Thinking about going to Kentucky Lake for the Crappie USA tournament

[white_lightin]

I was thinking about going that direction to fish there tournament this year. Have never been to this lake and was wanting to know if there are many spots to fish with one pole. I dont mind to spider rig but I like to one pole fish as with standing timber and brush piles or even if I can fish docks like my home lake in Missouri. Thanks

[Powertroll]

ALL OVER THE PLACE! I know alot of the older fellas do fish one pole there; I spider rig but you could one pole all the same shallow or deep water brush piles and there are a lot of docks and bridges in the bays. It is not like Truman when it comes to the stick ups but there are plenty at K-Lake. Crappie Masters has a one pole tourny there this year in April I think.

[KYLAKESLABS]

Plenty of cover to single pole. If youve got sidescan, you will fine it. Hey by the way, some of us "younger" guys fish that way too.

[white_lightin]

Oh I know I am a younger guy at 27 years but I am from the Lake of the Ozarks and I am wanting to fish a tounament on another lake with docks. Thats the way I love to fish get the slabs out from the docks. So I guess really is the dock fishing any good down there because that is the fastest way to find cover?

[KYLAKESLABS]

I never fish docks here, but there is cover around them in Blood River south of Wildcat Ramp. Problem is water depth. Those will be real shallow for a while. There is off shore cover all over the place, easy to find too. Do you have side scan?

[Powertroll]

In 2007 the Classic was won on K-Lake by DOCK SHOOTING so you should do fine Johnathan, Blood, and Bear should keep you plenty busy. Touche KYLAKESLABS yes young guys do fish with single poles I was just thinking of a few friends of mine that are older and I mean "OLDER"and make fun of me for spider rigging "with all them poles" and how they only need one to out fish me. Which they most often do hahaha.

[Old Guide]

These are my toughts Lightin. I'm not a young guy but I fish one pole as well. I just don't like trolling around watching rod tips. I have tried but just can't do it. I like feeling the tap and setting the rod. Maybe because I love bass fishing too and they are kinda the same this way. Docks here can be good and bad. I have caught fish around the floatation (styrofoam, etc.) and around the poles that hold the dock in place. Bad thing is because the lake fluctuates so much they have to float up and down (or go under). Many lakes with more stable levels have docks that are fixed in elevation and are easier to shoot. I have fished crappie tournaments all over the south and have done it a good bit. Here smaller docks are usually hinged at the shore to the walkway to float up and down. Larger and more expensive docks are set on spud poles that are driven into the lake bottom and hinged to walkways. Often times these poles can hold both crappie and bass. Look for fish cleaning stations on the docks or fishing lights. Often times these docks have cover planted in and around them. One other thing to note is that unless the law has changed, and it might have, commercial docks like resorts, have the right to ban fishing around their docks. Private docks do not have the same power. That was as of the last time i checked a few years ago. So watch if you fish around the resorts.

Kentucky can be FANTASTIC but also can be tough to fish, especially if it is your first time here. Don't get me wrong it can be really good, but people who come here thinking the crappie will line up to jump in the boat can get a bad taste in their mouth. The lake is HUGE and can be very intimidating. The photos posted online are usually from experienced Kentucky/Barkley fishermen who know where the cover is located and how to fish it. Like SLABS said next week we will be close to winter pool and the back ends of most bays will be very shallow, some dry. You will have to find off shore cover. The ability to sidescan is great. If you can't when you are moving around slow with your big motor or on the trolling motor keep an eye on your LCR. if you see cover kick in a marker and fish it well. Most crappie will be on structure whether it is stumps on ledges, brush piles, or stake beds. But there likley will not be much visible cover worth fishing. And I don't mean to pass it by because you never know. I have been surprised at how shallow crappie go at times in cold water.

I don't mean I am an expert either. I have won CUSA here before, have guided for years, and do fishing reports for lake area web sites, and I still can get my clock cleaned. I was fishing the Classic in 2007 when guys, I believe from the Carolinas came in and won by shooting docks. Something that isn't done much here but worked for them. We were on BIG fish the week before on several of my spots. We were looking at a weight of at least 22 lbs for two days if things held so we could make a top 10 if not top 5 place. I had a plan A, B and C for the tournament and come tournament all we could catch was 11 1/2 inch fish! I should have had a plan D. DOCKS! LOL This place can be tough to figure out at times and right when you think you have it figured out you get humbled! You can do good but I suggest at least a few days of pre-fishing to get a game plan together. Showing up the day before a CUSA tournament thinking you will do well is tough. This place has some of the best crappie fishermen in the country and they know how to catch em". Good luck and let us know how you do.

[ifish]

Lyndon,
That is one of the most accurate reports I have ever seen on Ky. Lake and as far as that goes the best I have seen on crappie dot com. I wish we could make a sticky of that report and direct some of the fisherman and women looking for some info to read it if it was a sticky. We tend to get a lot of questions about what to expect and places to stay on Ky. & Barkley Lake this time of year and it seems we try and answer the same questions many times. Ky. Lake can be fun and catch some nice fish but that is not the norm all the time. I get to scratching my head a lot and just have to remember to just have some fun and not take it so serious all the time. Thanks OLd Guide!

[Wiskers]

Lyndon,
That is one of the most accurate reports I have ever seen on Ky. Lake and as far as that goes the best I have seen on crappie dot com. I wish we could make a sticky of that report and direct some of the fisherman and women looking for some info to read it if it was a sticky. We tend to get a lot of questions about what to expect and places to stay on Ky. & Barkley Lake this time of year and it seems we try and answer the same questions many times. Ky. Lake can be fun and catch some nice fish but that is not the norm all the time. I get to scratching my head a lot and just have to remember to just have some fun and not take it so serious all the time. Thanks OLd Guide!

[badbrad]

Definitely a good read, and accurate!