Nightstalking KY Lake

[Trip L]

Howdy all. Iwas wondering if anyone nightstalks crappie at KY lake. I have alot of luck on other lakes using this style of fishing for crappie. I night fish these belly filling slabs year round on Douglas, Taylorsville, Cave-Run, Norris and I am going to try it this spring and early summer at KY lake. If anyone has some input I'd like to hear it. Good luck fishen and never be found wanting.

[Old Guide]

Hi Trip,

Some of my fastest crappie action on Kentucky Lake has been at night. Either casting a jig or watching lighted bobbers is my norm. Usually jigs like Roadrunners are what I use 90% of the time. This may be right or wrong I feel the small blade helps attract strikes. But I am one of only a handful of anglers fishing that way. Most fish daytime hours only. I enjoy late evening, night and early morning as I am usually alone and not fighting for spots. Also I see the shallow bite improve during the low light conditions. I have seen them biting 30 yards from shore an hour before dark and by sunset they have moved shallow and I am getting hits right off the shore. Some real fun fishing happens after the sun goes down.

[Trip L]

Hi OLd Guide,

I am glad to hear it. I like to cast around lighted docks and if i find the right place I'll anchor down and throw out some lights and jig or cast or both. I found a couple of spots near the towers (South of the 79 bridge) that seem to have some structure that may produce some good fishen. I like using lights and hanging minows off the side of the boat and then I'll cast and try to pick up a few in the darker water. thanks again, good luck fishen and never be found wanting.

[EDDY CREEK BANDIT]

Hello Old Guide,
Just what tyde of light do you use for your night trips? I am ging to try it in ernest this year. I promise myself the same thing every year but this time I am going to do it.
THE BANDIT

[EDDY CREEK BANDIT]

And while I am at it and begging for info, Name a month you would suggest.
THE BANDIT

[Old Guide]

Hey Bandit and Trip,

I bet you (Trip) will find the same luck there I have found a little further north in Blood and Jonathan. In fact I would bet on it.

I have done the crappie light and minnow thing a bunch of times myself. The last several years however I haven't even owned a crappie light. I use a Thill stick bobber with a light stick stuck to the top side or I simple cast a jig into the dark. I really don't worry about seeing. My eyes adjust some to the dark and I have a good idea where I am at. It's really a blast casting into darkness and feeling a slab nail a roadrunner. It don’t get much better then that.

Also another trick I have found if you're having trouble figuring out where your brush or stakes are at is to tape a light stick to the side of your marker before dropping it overboard. They are good for several hours after activation. It’s a blast to have your lighted bobbers within a few feet of your marker and watch it sink a few feet under and see the glow through the water knowing a crappie is on the other end. Sounds crazy but it is a blast.

Of course you need a flashlight for break offs and re-tieing, etc. But other then my all around light being on from time to time I have no lights in the boat. It is really peaceful.

As far as when this begins I start in the spring, just in a few weeks, use the pattern often in through summer in the right spots and have caught them that way up into early December. The only time I haven't had much luck is when the water gets into the low 50's and below.

[caseydrew]

I also plan on doing it every year on KY lake, but this year I'm not going to just talk about it. We have done it in Texas many times w/ great luck fishing w/ a large green light and dropping minnows around the boat. However, Old Guide's suggestion of throwing roadrunners and feeling the "thump" sounds like a lot of fun. I bass fish on KY Lake at night in the summers and it is a blast. Anyone else out there have tips on night fishing KY lake?

[JTMavs]

Just wondering, how quick will the floating lites take down a battery? I'd like to try this when down there in April.

[caseydrew]

Just wondering, how quick will the floating lites take down a battery? I'd like to try this when down there in April.

Never had any problems w/ one draining a battery, but I always used a freshly charged one that was used only for the light and nothing else.

[3's]

We never have tried it for crappie but used to "stalk" Barkley for whites and hybrids. We used 2 floating lights on one deep cycle battery and ran them from o dark 30 til as late as 4 AM and they were still up pretty good. I too am going to try in my home waters of IL but may have to bring the lights when we head down to the lake area in May/June:D