ky lake,, best week to fish?

[johnnybub]

I am wanting to invite several out of town folks for some crappie fishing at ky lake, (jonathan creek- moores) I know there are many variables( water temp ect) to pick a good week, but as a guess would late march or early april be best time to come down , or wait for mid april? these guys have never fished ky lake before so looking for shallow bedding crappie,,
thanks
bub

[CrappiePappy]

I am wanting to invite several out of town folks for some crappie fishing at ky lake, (jonathan creek- moores) I know there are many variables( water temp ect) to pick a good week, but as a guess would late march or early april be best time to come down , or wait for mid april? these guys have never fished ky lake before so looking for shallow bedding crappie,,
thanks
bub

I used to go down that way, and fish Barkley Lake .... either the small bays between the Dam and Prison, or around the Barkley State Resort Park (in Little River). We always went in the last week of April. Then again ... that was back in the days of Slab White Crappie, around the Buck Brush & stump fields. Nowadays I hear that it's a little different ... don't personally know, since it's been nearly 10yrs since I've been on either lake. Supposedly, because of the Zebra Mussels and/or the drought years and/or the re-emergence of some water weeds ... the lakes are a bit clearer than they used to be, and the Black Crappie have become (or are becoming) the dominant in numbers. That's supposed to have changed the timing of the spawn, somewhat ... making it occur a little earlier than what was considered "normal". Don't know about that, though, since Black Crappie spawn in slightly cooler water temps anyway .... so there could very well be two distinct spawn series, between the two Crappie species, and people just haven't figured out the (new) "norm", yet.
If you haven't read it ... here's a good read, that might just be the latest info about Ky Lake, as it pertains to this "changing dominance" theory. In any case, it does give some good reports and insights that might help put you on some fish (regardless of when you actually decide to go):
http://www.kdfwr.state.ky.us/navigat...vPath=C101C552

Read all sections of this report ... and take note of the weather/water conditions, fish movements, areas where they concentrated, what species went where and how long they stayed. Check out the maps !! All of this info can be related to the area you intend to fish. .... luck2ya ... cp

[Rowdy]

1st or 2nd week in april,It may be early this year if it dont get any colder! I cleaned a Nolin Crappie last week that had lots of eggs in it?
Rowdy

[slabdaddy]

I would say first week or two of April if you are looking for shallow fish. It has alot to do with the weather and the wind. We made several trips down there this spring and the blacks are the first to hit the banks. We caught several good black crappie on the banks this spring in the third week of March, not spawning but they sure were feeding!

[Wiskers]

CP is right. The Blacks are taking over as the dominant fish in the lake, that's not to say there aren't Whites, there are, just not as many. And the Blacks do move up earlier. I have really noticed this over the last 5 years especially.

If it were me planning a trip I would pick the last 2 weeks of March for several reasons.

1. If there is an early spawn you're covered.

2. Not as much fishing pressure. (Everybody still thinks April is the "Month")

3. The Pre-spawn is much better to fish! In my opinion. :D

4. I would bet my house that the blacks will be moving up by the last week of March. Have for the last 5 years.

Now I'm not a guide but I've fished this end of the lake for over 40 years and I catch my share of fish. I used to be like my grandpa and wait till the dogwoods bloomed and such. If you wait till the last of April you are gonna be on a post-spawn pattern with maybe a few whites still spawning if you're lucky. Good Luck!

[Jigboy]

I agree...there is a lot of great fishing in March to do. I went to Blood River the third week of March last year and three of us brought home 89 fish that day. Don't forget March.

To be honest, by the time April go here, I had all the crappie I needed in my freezer for the year and I still give tons away to other folks.

Jigoy

[Majesticman]

When it is good fishing Johnathan is bumper to bumper, the bassasses and the inconsiderate Crappie guys made wakes all day. That is when I go to the East side and run the brush and some of my honey holes.

[caseydrew]

Best guess would be 4/10 - 4/15.....after fishing KY lake for 26 years, but you never know what TVA will do to the lake levels.

[Majesticman]

The rule is be ready to go at a moments notice. This year during the spawn we had about three really good days the the water didn't fluctuate by 1 or 2 feet.