Weekly Report For Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley dated October 27, 2016

[Dave Stewart]

October 27, 2016

Kentucky Lake:  Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 354.05  Surface Temperature - 67
Lake Barkley:  Water Level at Barkley Dam - 354.10  Surface Temperature - 67

Both lakes are at winter pool.  Kentucky Dam was generating at an average rate of 24,500 cfs this afternoon.  Barkley Dam was generating at an average rate of 6,300 this afternoon.  The latest lake levels , current flows and forecasts for all the TVA lakes can be found at http://www.tva.com/river/lakeinfo/index.htm.

Current Conditions:  The big cold front that came through the lakes area last weekend did manage to lower the water temperatures about 4 degrees but they leveled off this week with some warmer temperatures.  The forecast for the next few days is showing above normal temperatures again which I am sure won't do much for getting the water temperatures down to normal levels.  Water temperatures are about 6-7 degrees above normal for this time in October so we are still in transition from summer to fall patterns and the fish remain scattered.  Tournament weights are still down as anglers are finding it tough to put together a solid consistant pattern from day to day.  We have been catching some fish but we are having to adjust from day to day and hour to hour in many cases to put a few bass in the boat.  Last weekend I saw the results of 3 tournaments and one of them was won with 12lbs and two of them were won with 9 lbs.  We should be seeing about 18lbs winning right now in most tournaments.

The forecast for tomorrow (Friday) is for a high of 75/ night time low of 57 with wind SSE at 4.  Saturday begins the warming period with a high of 83/ night time low of 62 with wind SSW at 14.  Sunday's forecast is showing a high of 84/ night time low of 62 with wind WSW at 8.  The extended forecast into mid next week is showing day time high's in the low 80's/ night time low's around 60 with south winds each day.

LARGEMOUTH BASS: Largemouth are being taken on main lake flats, main lake points and shallow pockets on the main lake near deep water. These fish are being taken on top water lures, spinner baits, lipless crank baits and jigs. Largemouth are being taken on shallow flats in the backs of the creeks and bays as well as the coves in the creeks and bays on top water lures, lipless crankbaits, spinner baits and square billed crank baits. Largemouth are also being taken on secondary points in the creeks and bays on medium running crank baits, finesse jigs and shaky heads.  The bite is slow and scattered.

SMALLMOUTH BASS: Smallmouth are also being taken on main lake rocky points and banks as well as rocky secondary creek channel banks and points in the creeks and bays. These fish are being taken on medium running crankbaits, finesse jigs, shaky heads, dead sticked senko type baits with some early and late topwater lures.  The bite is slow and scattered.

PRODUCTIVE LURES: Some of the productive lures reported this week are: Lucky Craft sammy and gunfish in ghost pearl lemon, Whopper Ploppers in natural shad patterns, Yozuri popping baits in ghost lemon,  Bandit crank baits in rootbeer and rootbeer chartruese, Bag 5 square bill crank baits and medium running crank baits in blue glimmer and green gizzard shad, Slong's spinner baits in blue glimmer, D&L baby advantage jigs in Cumberland craw and "oops" patterns, Charmer shaky heads worms in green pumpkin.


GUIDE SERVICE:

For those of you that may not be familiar with my service: I am a full time catch and release bass fishing guide. I only guide for bass. I have been guiding for bass full time on these lakes for over 20 years and bass fishing the lakes for over 30 years. I do not go out and fish panfish for 4 or 5 days and then try to guide on bass for one or two days.

No one knows everything the bass are doing but one thing is for sure, if you only fish for bass day in and day out, you will have a lot better idea of what they are doing and also be familiar with all the different techniques it takes to be a successful bass angler.

If you book with my service, you will have me as your guide and you will be guided in the comfort of a late model Z522 Ranger Comanche equipped with Lowrance HDS electronics and top of the line tackle. I provide just for fun bass fishing trips, tournament preparation trips, focused teaching trips and technique instruction. If you are in need of a bass fishing guide give me a call or drop me an email.
ELIMINATING WATER CLASS: I will be offering my class on how to Eliminate Water again this winter during the months of January and February and I will also teach a few classes next month in November. These classes are limited to one or two people per class. The classes last approximately 8 hours. The cost of the class is 200.00 which covers one or two people. These classes have been very popular with my clients over the past few years and all the feedback I get is very positive. Here is some examples of that feedback:

**Dave ... Harry and I took your "Eliminating Water" class and it has helped both of us like you wouldn't believe! - J. Harris

**In the past 3 tourney's I have managed to get a limit on 3 separate lakes. Old Hickory, Barkley, and Barren. Managed a 3rd place finish Sunday on Barkley with a 6lb kicker. I have a lot more confidence when I hit the water now. I no longer pull the old "that bank looks good, lets waste a few hours here". Thanks Dave - M. King

**Well worth the money - and probably the most valuable thing I have purchased in the terms of fishing. - K. Stephens

**The eliminating water class is without a doubt the best money I've spent on fishing in my life. - D. Page

Here is a short description of the Eliminating Water Class:

"How to Eliminate Water": This class is done in a classroom environment. In this class you learn the most important thing that you can learn as a bass fisherman, that is, how eliminate water to find the Bass by finding the highest percentage spots during all the different seasons of the year that will hold more fish, more often. In this class you will learn what information you need to know in order to eliminate water to find these high percentage spots during your preplanning for a trip and how to apply this information as well as current environmental conditions to make decisions on which techniques you should be using when on the water that day and how to adjust to environment changes that can move your fish or change the pattern from day to day, season to season.

Basically, what I teach you in this class is how to use knowledge of mother nature by using scientific knowledge, logic and common sense to develop a system to find your fish as well as make decisions before you get on the water and while you are on the water to be a more consistent bass angler. What I teach you in this class is what I do every day as a bass fishing guide when I am trying to find and catch bass with my clients. What you will learn in this class will apply anywhere you go bass fishing, this is not specific to just Ky and Barkley Lakes.

Finding bass and making decisions as how to catch bass is not done solely by looking at electronics, it is accomplished with knowledge. There is no button on your sonar unit or mapping unit that says "Go Find Fish". Sonar units show you fish AFTER you find them. Mapping units show you just that, a topographical map of the body of water you are on. The mapping unit allows you to mark spots on your electronic map where you have found fish and assist you in navigating back to those spots. Just as with a paper topographical map, you can scan over an electronic map and mark "places of interest" or as I call them "looks good" spots to go check out when you get on the water...but finding high percentage spots are not "looks good" spots. High percentage spots are selected by having the knowledge of what type spots have the highest percentage chance of holding bass during the different seasons of the year coupled with how to apply what is going on in the environment that will affect the fish.

Call or email me to book your class date while dates are still available!

Available Guide Dates:

November: A number of dates still available

Make your reservations now to get the date(s) you want. I am also taking reservations now for next season.


Captain Dave Stewart
Bass Buster Guide Service
270-362-9987

www.kentuckylakeguide.com
"Fish With a Professional"

[Lipripper]

Dave thanks again for another great report. One of these days the water will get in the fall pattern and stay there.