Weekly Report For Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley dated September 22, 2017

[Dave Stewart]

*September 22, 2017*

*Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 355.58 Surface Temperature
- 80*
*Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 355.45 Surface Temperature -
80*

*Both lakes are one and one half feet above winter pool. Kentucky Dam was
generating at an average rate of 30,000 cfs this morning. Barkley Dam was
generating at an average rate of 18,000 cfs this morning. **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: *I mentioned in last week's report that the early
fall transition had begun with schools of young threadfin having moved into
the shallows with the water temperature drop we experienced with the below
normal air temperatures last week. Well, summer returned with a vengeance
this week with above normal air temperatures and this resulted in a water
temperature increase of 5 degrees since my last report. These raising
water temperatures combined with high pressure, blue skies and flat water
all this week have made for a slow and scattered bite on the bass. The
early morning and late evening top water bite we had last week has
diminished to almost nil this week. Our best pattern this week has been
fishing finesse techniques such as shaky heads, drop shots and finesse jigs
on primary and secondary creek channel banks and points in the creeks and
bays. This pattern has been producing some numbers of small fish with an
occasional keeper now and then. The key to this pattern is to fish slow
and keep focused as the bite is not aggressive and be patient as the bite
is scattered.

This heat wave is forecasted to continue through mid next week with day
time high's in the 90's and night time low's in the mid to upper 60's along
with more blue skies and light winds. I expect this will raise the water
temperatures another degree or two if this forecast holds. The next
cooling frontal passage is forecasted for late next Wednesday after which
the forecast is showing a return to more seasonable air temperatures.


*Largemouth Bass:* Largemouth are being taken on primary points on the main
lake. These fish are being taken on Texas rigged large worms, drop shot
rigs, shaky heads, Carolina rigged creature baits and jigs. Largemouth are
also being taken on secondary points in the creeks and bays as well as on
main lake points and shallow flats early and late in the day on top water
lures as they are feeding on schools of small threadfin. Largemouth are
also being taken on shallow flats in the creeks and bays and on the main
lake early and late in the day on top water lures. Largemouth are also
being taken on shallow flats in the creeks and bays as they are feeding on
schools of small threadfin. These fish are being taken on lipless crank
baits, spinner baits and square billed crank baits.

*Smallmouth Bass:* Smallmouth are being taken on rocky main lake points and
secondary points in the creeks and bays. The fish are being taken on top
water lures early, finesse jigs and shaky heads.

*Productive Lures:* Some of the productive lures reported this week are
Lucky Craft Sammy and Lucky Craft Gunfish in ghost pearl lemon, Strike King
spash baits in white, Strike King Red Eye Shad in chrome "woops"y shad and "woops"y
shad, Strike King square billed crank baits in "woops"y shad, Slong's spinner
baits in blue glimmer, D&L jigs in "oops" and cumberland craw, Slong's
jigs in cumberland craw and black/blue, Charmer lizards and timber pups on
Texas rigs and Carolina rigs in green pumpkin, green pumpkin/blue and
watermelon/purple, Charmer shaky head worms and zoom trick worms on shaky
head jigs in green pumpkin and watermelon/purple and Zoom fluke junior in
white and variations of green pumpkin robo worms on drop shot rigs.

*White Bass:* White Bass are being taken along main lake ledges and flats
as well as ledges around the mouths of the creeks and bays with in line
spinners and blade baits fished vertically as well as by trolling medium
running crank baits in these areas.



*IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON VISITING OUR LAKES I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING
BUSINESSES FOR ALL YOUR FISHING AND BOATING NEEDS:*

*Fisherman's Headquarters* is located in Draffenville at the U.S. 68/U.S.
641 triangle, or the Draffenville "Y". FHQ stocks everything an angler
could need, from live bait, hooks and bobbers to top of the line tournament
bass tackle. More than a "bait and tackle" store, Fisherman's Headquarters
is a true "pro shop", offering advice, training and special order
assistance not found online or at the big box retailers. Services even
include custom electronics training and installation. The store offers a
wide variety of nationally known brands as well as many regional and hard
to find items we use on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes. They stock many of the
products I rely on daily, such as Charmer Baits, Slong's lures, Picasso
lures and Pro Tungsten weights. From bluegill to bass and catfish to
crappie, FHQ has you covered! Stop by and visit or phone 270-527-5938
<(270)%20527-5938>.

*Jet-A-Marina:* If you have a problem with your boat while you are visiting
our great fisheries, let me recommend you have the folks in the service
department at Jet-a-Marina check it out. These folks have a well known
reputation for trying to keep our visitors on the water while they are here
if they can possibly do so, especially you tournament anglers. Hopefully
you will not need this kind of assistance but if you do, you can find
Jet-a-Marina located on U.S. 62 in Calvert City, just a couple of miles
north of Kentucky Dam. Jet-a-Marina also has a great showroom for all your
boating accessories and check out the new Ranger bass boats too as well as
bulk oil at rock bottom prices for your engine. Phone: 270-395-4030.

*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 Commanche 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.


*Available Dates:*

*I have dates available for this month as well as October and November.
Call or email me to make a reservation. Don't miss out on the fall
fishing!*


*Captain Dave Stewart*
*Bass Buster Guide Service*
*www.kentuckylakeguide.com <http://www.kentuckylakeguide.com> *
* <>*
*270-362-9987 <(270)%20362-9987>*
*"Fish With A Professional"*

[Lipripper]

Dave thanks again for your great in depth report that you stop by with all the time.