Cave Run

[BigMarv]

Has anyone been to Cave Run this spring? Are they biting yet?

[Backlash]

Big Marv, I'm going tomorrow (Thursday). I'll post something after I get back. I'll probably fish in the Poppin' Rock area. I have heard of a few people catching some keeper size crappies in that area last week before the cold snap hit over the weekend.

[Kristoffer]

Marv,
This is part of my March 12 post to another inquiry about Cave Run:

My dad and I fished Cave Run yesterday after Church. We did not get on the water until 2:30 pm or so. We put in at Bangor and tried to find some clear water. Most of the water was very dingy or stained at best. We had been on the main lake Friday and only found 42 degree water. We were able to find 49 degree water toward Poppin Rock on the Licking River (obviously the ice is gone now). This time of year the fish are still grouped up on brush around the main river channel. On warm sunny days like yesterday they tend to move up as shallow as 3 feet of water over 20-30 feet. You should be able to catch several by using a slip float and minnow around standing timber or brush. We caught 25-30 yesterday using this method. We kept just 8 fish as most were small, but we had 4 fish over 10.5 inches and one that measured 13 inches. Several already had eggs.

The water should be warmer and clearer by now. You should be able to catch some good ones by fishing in 3-8 feet of water around standing timber with a float and minnows. Stay on the move and hit plenty of stumps. Good luck and let me know how you do.

[gopreach]

Fished Cave Run today. We spent most of the day in Beaver Creek. The lower lake is muddy. Water temps were 46-47. The wind really kicked up starting at 10am. It was a tough day to fish. We caught a few fish early on minnows and tube baits. My buddy caught one 13" fish. Most were small. We saw a few other people catching fish but all we saw were small as well. By 1pm the big water at the mouth of Beaver was getting pretty rough for my boat. I am sure the big muskie rigs did not have any problems but it was more wave action than I care for. It was great to be out on the water however and a real comfort to have everything on the boat work without a hitch. I have a trip to Kentucky Lake planned in 18 days. These next two weeks will probably be the best weeks to fish down there but I cant get away until after Easter. Please keep posting if you fish Cave Run. I hope to get back in a few days. Fishing should really get good there by next weekend.

GOPREACH

[Backlash]

Fished in the Poppin' Rock area yesterday and did OK up until about noon when the wind got almost unbearable. We caught quite a few on minnows but most were on the small side. Most were caught at 12 - 15 feet in 20 - 25 feet of water. All were caught around standing timber. Water was stained to almost muddy and very low. Temps ran in the upper 40's to low 50's. Couldn't use dock at Poppin' Rock since it's on dry land right now and water in places was dangerously low. Rain hit at around 3:00 which made the wind of up to 35 mph too much for this old man to deal with. All in all not a bad day and it still beat working.