Weekly Report For Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley dated April 12, 2018

[Dave Stewart]

April 12, 2018

Kentucky Lake:  Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 357.02  Surface Temperature - 56
Lake Barkley:  Water Level at Barkley Dam - 357.00  Surface Temperature - 56

Both lakes are 2 feet below summer pool and on a slow rise.  Kentucky Dam was generating at an average rate of 45,900 this afternoon.  Barkley Dam was spilling at an average rate of 34, 400 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 weather patterns this past week have remained about the same as we have seen for the past few weeks.  We had snow and cold last weekend as well as below normal temperatures the first part of this week.  The water temperatures dropped about 4 degrees with that arctic blast but have recovered to their previous levels over the past couple days with warmer than normal temperatures.  Of course with these above normal temperatures we are experiencing strong winds from the south.  Bass fishing has remained the same as I reported last week with the fish still scattered for the most part, numbers of smaller fish being taken with an occasional nice big fish but not numbers of them nor numbers of keepers.

The warmer weather will continue tomorrow (Friday) with a morning low of 59, afternoon high of 79 with wind SSW 15-25.  Thunderstorms are in the forecast for tomorrow night and into Saturday.  The morning low for Saturday is forecast to be 60, afternoon high of 66 with scattered thunderstorms and wind SSE at 16.  Another cold front is coming through on Saturday night and the morning low on Sunday is forecast to be 44, afternoon high of 49 with wind W at 13.  The cold continues on Monday with a morning low of 37, afternoon high of 51 with wind NW at 14.  The good news is, if the extended forecast is correct, we will be seeing more seasonable temperatures in the 60's and 70's next week.  Hopefully these more stable weather patterns along with the rising water will improve the bass fishing we have seen over the past number of weeks.

LARGEMOUTH BASS:  Largemouth are being taken on main lake points and banks on crank baits, Alabama rigs, jigs and suspending jerk baits.  Largemouth are also being taken in shallow cuts on the main lake near deep water on spinner baits, lipless crank baits, vibrating jigs and jigs.  Largemouth are being taken on creek channel banks and secondary points in the creeks and bays on Alabama rigs, jigs, Carolina and Texas rigged creature baits, neko rigs and crank baits.  Largemouth are also being taken in the shallows in the creeks and bays on spinner baits, chatter baits and lipless crank baits as well as Texas rigged creature baits.  As you can see, the fish are scattered.  Most of the shallow fish are small fish with an occasional nice fish.

SMALLMOUTH BASS:  Some nice Smallmouth have been taken as they are on their pre spawn bite right now.  Most of these fish are being taken on main lake points and deep points in the mouths of the creeks and bays on crank baits, suspending jerk baits, Alabama rigs and jigs. 

PRODUCTIVE LURES:  Alabama rig with Keitech swim baits in French pearl and Pro blue, Big Hammer swim baits in pearl white and "woops"y smelt, Rapala DT 10 and DT 6 crank baits in crawdad patterns, Rapala Shad Raps in crawdad patterns,  Strike King Red Eye Shad in red craw, chrome "woops"y shad and blue chrome, Rattle Traps in red craw and chrome shad, D&L jigs in black blue and oops patterns, Slong's jigs in black blue, Slong's spinner baits in white/chartreuse, Lucky Craft suspending jerk baits in pearl ayu, Mega Bass suspending jerk baits in ito watsugi, vibrating jigs in blue glimmer with pearl white swim bait trailer and Charmer 6" lizards in watermelon/red and green pumpkin.

Crappie:  Crappie are being reported as scattered also, with most of the fish still being taken in the 10-20 ft range over submerged cover by vertically fishing with minnow rigs and small jigs tipped with Crappie nibbles.  These fish are still staging around the mouths of the creeks and bays with an occasional few fish being taken in 8-10 ft of water on warmer afternoons. 

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 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.

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 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.

Available Dates: 

April:  27
May:  1, 2, 4, 15, 16,17, 18, 24
June: 12, 13, 14, 21 25, 27, 28, 29

I am also taking reservations also for July, August, September, October and November.

Captain Dave Stewart
Bass Buster Guide Service
www.kentuckylakeguide.com
dave@kentuckylakeguide.com
270-362-9987
"Fish With A Professional"

[Lipripper]

Thanks Dave for another great report. I know y'all will be glad when the weather get warmer and stays that way. I will be too.