Calling all KY lake crappie masters!

I'm not trying to turn anyone away from Jonathan or Blood River. But every time someone askes about Ky Lake those 2 bays are the first 2 to be reccomended. They are good bays but.... they get a lot, and I mean a lot of fishing pressure. To me there is just too much company in those 2 bays that time of year. I usually fish them early in the season then after everybody starts getting out I move to other bays & catch just as many or more fish.

Barkley is a great lake & in my opinion greatly overlooked for the reasons Jigboy mentioned. He is also right about Patty's. Best porkchop you'll ever eat.

I live here and have fished these lakes for going on 40 years & have never tore anything up. But there again I don't go tearing down the lake like an idiot! If you're gonna fish Barkley 1. get a map. 2. utilize the navagation aids (buoys & dayboards). 3. Use your depth finder! 4. Use the creek channels. 5 Keep your speed under control when not in the main channel. This lake can get you! You can be running along in 30 feet of water & go 20' in the wrong direction and be in 1 foot of water or on a stump or log. It's a good lake if you use your head. :rolleyes:

I'm a towboat pilot & I run the cumberland river (Barkley Lake) all the time. I have seen some Cowboys get bucked off trying to bust up the lake too fast. Don't be scared of it, just respect it. :D

^^^^^^ What he said!, Whiskers is correct. Some of the lake areas do get pounded a lot. There are a good number of places that are underfished. Barkley is a great lake. I fish it almost exclusively, however it will bite you if not careful. Some of the little bays that are not fished a great deal are Tinsley Hollow, McNabb, Denumbers, Buzzard Rock, Little River, etc.......Do get a map and watch the bouys when traveling from spot to spot. out of the channels are fine but go slow. THE BANDIT

Barkley isnt bad if it's at summer pool and you use a little common sense,once you leave the main channel if the bay doesnt have markers (very few are marked) slow down and watch your depth. Poplar Creek and Kuttawa has some good fishing also. Bandit do you fish weekends much because I fish Dryden and Mcnabb alot and in April they are covered up, it is a little better during the weekdays.

^^^^^Yeah I fish several weekends, Since I own a business time can be hard to come by. I fish whenever the time allows. I do take off through the week when I can. When I fish weekends I try to get there early. What type of craft do you fish? I am currentley fishing a Nitro 170 with a 115 Merc. Until last year I used a 90 Hydro Sport. If you notice me give a shout. We have probably passed each other several times. THE BANDIT

I fish out of a gold colored 492vs ranger with a 225 Yamaha if you see me stop and say hello. One day last fall I seen where you posted fishing Dryden I was sure I seen you but hated to go up to someone and being wrong. I am gradually going to start fishing the LBL side more due to all the traffic this weekend planning on putting out some stake beds on that side.

On Ky don't forget Duncan, Sugar, Smith, and Sledd Creek. All have great spots if you can find them.

I ran Barkley from the mid70s to the mid 80s and what Whiskers says is the gospel. I started out with a 12 footer and a 7.5 and never had issues as long as I respected the lake. Things to watch is if they have a draw down and drop the level (not so much in the spring) because 6" can make a big difference. Couple of highly overlooked bays there are Davenport, Carmack, and Crab. i have also done well in the bay by the dam where the marina used to be (back in the early 70s???) Watch the break wall going in though. Its about underwater when I was there a couple years ago:eek:

If your gonna try Barkley, check out Crooked Creek. Its a little bit of a drive but they have a good ramp at that bay and it still has a very defined creek channel in it. Also, its not as populated as the other bays because its a little futher down the road. Just stay on the creek and you'll catch fish. There is a lot of cover on the creek channel. It runs from the mouth of the bay to the very back up to the riprap road bank. At the road there is a pipe under the road where Energy Lake drains into Crooked. The bay is shallow in comparison with most bays but not too shallow to run. It tends to really turn on during April.

Hey Ridge,

If you have trouble finding lodging around the lake try some of the near by towns. Benton, Grand Rivers, Murray, Paris (TN), Cadiz, etc. All have motels. Both chain and locally owned. Some have spots for parking trailers, charging boat batteries, just ask when you talk to them.

Old Guide

^^^^^Hey guys, watch the fellow called Old Guide, He knows what he is talking about. He is really a guide. His reputation is real good. He does a lot of posting on the Kentucky Lake. com site. He is full of useful info. and is always willing to answer the questions of us lesser fishermen. If you are looking to book a guide in the northern sections of Kentucky Lake or Barkley give him a shot. Old Guide it is good to see you on here. Whiskers is posting here as well. I want to thank you for what you do, I have fished for these little rascals for nearly 30 years. I still don't have the hang of it yet.
THE BANDIT

Yep Old Guide is Da Man on Northern Ky Lake. Good to see ya on here. It's about time you came out of the Bullpen & took the mound! :D