Fishing Report Archives

Surface temperatures are rising as the annual ritual of Kentucky Lake’s crappie spawn is set to begin.

Coinciding with the rise of both lake levels and water temperature is the enthusiasm level of both bass and crappie fishermen. All systems are on go for fishermen all up and down the reservoir.

Lake levels, which had already been somewhat above normal for late March with elevation rising to 357.4, will begin the climb toward summer pool as Tennessee Valley Authority’s curve for reservoir filling here is set to begin in early April each year. A target date of summer pool (359) is or around May 1.

This week’s weather has been vintage March; some days had cold northeast winds requiring anglers to bundle up. By this weekend as March is waving goodbye a rapid rise in daytime highs is forecast to jump to the upper 70’s! That will really influenced the biological clock.

Surface temperatures were a cool 58 degrees at midweek but will climb to the mid 60’s in most areas by early next week as April takes over.

Hefty stringers of crappie have been taken despite anglers having to battle annoying winds. Successful stories are coming in from a variety of anglers ranging from bank fishermen to boaters trolling jigs across shallow spawning spots.

Quite a few slab crappie eclipsing the 2-pound weight range have been taken lately. Male crappie are darkening more each day, taking on a beautiful color as hormonal changes alters their appearance.

Lots of techniques are producing these days. Anglers vertical fishing jigs and minnows over manmade fish attractors such as stackebeds and brushpiles are doing well. Also producing good numbers have been those casting curly tail jigs around shallow shorelines or over structure in 3 to 5 foot depths.

Not to be outdone are those pulling jigs in a “long line” presentation. Slow trolling both curly tail grubs and Road Runner type jigs on multi-pole techniques are covering a lot of water and the slow moving buffets are often irresistible.

Slip bobber rigs armed with live minnows or jigs retrieved slowly are sometimes the cat’s meow when cast over spawning territory. Bobbers not only regulate the depth of the bait but further help detect light bites from finicky crappie.

To the grocery list of effective ways to catch crappie nowadays add trolling crankbaits. This method can be just as productive as all the others at times.

Meanwhile, anglers can expect the shallow bite to hold up for a spell as the spawn begins to hit peak phase. Most all fishermen have their fingers crossed hoping stable weather hangs around and coincides with a slow gradual rise in lake levels.

Big slab females were loaded with eggs last week so the stage is set for active spawning to kick in and last these next two weeks or so. Some fish likely spawn all the way up toward the end of April but a peak generally occurs prior to that time frame.

Bass fishermen are finding big sow bass already up in pockets off the main lake where warmer water has lured them toward spawning spots. Odds are some bass are already fanning.

Right now tossing a wide variety of lures ranging from Texas rigged craws and lizards to shallow running crankbaits and some suspending jerk baits on gravel and around fragments of grass or big chunk rock has the potential to produce. Spinnerbaits too.

Spring is in full swing as each passing week sees a new lake greeting fishermen as lake levels rise toward shoreline habitat, inundating more visible weeds and those ever popular yellow flowers as bass begin to go on bed.

Soon the topwater bite will enter the equation if it hasn’t already. Floating fluke style worms will be part most bass anglers’ arsenal.

It’s a great time to be on Kentucky Lake!