I’m afraid that the spawn will be short and sweet because of the
high water levels we experienced for several weeks, with much of it
taking place in water the fisherman could not get to. I would estimate
that the Black Crappie spawn is 95% complete and the White Crappie are
in their last few days. Although the spawn is nearly over some excellent
catches can still be accomplished by fishing post-spawn patterns. The
Bass fishing is picking up with the fish coming out of the heavy cover
with the falling water levels. The Bluegill and Redear are just starting
to bed-up and I would expect this fishing to be very good for the next
several weeks. The Channel Cats are also in their early stages of the
spawn with some of the big males starting to show up in shallow water.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: The fish have pulled out the heavy
cover with the water levels falling below summer pool recently.
Spinnerbaits, rattletraps, shallow running crankbaits, Texas rigged
plastics, and Carolina rigs are all producing good numbers of quality
Bass. Most of the fish are being taken in 2-7 feet of water in the backs
of the bays and creeks in front of the Buckbrush and Willows. We have
also taken some fish recently on topwater baits fished in spawning
areas. Some of the Bass have completed their spawn and have already
moved to the secondary points and are being taken on Carolina rigs and
split-shot rigs fished with soft plastics. From what I’ve witnessed
recently I would say the spawn is 40-50% complete with the remainder of
it taking place in the next couple of weeks.
SMALLMOUTH BASS: The Smallies have picked up
recently with most of the fish having completed their spawning activity
and the remainder in the final stages. Shakey-head worms, medium
running crankbaits, finesse jigs, and Carolina rigs fished on pea gravel
points and chunk rock on the main lake have been the best producing
areas.
CRAPPIE: The majority of the spawning activity is
over but good strings can still be taken by fishing the flats, creek
channel ledges, and the mouths of the bays and the creeks. I would
expect the Crappie to improve as they recover from the spawn and start
to feed up for the next several weeks. Remember fishermen good catches
of Crappie can still be taken in the summer months if you know where and
how to fish for them. Chartreuse twister tails on 3/32 and 1/8 oz.
jigheads have been the best producing baits.
BLUEGILL and REDEAR: The spawn is in the early
stages with the big males just starting to color up and move onto their
spawning beds. The size of the fish this year should run larger than
normal and the next 30 days should produce some fantastic fishing.
CATFISH: The Channels are just starting to spawn
and the next few weeks will provide some exciting action on medium-lite
tackle fished in shallow water.
Remember fisherman to get your reservations in for
May and June as we have only limited openings.
Bass fisherman if you would like to learn how to
ledge fish in open water give us a call and let us instruct you in some
of the best fishing of the year. Some of the biggest fish of the season
will be taken from the end of May thru August so come on down and
experience this exciting angling action for largemouth and Smallies.
“HOPIN TO STRETCH A LINE WITH YOU SOON”
Capt. Kevin “Fish” Frey |
