Kentucky Lake: Water level at Ky Dam – 354.36 Surface Temperature – 43
Lake Barkley: Water level at Barkley Dam – 354.30 Surface Temperature – 43

Both lakes are at winter pool. The Largemouth continue to be mostly on winter patterns with the water temperatures still about 6 degrees below normal for this time in March. Some good fish are being taken though and it seems it is either feast or famine right now depending on the weather patterns. A fair bite was reported this past weekend but a cold front came through the area early in the week and high pressure took over the past few days. Some fish are still being taken but the bite slowed somewhat. The good news is the weather forecast. Daytime temperatures for tomorrow and the weekend is in the mid 50’s for the next two days and low 60’s by Sunday. Even better, the forecast for next week is for this warming trend to continue with highs in the mid 50’s to low 60’s next week. Of course this can change pretty quick this time of year, but we have our fingers crossed it reigns true…just a little more warming of the water and the bass should begin their early prespawn feeding. Crappie also are still being taken on winter patterns but like the bass, just a few more degrees should start the Crappie into their prespawn feeding, especially the Black Crappie which are the first to come in for spawn.

Largemouth Bass: Largemouth are being taken on main lake points and banks on suspending jerkbaits, slow rolled crankbaits and jigs. Largemouth are also being taken on secondary points and creek channel banks in the creeks and bays on suspending jerkbaits, slow rolled crankbaits, shaky head worms and jigs. Largemouth are also still being reported on shallow ledges on the main lake on blade baits and lipless crankbaits as well as jigs. Some Largemouth are also being taken in shallow water in the backs of some of the creeks and bays on warmer days on shallow running and lipless crankbaits. As one can see, there are a number of patterns that are working, and the consensus is that any of them may or may not be working on any given day right now. Some good fish are being taken but it is a matter of being on the right spot at the right time lately. The better bite has been late in the morning and early in the afternoon during the warmer part of the day.

Smallmouth Bass: Some Smallmouth are being reported on main lake points and channel banks on finesse jigs and curly tail grubs for the most part. One would expect these fish to get more active soon on jerkbaits and crankbaits.

Some of the productive lures reported this week are: Lucky Craft pointer in nishiki (clown), pearl ayu and table rock shad. Rapala shad raps in crawdad. Spro Little John crankbaits in spring craw. Bandit flat sided crankbaits in spring craw. Strike King red eye shad lipless crankbaits in black/red. Zoom finesse worms in green pumpkin and Charmer shaky head worms in green pumpkin blue on D&L shaky head jigs. Cripper black/blue finesse jigs and D&L baby advantage jigs in black/blue with matching trailer.

Crappie: Crappie are still being taken over brush piles along old creek channels on the main lake and in the creeks and bays. These fish are being taken in 15-20 ft zones and 8-12 ft zones by vertically jigging small jigs and by spider rigging small jigs and small minnows.

If you have not made your plans for your spring fishing trips, you need to do so now. If you are in need of a bass guide for some fun catch and release bass fishing, tournament preparation, lake familiarization or technique instruction, give me a call or drop me an email to book one of my open dates. I have the following dates available in March, April and May:

March: 25, 27, 30
April: Sorry, I am booked up.
May: 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 26, 27

If I am booked on a date you want, I would be happy to make a referral for you. Of course I am taking bookings for the rest of the season also, so get your summer and fall dates planned and give me a call. Now is a good time to book that trip this summer to learn how to find and fish the ledges.

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

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The lake level remains stable and the water is clear in the main lake. With the recent heavy rains anglers may find more turbid water conditions in the upper sections of the lake. Largemouth bass anglers are having the best success catching decent size fish after 9 PM on crankbaits, top water, and plastics around structure. It took just a fuzz under 9 pounds to win a bass tournament conducted last Saturday night at the lake and the tournament anglers reported good catches of bass within the slot limit (13-16 inch fish). Muskie fishing is fair using spinner baits at this time and should improve as temperatures get cooler. While at the lake, try fishing for smallmouth bass along the rocks located in Scotts Creek, along Rt. 801 from Scotts Creek boat ramp to the dam, and in the vicinity of the confluence of the Licking River and Beaver Creek. Amazingly, white bass are still in the jumps as anglers are reporting seeing small schools here and there lake wide. These jumps are not lasting long so be prepared. Try casting Silver Buddies or Kastmasters for white bass.

Fred R. Howes
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Recourses

Fred R. Howes
Fishery Biologist
Kentucky Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Res.
Northeastern Fishery District
120 Fish Hatchery Rd.

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Lake Elevation – 680.4 ft msl
Surface temperature – 79 F

Striped bass are hitting live bait drifted on planer boards or down rods 25-35 ft deep on the mid and lower lake. Also some early morning surface activity as schools of stripers have been in the jumps.

Written by John D.Williams, KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Res

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Surface temperature – 80 F
Good numbers of sub-legal bass are being caught on blue or black 10-inch plastic worms around deep water structures. Bass also being caught on shallow diving crankbaits on overcast/cloudy days and deeper diving crankbaits on sunny days. Pop-r’s and frogs are good early in the morning.

Bluegill fishing is fair on crickets, meal worms and wax worms and a few crappie are being caught on minnows.

Catfish fishing remains good on a number of baits including minnows, chicken livers, nightcrawlers, cut bait, and shrimp.

Written by John D.Williams, KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Res

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Walleye are active in the upper lake from Sportsman’s Paradise upstream. Fish at night under lights with a jigging spoon or lead head jig tipped with a night crawler or large leech. Several 20-inch plus fish have been caught. Crappie are also active and anglers are catching them in the creeks with standing timber fishing minnows 12-15 ft deep with slip corks.

Robert E. Rold
Fisheries Biologist – Prog. Coord.
Northwestern Fishery District
Kentucky Dept. Fish & Wildlife
1398 Hwy 81 N
Calhoun, KY 42327

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The lake level remains stable and the outflow below the dam has been reduced to 50 cfs. Water temperatures range from 77 degrees at the surface down to 74.0 degrees at 25 feet. Dissolved oxygen levels are good down to 15 feet. Largemouth bass continue being caught on plastics near weed beds in the late evening or during the night. Look for the weed beds to start dying back as we approach fall. Water temperatures are cooling off somewhat a head of what would normally be expected during this time of year so bass fishermen may want to start planning for their fall fishing earlier than normal. Muskie fishing is once again starting to pick up some as anglers are having success using spinnerbaits. If muskie fishing follows the trends seen during the fall of 2008 and spring/summer of 2009, look for some exceptional fishing coming this fall. Now is a good time to jug fish for channel and flathead catfish at the lake. Try using stink baits, chicken livers, or live bluegill.

Fred R. Howes
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Recourses

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Both lakes are two and one half feet below summer pool and on a slow drawdown. Expect the lakes to be drawn down another one half foot over the next couple of days. The lakes area, like most of the country has been under the influence of high pressure all week, with blue skies and beautiful days and cool nights. The forecast for the holiday weekend is for more of the same, with highs Friday and Saturday in the low 80’s and highs Sunday and Monday in the high 70’s. Night time lows are forecasted to be in the mid 60’s through the weekend. Light east winds are forecasted for the entire weekend. In other words, except for the possibility of a shower or two, we are looking at some really nice weather for the lakes area over the Labor Day weekend. Expect the lakes to be crowded this weekend, so please, be careful, be courteous and drive your boat defensively on the water. We have had entirely too many accidents and drownings on the lakes this year so let’s work to make this an accident free holiday.

As I mentioned in last week’s report, some shad are definitely moving and starting to stage around the mouths of the bays signaling the early stages of the transition to the fall fishing patterns. As is normal for this time of year, we have a myriad of bass patterns to choose from each day. We still have plenty of fish on the ledges but I am seeing a definite increase in the ledge activity around the mouths of the bays and on the primary points due to the shad movement. We also have bass being taken in the creeks and bays on secondary points and channel banks as well as bass being taken back on the shallow flats as they are feeding on schools of late shad fry and some early small transitioning shad. The ledge fishing has been somewhat slow in the mornings but is picking up in the afternoons when the current is being generated. The shallow fish are feeding best early and late in the day. Another indication that more shad are moving toward the bays is that some Smallmouth are now being taken early and late in the day on topwater lures fished on primary points and main lake secondary points. White Bass are still active on the main lake creek and river channel ledges but some Whites are also showing up around the mouths of the bays feeding on schools of shad. Some jumps of White Bass are being reported on the flats adjacent to the channel ledges early and late in the day. There also have been some reports of the Blue Catfish starting to school on the old river channels. I received some reports of Crappie now being taken on the old creek channels near the mouths of the bays also.

Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass are being taken on the old river and creek channel ledges as well as on primary points on Carolina rigged small creature baits, dragging football head jigs, shaky head rigs and drop shot rigs. Largemouth are also being taken on the secondary points and associated creek channel banks in the creeks and bays feeding on schools of mature shad fry. These fish are being taken on crankbaits, Carolina rigged small creature baits, shaky head rigs, finesse jigs and tube jigs. Largemouth are also being taken on the shallow flats in the creeks and bays on topwater lures, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, shallow running crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, Texas rigged worms and creature baits and dead stick worms.

Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth Bass are being taken early and late in the day on primary points and main lake secondary points on topwater lures, Carolina rigged small creature baits, finesse jigs and tube jigs. Smallmouth and Largemouth are also being taken at night on dark colored spinnerbaits and finesse jigs fished on primary points and secondary points on the main lake.

Some of the productive lures reported this week are: Lucky Craft Sammy in ghost pearl lemon, Spro bronze eye frog in black and green, Rebel Pop R in black/chrome, Strike King crankbaits in sexy shad, Bandit crankbaits in sexy shad and rootbeer, Strike King red eye shad in sexy shad and blue/chrome, Mann’s baby minus one in shad patterns, Hook Some Bass spinnerbaits in blue glimmer, Hook Some Bass vibe (chatterbait) in blue glimmer and chartruese/white, Charmer timber pups in green pumpkin, watermelon/purple and purple grass, Charmer shaky head worms in green pumpkin candy and watermelon/purple, Zoom trick worm on shaky head in green pumpkin, Yamamoto senko in green pumpkin/black, Jewel football head jig in gourd/craw and black/blue with matching Nets baits trailer, D&L baby advantage jig in black/blue with matching Net Baits trailer and Hook Some Bass tubes in green pumpkin, chameleon craw and smoke/purple.

Crappie: Crappie are being taken on the old creek channel ledges over brush piles and deep stake beds in 12-20 ft of water on small jigs and minnows on spider rigs.

White Bass: White Bass are being taken along the old river and creek channel ledges by fishing vertically with inline spinners and small spoons as well as on minnow rigs. Some White Bass are being taken in jumps early and late in the day on flats adjacent to the channel ledges by casting small crankbaits and inline spinners.

Catfish: Blue Catfish are reportedly being taken along the old river channels in 25-35 ft of water on yellow tails, large minnows and cutbaits fished on bottom.

Bluegill: Bluegills are being taken along rocky creek channel banks and off rocky points by fishing with small jigs tipped with pinched night crawlers and wax worms. Some Bluegill are being reported to be taken on gravel bars early and late in the day on worms and crickets fished on split shot rigs.

We would like to welcome everyone to the lakes to enjoy the Labor Day weekend. While you are here, stop by The Fisherman’s Headquarters located at the U.S. 68/U.S. 641 intersection in Draffenville and The Cabin Bait and Tackle located on U.S. 62 just west of Kuttawa. You will find everything you need to make your fishing holiday a success at both these great tackle shops as well as meet some of the friendliest and helpful in the lakes area.

I have received a lot of great feedback from some of my clients that have taken the ledge teaching class this summer. Thanks folks, it makes me feel good to know that I have been able to assist you in becoming more productive. There is still time to take the focused ledge teaching trip that I offer if you have a desire to learn how to find and fish the more productive ledges. I have dates open in September and there will still be fish on the ledges the whole month as well as into early October. If you have any questions about the focused ledge teaching trip, give me a call or drop me an email, I would be happy to talk to you about how to improve not only your ledge fishing but all your bass fishing during the different seasons of the year by taking this class.

If you are in need of a bass guide for some fun catch and release bass fishing, tournament preparation, lake familiarization or technique instruction, don’t hesitate to give me a call or drop me an email to book one of my open dates.

The fall fishing is quickly coming and November is prime time for the fall bass fishing. Make your reservations now, remember, I am a full time bass only guide and there is only one of me so make your reservation while I have open dates available.

I have the following dates available in September, October and November:

September: 9, 10, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28
October: 15, 16, 18, 26, 27, 31
November: Still plenty of dates available..give me a call or drop me an email.

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

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The main lake remains murky and the water level is stable at 1-inch above summer pool. Water temperatures range from 78 degrees at the surface to 74.5 degrees at 25 feet.  Dissolved oxygen levels are good down to 16 feet.  Muskie fishing has slowed greatly this week.  As fall approaches and the water cools some, try crappie fishing up theLicking River or in North Fork Creek. While up in this area you will find plenty of offshore structure along with channel drop offs to concentrate your fishing efforts.  Please be careful in these areas as there are lots of submerged tree stumps just below water level. The best way to access these areas are from either Bangor or Poppin Rock boat ramps.  Several ramps located around the lake require a fee in order to park or launch a boat so please check with the United States Forest Service prior to launching.  Largemouth bass are still being caught on plastics near weed beds in the late evening or during the night.  As water temperatures begin to cool, it won’t be too long before largemouth start hitting top water lures.

Fred R. Howes
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Recourses`

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Both lakes are two feet below summer pool and on a slow drawdown.  The present TVA forecast is for the lakes to drop another 6 inches by midnight tomorrow night.  We have had a lot of flat water and blue skies this week and not much in the way of current being generated at the dams except in the late afternoon and early evening hours.  The water temperatures had dropped to around 80 earlier this week with the cool nights but came back up to present levels the past two days.  We have another cool front coming through the lakes area sometime Friday night and the forecast for a high of 81 on Saturday and mid 70’s from Sunday through mid week.  The night time lows are forecasted to be in the mid 50’s starting on Saturday night through midweek.  This should bring the water temperatures down again.  I have noticed a lot of shad movement this week on the main river channel on Kentucky Lake and a lot of big shad schools are showing up around the mouths of the creeks and bays.  This is an indication that the shad are starting to stage around the mouths of the creeks and bays in anticipation cooler temperatures and the transition to fall patterns.  We have the water temperatures for this to start happening and I expect we will see the fall transition period begin in the next couple of weeks barring any unforeseen extended hot weather.  As per normal during this time of August, a myriad of patterns are now available.  There are still plenty of fish on the ledges, although the bite has been somewhat slow during the morning and early afternoon due to a lack of wind and current.  You can catch the ledge fish during the day, you just need to fish slow with slow moving baits and be patient.  One pattern that has emerged this week, which is normal when some of the shad schools begin to move, is that there has been some reported schooling of Largemouth on the flats just adjacent to the creek and river channels.  I myself, saw a large school of keeper sized Largemouth churning the water on a main lake flat this week and had two other reports of folks that encountered these jumps.  I would advise anyone fishing the ledges near the shallow flats to keep a topwater lure or a lipless crankbait handy in case you encounter one of these feeding schools.  Another indication of staging shad is that the bite on the points around the mouths of the bays is picking up.  The bass in the creeks and bays are also active, still feeding on schools of fry on the secondary points and on the flats in the backs of the creeks and bays.  As you can see, you can take your pick right now of patterns to fish.  The night bite for Smallmouth and Largemouth is still being reported as good on main lake points with spinnerbaits and jigs on Kentucky Lake.  The White Bass are still being taken primarily on the main lakes along the channels by vertically fishing with inline spinners and small spoons.  I did, however, today observe a large White Bass jump in the mouth of one of the bays on the east side of Kentucky Lake.

Largemouth Bass:  Largemouth are being taken on the old river and creek channel ledges on the main lakes by fishing with Carolina rigged small creature baits and worms, jigs, drop shot rigs and shaky head rigs.  Some Largemouth are also being taken on the flats on the main lake in jumps as they are feeding on schools of baitfish.  These top feeding fish can be taken on topwater lures, lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits.  Largemouth are being taken on primary points on the main lake with medium and deep diving crankbaits, Carolina rigged creature baits, Texas rigged worms and jigs.  Largemouth are also being taken on the secondary points and flats in the creeks and bays as they are feeding on schools of fry.  These fish are being taken on topwater lures, crankbaits, chatterbaits, Texas rigged worms and deadstick worms.

Smallmouth Bass:  Smallmouth Bass are being taken on the old river and creek channel ledges on the main lakes by fishing with Carolina rigged small creature baits and tubes as well as by dragging jigs.  Some Smallmouth are also being taken on primary points and the first secondary points in the creeks and bays early and late in the day on jigs and tube jigs.  Smallmouth are being taken at night on Kentucky Lake on primary and main lake secondary points with dark colored spinnerbaits and jigs.

Some of the productive lures reported this week are:  Lucky Craft Sammy in ghost pearl lemon and chartreuse shad, Strike King and Norman crankbaits in sexy shad patterns, Baby Minus one crankbaits in shad patterns, Strike King red eye shad in sexy shad and blue/chrome, Hook Some Bass vibe (chatterbait) in blue glimmer, Chatterbaits in white and white/chartreuse, Charmer 7.5 ” ribbon tail worms in electric grape, Zoom 7″ utail worms in plum, Charmer timber pups in green pumpkin and watermelon/purple, Yum and Yamamoto dead stick worms in green pumpkin and green pumpkin/blue and Jewel football head jigs in gourd/craw tipped with matching Net Baits trailer.

White Bass:  White Bass are being taken along the old river and creek channel ledges on the main lakes by vertically fishing with inline spinners and small spoons.  The better fishing is during periods of current.

Catfish:  The Catfishing is being reported as slow along the old river channels with yellowtails and cutbaits on bottom.

Bluegill:  Bluegills are being taken along deep rocky creek channel banks and off rocky points by vertically fishing with small jigs tipped with worms.

FLASH:  I mentioned last week that I was having a lot of email problems and a number of my incoming emails was lost in hyperspace last week.  My email problems continued until the past two days.  Everything seems to be working good now that my website has been moved to a dedicated server.  If you emailed me and did not get an answer over the past two weeks, I apologize and invite you to resend your email or give me a call.

If you are in need of a bass guide for some just for fun bass fishing, tournament preparation, lake familiarization or technique instruction don’t hesitate to give me a call or drop me an email.  I am still offering the focused ledge teaching trip so if you want to learn how to fish the ledges, there is still plenty of time to do this trip as there will be fish on the ledges for the next month or so.  On this trip you will learn first, how to eliminate water, this is key in finding the most productive ledges (as a bonus you learn how to eliminate water during the spring, fall and winter also) and second you will learn how to set up on the ledges and the techniques used to catch the ledge fish.

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

August:  Sorry, I am booked up.
September:  1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 30
October:  14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31

Remember, November provides some great fall fishing.  If you like to throw topwater lures, spinnerbaits and crankbaits on schooling fish, we always have some great days on this fishing in November.  Make your reservation now for the November fishing.  Also, I am taking reservations for next spring now so if you can plan that far ahead, you can get the date you want by booking now.

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

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