Fishing Report Archives

After a long honeymoon with above average temperatures it looks like a nip in the air is about to arrive. Not until late next week it appears.

For the last several weeks Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene has seen hot and dry conditions dominate but recent rains have finally drenched a thirsty region. Rain the last week or so has fallen on some extremely dry woods and added a little fresh water to the lake area.

Some of the rain had high winds at times that rocked the boat of anglers hoping to extend their parade with pretty days where light winds and above average temperatures greeted them.

Last week warm days lingered---at times daytime highs climbed to the 80 to 81 degree range---and almost broke record high temps for this time of year.

Surface temperatures reflect the extended spell of high temps and readings the last week or so were in the 66 degree range, which is several degrees above normal for mid-November. Watch for a rapid drop by late next week once the cold front rolls in.

Lake levels have remained low throughout the fall due in part to a lack of rain. Readings last week at Kentucky Dam dropped to the low ebb of 354.2 a few days but have since risen slightly to the 354.8 range. If projected rains continue watch for a slight rise in elevation by the weekend.

Water color remains clear across the reservoir. Discharge rates at Kentucky Dam have been around 23,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) so there’s a slow current present in the main Tennessee River channel.

Crappie fishing has been fair for a few anglers working deep manmade fish attractors such as stakebeds and brushpiles in the 11 to 15 foot depth range. A few fish have been taken even deeper in the Paris Landing sector as some anglers experimented in depths of 16 to 22 feet in their quest to locate scattered fish as TVA had been pulling the lake down to winter pool.

Boaters stalking the shallow route of 4 to 8 feet areas have not fared well according to most reports. A few scattered crappie were taken by anglers casting jigs and vertical presentation techniques of both jigs and minnows. However, most indicated the fish were very scattered and the bite was sluggish for shallow zones.

That’s not all surprising as above average surface temperatures the last few weeks have likely had a negative impact on the shallow bite. In early to mid-November the normal surface temp range should be in the upper 50’s to low 60’s.

Meanwhile, a few anglers using Livescope sonar have landed some nice stringers from midrange to deeper depths but they are having to make several stops. Most are tipping a jig with a minnow to entice bites.

Bass anglers are still slugging it out in the trenches and finding the bass stubborn to bite. Sluggish fish are still being caught by a few boats working the main lake sandbars.

A few credited their catches to the use of Carolina and Alabama rigs retrieved slowly over shad schools on sandbars. Crankbaits and swim baits have worked too as have chrome colored variations of Rattle Trap style lure selections as covering a lot of water and fan casting has been the best technique.

Slow current is present out on the main Tennessee River channel lately. TVA had decreased discharge rates and not many boats were seen stalking catfish out on the riverbanks.