Fishing Report Archives

Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene got another dose of fall weather recently and fishermen welcomed it with open arms.

Although fall doesn’t officially arrive until September 22 no one is complaining about an early arrival.

Surface temperatures have fallen to the 80 degree range. Water color remains clear as the region is yearning for rain.

Lake levels have dropped to the 356 elevation at Kentucky Dam and across the reservoir. Fishermen and recreational boaters are urged to use caution and observe channel markers.

Lower lake levels are normal during late summer and throughout the fall and winter months. That requires boaters to avoid taking shortcuts out over open water areas where shallow sandbars and submerged obstacles can damage your boat and motor’s lower unit.

Lack of rain has resulted in diminished flows in the main Tennessee River channel and that has curtailed the catfish bite.

Reduced current usually reduces the main channel area catfish bite as the schools of shad just don’t move around as they do during higher flows.

Some catfish have been taken lately in the 30 to 40 foot depth range. A few trophy size catfish are reported now and then as well.

Watch for the catfish bite to resume whenever increased flow return.

Some decent stringers of crappie are showing up but anglers report the bite is scattered out. Depths of 11 to 14 feet have given up several small fish mixed in with some keeper size fish as well.

Most anglers credit their catches to jigs but tipping a jig with a minnow has been productive too. As more schools of shad continue to move up more crappie will be hot on their trail.

A few anglers are casting curly tail grubs over deeper structure and finding that attractive to finicky crappie. Crappie fishermen can expect the shallow bite to improve now that surface temps are cooling. Shad schools have already moved into secondary bays and up on shallow sides of main lake sandbars.

Should be some activity soon in the 4 to 9 foot depth range if not already. Casting slip bobber rigs with minnows and jigs can be effective as fish head shallow too.

Bass activity has been fair with more fish moving up on shallow sandbars out on the main lake and also back into some bays on gravel banks. Once the shad move shallow the transition of bass and crappie takes place as they follow their forage base.

Tossing Rattle Traps and similar crankbaits in the chrome and shad colored variations are popular choices as it allows anglers to cover a lot of water quickly.

Some schools of white bass are exhibiting surface activity out on main lake sandbars and in the mouth of big bays. They’re in hot pursuit of shad and often largemouth are right there with them.

Watch for the gull activity to help direct you to whereabouts of shad schools.

Meanwhile, main lake areas are still holding bass and anglers are tossing swimbaits, crankbaits and some Texas rigged worms.

Transition time is underway as fish respond to lower surface temperatures and put on the feed bag. September is a month with a little bit of summer left in it and a dose of fall, too.