Thread: Barkley/Kentucky

On a trip down in the Barkley side and not having much luck. Any pointers for a first timer on these lakes? I need to put enough enough the boat to have a little fish fry while camping this week. It’s been so hot everywhere the bite has been horrific the last month or so for me. Thanks in advance

Where at on Barkley? If the crappie aren't cooperating, you could always swap over to the white bass, they should be running pretty good near the Ashland terminal now.

We are staying at the KOA at Prizer Point. I don’t see anything for Ashland Terminal on the map or the google machine. Where exactly is that? Thanks in advance

Originally Posted by SurfBum

We are staying at the KOA at Prizer Point. I don’t see anything for Ashland Terminal on the map or the google machine. Where exactly is that? Thanks in advance

River Mile 38 on your charts, main channel swings close to shore, there's a big flat next to the main channel where the white bass congregate to herd shad. Try to Google these coordinates:

37.017566, -88.139756

I've caught a lot of sauger here too. Either bounce a silver spoon on the bottom or cast it into the jumps. If they are in the jumps, tie on two white curly tailed grubs and catch them two at a time. Just drift around on the big flat until you find them, then mark the spot and load up on them. 17 ft is usually the magic depth for sauger, white bass will be anywhere between 25 ft deep and 0 ft, watch for schools on your electronics.

Originally Posted by artcarney_agr

River Mile 38 on your charts, main channel swings close to shore, there's a big flat next to the main channel where the white bass congregate to herd shad. Try to Google these coordinates:

37.017566, -88.139756

I've caught a lot of sauger here too. Either bounce a silver spoon on the bottom or cast it into the jumps. If they are in the jumps, tie on two white curly tailed grubs and catch them two at a time. Just drift around on the big flat until you find them, then mark the spot and load up on them. 17 ft is usually the magic depth for sauger, white bass will be anywhere between 25 ft deep and 0 ft, watch for schools on your electronics.

Those coordinates were spot on to find it. Fished the flats and caught a couple drum but no jumps at all this morning. It did turn into a fantastic Asian carp bow fishing opportunity though. That’s another first for me!

Originally Posted by SurfBum

Those coordinates were spot on to find it. Fished the flats and caught a couple drum but no jumps at all this morning. It did turn into a fantastic Asian carp bow fishing opportunity though. That’s another first for me!

Well dang. It's a good catfish spot too, I caught a 40 lb blue in that spot one time.

Originally Posted by artcarney_agr

Well dang. It's a good catfish spot too, I caught a 40 lb blue in that spot one time.

That’s much larger than any cat I have ever caught. I’m not really setup for fish for them and I don’t eat them so don’t fish for them often. Nice catch for you though

It’s a pretty good ways north of you, near Money Cliff on the lake maps. Or downstream of Buzzard Rock on right hand side if you are headed downstream from Buzzard Rock area.

Awesome I appreciate the help. I don’t mind making that run. We took a run to the Quarry yesterday to see the graffiti wall. Took about 45-50 min so not a terrible run. The lake is DEAD right now so wake and boat traffic is no issue at all...for once!

There's an old island along the east side of the main channel near Buzzard Rock, same kind of deal, main channel swings by a big flat but it's actually a shallower flat than the one near the Ashland terminal.

It's in the vicinity of these coordinates at about River Mile 39.4:

37.032052, -88.132845

I've even caught them in the jumps at the mouth/entrance to Buzzard Rock:

37.042120, -88.139786

You may want to spend some time in Buzzard Rock/Poplar Creek - there's a railroad bed that goes across the bay, it goes from one side to the other, it passes close to the fuel dock and then under the biggest/longest dock in the bay. There's good depth and lots of rocks, I caught several crappie off of it this past spring.

Hope that helps you some.