May 1, 2008
Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Ky Dam - 358.95 Surface Temperature - 63
Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 359.15 Surface Temperature - 63
Both lakes are at summer pool. Both lakes have continued to fluctuate levels between summer pool and nearly a foot below summer
pool since the flood waters were drawn down two weeks ago. This is especially true on Ky Lake. Hopefully the TVA will get the waters stabilized but the
forecast for the next two days on Ky shows it to be going back down again about 6 inches tomorrow. We had a nasty cold front come thru the lakes area
earlier this week and the water temperatures dropped 4-5 degrees after the frontal passage. This drop in water temperatures moved a lot of the Largemouth
that were shallow and nearing spawn back out to deeper water on the lead in channel banks off the spawning areas. Some fish are spawning and the fish that
did spawn earlier are now on post spawn patterns and mixing in with the prespawn fish on the lead in banks back off the spawning areas. We are catching fish
in these areas that are spawned out and fish that are full of eggs ready to move back to spawn. Between fluctuation water levels and water temperatures
below normal the Largemouth spawn this year is being drawn out and there should be numbers of spawning Largemouth as late as the middle of this month which
is of course, unusual, but then again this has not been a very usual year weather wise. The Crappie folks are reporting that the Crappie spawn has peaked
but there are still a number of spawning Crappie being taken shallow although not in the numbers reported last week. Like the Largemouth, there will
probably be some late spawning Crappie due to the weather and water conditions we have experienced this spring. We have high winds today and more forecasted
for tomorrow and Saturday with some severe storms in the tomorrow's forecast. If you are going on the lakes tomorrow be very careful. The Sunday
forecast is post frontal with temperatures back in the 60's. The current outlook for next week is promising with temperatures in the high 70's and
low 80's.
Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass are being taken on the spawning flats in the coves and backs of the creeks and bays as well as
on the lead in creek channel banks and associated secondary points off the spawning areas. The Largemouth fishing slowed a little with the cold front
passage earlier this week but is getting back on track with the water warming back up. The fish on the lead in banks are being taken with crankbaits,
Carolina and Texas rigged lizards and creature baits, jigs and shaky head worms. The late prespawn fish near the buck brush are being taken on topwater
lures, lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, Texas rigged lizards and creature baits, dead sticked worms and jigs.
Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth are on post spawn patterns and are being taken on main lake banks and points as well as the first
secondary points in the creeks and bays. These fish are being taken on jigs, tube jigs and Carolina rigged tubes and creature baits.
Some of the productive lures reported this week are: Chatterbuzz buzzbaits in white and black, Yozuri poppers in lemon/ghost
pattern, Bandit crankbaits in rootbeer/chartreuse and sexy shad, Strike King red eye shad in sexy shad, Hook Some Bass spinnerbaits in blue glimmer and
white, Charmer timber pups in green pumpkin and watermelon, Hook Some Bass baby brush hogs in green pumpkin, Zoom lizards in green pumpkin and
pumpkin/chartreuse, Zoom trick worm in watermelon/purple and Last Cast finesse jigs in green pumpkin with matching Net Baits paca craw trailer.
Crappie: Crappie are being taken early and late in the day on spawning banks in 3-4 ft of water by casting curly tail jigs and
road runners as well as by fishing curly tail jigs and minnows under bobbers. During the day the Crappie are being taken over brush piles in 6-10 ft of
water by casting curly tail jigs and road runners as well as by fishing with minnows under bobbers.
Bluegill/Shellcrakers: There have been reports of numbers of Bluegill and Shellcrackers moving shallow, especially around gravel
bottom spawning areas. These fish are being taken on crickets and worms fished under bobbers as well as by fishing the bottom with split shot rigs baited
with worms. The Bluegill and Shellcrackers are moving to spawn and good numbers of big fish should be coming in the next week or so.
Catfish: Channel Catfish are being taken on the old creek channels in the creeks and bays on bottom bouncing rigs baited with
shrimp and leeches. Some Channels are reported to be moving into the shallow rocky areas and are being taken on night crawlers fished on bottom and under
bobbers. The Channel Catfish should be moving into these rocky areas on both the main lake and in the creeks and bays very soon to begin their late prespawn
and spawning feed.
If you are in need of a guide for some fun bass fishing, tournament preparation, lake familiarization or technique instruction
don't hesitate to give me a call or drop me an email for one of my open dates. I have the following dates available in May, June and July:
May: Sorry I am booked up
June: 29, 30
July: Plenty of dates still available...call me
Now is the time to book your trip for the summer ledge fishing and grass fishing. Summer is a great time to take a trip focused
on how to eliminate water and find bass as well as learn how to find and fish the ledges. I do a lot of specialized learning trips and can tailor the trip to
meet your learning needs. Give me a call to discuss how I can help you improve your bass fishing. If you have not yet made your reservations for your fall
tournament preparation trip you should do so soon or you may not be able to get the date(s) you want.
Captain Dave Stewart
www.kentuckylakeguide.com
dave@kentuckylakeguide.com
270-354-5039
"Fish With a Professional"
www.kentuckylakeguide.com
dave@kentuckylakeguide.com
270-354-5039
"Fish With a Professional"











