Thread: Kentucky lake or Barkley?

Originally Posted by mrdux

Ken Bar Inn was a dump when I worked there in the early 70s. I'm sure time and owners who refused to fix it up have taken a toll on it. Mystery to me it hasn't burned down years ago. Most commercial flops like it seem to meet a demise by match.

Dux, I have helped extinguish many a place like that which mysteriously started on fire in my former career. Once, the guy got locked in.....he turned to charcoal.

We have stayed at Big Bear many times. Really like it there and fishing is good right in Big Bear bay. You don't need to venture far. Enough coves and bays you can always get out of the wind. The worse thing about staying at big bear is you need to be wary of "The Whiskers". Be very very cautious. Hear tell The Whiskers can spawn terrible weather, cause fish to develop lock jaw, and cause all around him,including himself to completely lose track of all time and complete loss of memory. It could possibly be some sort of magic potion in a jar?

You guys have got me wondering what is so dangerous about Barkley. I haven't been hunting or fishing it long but I have never seen anything I consider dangerous. I have had guys with 100+ hp motors run past me like i wasn't even there, close enough I could have spit on them...unfortunately I have seen this before. I have heard about sandbars on KY but I have dealt with that on rivers before and never had a problem with a jon boat with a short shaft motor. So I guess my question is: is there something I am missing here?
Chris

I'd like to hear from Dux, Whiskers or BigBadDad on this subject too because I'm somewhat scared running on Barkley too. Is there lots of pop up sandbars or is it stumps in the main channel? I've been on the Northern end twice and will definitely go back down in the fall, would like to know about these issues beforehand. Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by redearhoosier

I'd like to hear from Dux, Whiskers or BigBadDad on this subject too because I'm somewhat scared running on Barkley too. Is there lots of pop up sandbars or is it stumps in the main channel? I've been on the Northern end twice and will definitely go back down in the fall, would like to know about these issues beforehand. Thanks guys.

I've ran Barkley since I was 10 years old and fished Eddie Creek before the lake was even raised. It can be as dangerous as a person is willing to make it. I once hit something in 60 feet of water in the middle of the river channel when the lake level was high that I never saw but it sheared 2 blades off my prop. It had to be a large object just under the surface but I always felt the same thing could have happened anywhere.

The best advice I could give is buy a good lake map and learn how to read it and the buoys or buy a GPS with a Navionics card and learn to watch it while running. There are shallow bars, house foundations, trees and stumps, you name it that can ruin your day. I once ran a 14 foot Polar Craft jon boat up onto a concrete carport of a house in the middle of the lake near Linton during duck season. I just got out, checked for damage, pushed it off and went on my way. I knew there were hazards out there but they weren't worth ruining my day worrying about. When the lake is at winter pool, the hazards are multiplied by a factor of 10X. Barkley is also much more prone to large floating debris when there are high water issues.

In the bays where there are channel markers, use them. On the main lake, use the river channel buoys. Don't take for granted that you can run from point A to point B in a straight line. Use your maps, use some common sense and use some caution and Barkley is no more dangerous than most any other lowland lake. I'll take running it any day over the likes of Reelfoot, Eufaula in the 60s-70s, or any lake with standing timber. Ky Lake has all of the same fun things that will reach out and grab you if you are willing to go out and find them.

Thanks MrDux, you're a treasure trove of information on these lakes and it's much appreciated. I do have a nice map of both, Ky and Barkley Lake, they certainly help a guy like me who knows virtually nothing about these lakes. I guess these bass guys who run WOT all the time really know the lake, there's no backing off in their gameplans.

You're welcome. I don't pretend to be an expert on either lake, just somebody who keeps and has used a bunch of shear pins, extra props and clean underwear.

All of my experience (and it has not been much, just some during duck season and then this spring) has been on the north end of Barkley launching from Eddyville Ferry ramp....anyone have any advice of areas to avoid in that area? I typically stay out of the main channel to avoid everyone who does run the main channel, but as I said I never run flat out. I have on a few occasions watched bass boats flying by outside of the main channel and other than getting annoyed by them I never considered them to be in danger. I have fished and hunted both Crab Orchard and Rend Lake in Southern Illinois. Crab is not an overly deep lake and I have heard stories of people hitting stumps in the center of it, but have never even worried about it myself. The north end of Rend is VERY stumpy and I have been up there when the water was high and you couldn't see the stumps until it is too late to dodge them. I guess I have been lucky so far and have only busted a prop once on the water (and that was when I was backing up to grab a jug that dove on me). I really appreciate the advice here, I take my family out on Barkley and will definitely be more alert from now on. I am curious if there are any bays on the north end that are very stump filled, my favorite spot on any lake to run trotlines and jugs is in stump fields....hard to beat em for cats.
Chris