Fishing Report Archives

Severe thunderstorms dropped a lot of rain this week around the Kentucky/Tennessee border region of Kentucky Lake, sending fisherman and recreational boaters back to shore in search of shelter several days.

It has been a topsy-turvy weather pattern as of late but some anglers are still riding it out and finding fish.

Lake levels this week have stayed around the normal summer pool level of 359 but watch for some fluctuation as the reservoir may see some rising levels in the aftermath of repeated storms.

Surface temperatures are in the 73 to 75 degree range. Dingy water color has entered the picture in some areas due to runoff.

The catfish bite has shown a surge in activity the last week or two with additional current out along the main Tennessee River channel. That increased flow as TVA has pushed a lot of water through the system stimulated the bite and anglers responded quickly.

Nice stringers have been taken the last two weeks out on the channel areas as anglers used mostly nightcrawlers for bait and worked the 30 to 40 foot depth range. With moving water comes more baitfish activity so that has been the kicker.

Some catfish are still lingering around shallow shorelines as bluegill fishermen are tying into one now and then while fishing bream beds.

Bluegill have been biting pretty good and some bedding phases were still underway but the bite seem to diminish a bit this past week compared to the previous week. Still plenty out there to be caught but it’s not unusual to see them begin to leave some bedding areas as late May rolls around.

TWRA Kentucky Lake creel clerk Michael Parker called me earlier this week reporting sightings of early mayfly hatches up the Big Sandy. Normally the big hatches don’t show up until the second week or so of June.

Not many shellcracker have been taken lately as their peak spawning has already occurred back in April and early May.

Still a few hanging around but scattered. Post spawn crappie have been hitting for some anglers who target midrange depths of 9 to 15 feet. Some fish were reported taken even deeper.

They scatter somewhat but can still be taken by accomplished anglers finding structure in midrange areas and willing to make a lot of stops.

Bass fishermen are not only finding a few fish lingering along shoreline habitat but some have backed off the banks and now favoring the secondary humps and sloping ledges in main lake sectors.

Tossing a crankbait has been popular as anglers attempt to cover a lot of water in their quest to locate main lake fish. Texas rigged craws and worms have worked too as have Carolina rigs and swim baits.

At the same time the ledge bite improves there will also be increased activity along river island rims and shoreline treelaps where schools of pin minnows will soon begin to show up. The massive hatch of shad fry schools really lure bass to buck bushes, weed beds and treelaps where tossing spinnerbaits and Texas rigged worms will produce.

Find the baitfish schools and you’ll find some bass activity.

Although spring is still the official season Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene slowly begins to transcend toward summer patterns as surface temps rise.