Kentucky Lake Timing

[sermak]

We will be coming down to the Jonathan Creek area on Kentucky Lake for our annual crappie trip during the first week of April. This week usualy works out very well for us as far as crappie activity goes. However, I'm a little concerned this year because the water seems to be warming earlier than usual and warm weather is forecast for the next 2 weeks. What do you guys think? Will we still be able to get in on a good crappie bite this year or will we be too late? Thanks.

[Wiskers]

I mainly fish the north end. I was catching a lot of White crappie while I was home in about 10' to 12' of water. The water temp was around 51 to 52. The Blacks were being cought as shallow as 3' to 5' but they always come in earlier than the Whites. It is just my opinion but I think the first week of April is gonna be about the peek. The blacks should be in full swing & the whites won't be far behind. I'm stuck on this towboat until 4/10 so I'm praying for a couple of good hard cold fronts! :D Hope you do well.

[Rowdy]

Whiskers
If your gonna pass Jonathan April1-7 Blow the big horn ,I'll come out and get ya!
If the water is rough bring your BIG BOAT in and we can fish of it!!:D

Dont be asking the BOSS for cold weather,It needs to be about 62'deg water temp Sunday, overcast, a 3 mph wind from west to east,That should do it!:p

Rowdy

[crappie ken]

i was wondering the same thing ,ill be ther from 3-30 to 4-7 ,Full moon also plan to fish at night some, dont catch all of em crappie ken

[crappie52]

i agree, even if it stays warm till then i think the first week will be peak.

[saluki]

I hope you guys are right, I will be at Big Bear April 1-7. Mid 60's, overcast, and low winds will be just fine... All 7 days (yea right- not with my luck)

[sermak]

I hope you guys are right. Since there is noting i can do about it anyway...i guess I'll stop worrying. Here is another one for you....When do the redear start biting on Kentucky lake in the spring and what is the best way to go after them? Any advise would be appreciated.

[jfross2]

sermak,

In the last 9 years I have fished KY Lake it seems the Redear start biting good before the Bluegill reach peek spawn, thus your best bet for the Redear is probably around early to mid May.

The best pattern I have found for the Redear is to search for coves with sand, rock or pebble bottoms and fish 3-5' deep with a small (1/32 oz) jig tipped with a Waxworm, Cricket, Meal Worm or just plain Red Worm. These 4 types of live bait all work well, with the Cricket probably holding a slight edge. If you fish the coves with mud bottoms you are wasting your time in my opinion. The best way to tell what type of bottom the cove has if you don't have electronics, or aren't confident in interpreting what your electronics display, is to dip a long rod or cane pole in the water and feel the bottom. You will definetly be able to tell whether it is mud or not. The ideal place to find is a pebble bottomed cove with vegetation growing from the bottom; the Redear seem to prefer this. One other thing to make note of is that Redear generally seem to prefer a more protected, quiet cove than the Bluegill. The Bluegill will virtually spawn anywhere, whereas the Redear seek slacker waters.

I have a few questions for you sermak. I have always wanted to fish Ky. Lake in April for Crappie but have never done so since I live in Lexington and can't get off work at that time. You say you make an annual trip Jonathan Creek. What methods do you use to catch your crappie? Also, do you fish the stake beds in Jonathan Creek or do you stay out toward the mouth of the cove in deeper water? Do you fish any other creeks such as Blood River, Big Bear etc.? Can you give me an estimate of the number of Crappie you have caught in a good day of fishing in years past?

Thanks and if you have any other questions about the Redear or Bluegill please don't hesitate to ask!

[sixfin]

We've been fishing Big Bear and Jonathon the past week. The fish were shallow the week before last but that cold snap scattered them and sent them back out. We're picking up 20-30 fish a trip but we are fishing pretty hard and hitting our stake beds. Also, the fish we are cleaning are 95% males. It seems that the guys who are just drift fishing are doing about as good as we are or maybe just a little bit better. We try our shallow stuff every trip out but only catching 8 and 9" fish. In my opinion, it ought to start getting good this next coming week because we are going to have warm nights. That's a key in getting the water temp up and stable. With that being said, I think the first week of April ought to be a barn burner if we don't get any more big cold fronts or they drop the bottom out of the lake.

[Wiskers]

Whiskers
If your gonna pass Jonathan April1-7 Blow the big horn ,I'll come out and get ya!
If the water is rough bring your BIG BOAT in and we can fish of it!!:D

Dont be asking the BOSS for cold weather,It needs to be about 62'deg water temp Sunday, overcast, a 3 mph wind from west to east,That should do it!:p

Rowdy

I'm setting at Ky. Lock right now! It's gonna be hard to find a trolling motor for this rig though! She's 168' long and 40' wide and sets about 10' in the water!