Kentucky Lake/Barkley Lake fishing report — Dave Stewart — August 20

August 20, 2009 by admin

August 20, 2009

Kentucky Lake: Water Elevation at Ky Dam – 357.65 Surface Temperature – 83
Lake Barkley: Water Elevation at Barkley Dam – 357.80 Surface Temperature – 83

Both lakes are about one and one half feet below summer pool and on a slow drawdown. Both lakes are on schedule with the Tennessee River Operating Schedule and the present TVA forecast is for the lakes to be nearing 357 elevation by midnight Saturday. We have a cold front pushing toward the lakes region and according to the forecasts should pass through the area sometime tomorrow evening. The forecast for the weekend is for sunny skies and highs in the upper 70’s on Saturday and low 80’s on Sunday. We have been experiencing pop up thunderstorms the past few days, especially in the afternoon and evening hours and this is forecasted to continue through tomorrow. The Largemouth Bass fishing has been pretty much the same as last week, that is slower moving baits like the Carolina Rig and dragging football head jigs have been the more productive lures on the ledges with little current present during the day. There are some Largemouth still being taken in shallow water in the creeks and bays as they are feeding on schools of fry. Most of these shallow water fish are small fish but there are also some good keeper fish being taken also. The night bite for Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass continues to be reported as good on dark colored spinnerbaits and jigs on Kentucky Lake. Main lake points and rocky banks are reportedly producing some good night bass fishing. The White Bass fishing is being reported as fair during the day by fishing the creek and river channel ledges and adjacent flats with inline spinners and small spoons. There are a few jumps being reported on the flats just off the channels but they are short in duration.

Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass are being taken on the old river and creek channel ledges on the main lakes and around the mouths of the deeper creeks and bays. The main lake ledge bite seems to be the better bite lately. These fish are being taken on deep diving crankbaits, Carolina rigged creature baits and dead stick worms, dragging football head jigs and shaky head worms. Largemouth are also being taken on the primary points and secondary points in the creeks and bays, especially early and late in the day. These fish are feeding on schools of baitfish fry and are being taken on topwater lures, spinnerbaits, Texas rigged creature baits, tube jigs and finesse jigs. Largemouth are also being taken on the shallow flats in the creeks and bays, especially near wood cover and vegetation with topwater lures (early and late in the day), chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, Texas rigged creature baits and dead stick worms.

Smallmouth Bass: Some Smallmouth Bass are being taken during the day on the old river and creek channel ledges on the main lakes. These fish are being taken on Carolina rigged small creature baits and dragging football head jigs. The better Smallmouth bite is being reported at night on Kentucky Lake by fishing main lake points and rocky banks with dark colored spinnerbaits and jigs. Some good Largemouth are also being reported on this night bite pattern.

Some of the productive lures reported this week are: Lucky Craft Sammy in ghost pearl lemon, Yozuri spash-it with lemon back and ghost body, Storm chug bugs in black/chrome, Rapala DT series deep divers in grey pearl shad, Hook Some Bass spinnerbaits and vibe (chatterbait) in blue glimmer, Charmer timber pups in watermelon/purple, watermelon/candy and green pumpkin, Jewel football head jigs in gourd/craw and black/blue with matching Net Baits trailers and Last Cast wooly bug finesse jigs in green pumpkin and peanut butter jelly with matching Net Baits trailers.

White Bass: White Bass are being taken along the old river and creek channel ledges and on the adjacent flats with small spoons hopped off bottom and inline spinners fished vertically.

Catfish: Catfish are being taken along the old river channel ledges by fishing with yellow tail and cut baits on bottom rigs. The Catfish bite is being reported as slow with little current present on the lakes.

Bluegill: Bluegills are being taken around deeper docks, especially at night under lights by fishing with crickets and worms under bobbers. Some Bluegills are being taken off deep rocky banks and points by fishing with small jigs tipped with worms.

FLASH: If you have emailed me within the past few days and not received an answer it would be because I did not receive your email. The server that provides my email account has been going through and upgrade by Microsoft and there have been periods in which both my website and email have been down. Hopefully this situation is just about finished and my website and email will return to normal working order. In the meantime, if you have not received an answer to any email, please call me and I would be more than happy to answer your questions or book your trip over the phone.

If you are in need of a bass guide for some fun, catch and release bass fishing, tournament preparation, lake familiarization or technique instruction, drop me an email or give me a call. I have been doing a lot of the ledge teaching trips over the past couple of months and the feedback I am receiving from my past clients has been very positive. There is still plenty of ledge fishing left before the fish transition to fall patterns so if you would like to learn how to find the better ledges and learn the techniques used to catch the ledge fish, now is a great time to do so. This trip will not only teach you how to eliminate water to find the better ledges but also how to find the highest percentage spots during the other seasons of the year along with a lot of tips on techniques and patterns to increase your catch rate.

I have the following dates available for booking in August, September and October:

August: 26
September: 1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29
October: 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31

Of course I am taking reservations for November also as well as next season. November can be some of the best fall fishing as the schools of big fish feed up for the winter and the lakes are void of big tournaments and pleasure boaters. Give me a call now to book your November trips.

If you are now planning your trip down here for the fall fishing tournaments, I suggest you add to your check list a visit to one or both of our best tackle shops in the lakes area. Fisherman’s Headquarters located in Draffenville at the intersection of U.S.68/U.S. 641 and The Cabin Bait and Tackle located on U.S. 62 just west of Kuttawa are fully stocked with not only the latest in rods, reels and nationally known brand lures, but they also sport good selections of custom lures such as the Hook Some Bass, Charmer baits and Xcite lures among others you see mentioned in my weekly reports. You will also find the folks at these shops to be knowledgeable about bass fishing and you will receive the personal attention you can’t get in the big box stores.

Another item to put on your checklist is a visit to Jet-a-Marina located on U.S. 62 in Calvert City, just a couple of miles north of Ky Dam. Here you will find your favorite engine oil at the best bulk oil prices around as well as a service department that is dedicated to keeping you in the tournament if at all possible.

Capt Dave Stewart
Bass Buster Guide Service
dave@kentuckylakeguide.com
www.kentuckylakeguide.com
270-354-5039
“Fish With a Professional”

Share kentuckyfishing.com content!