April crappie week

[yankee doodler]

Hey all:

Michigander here lookin' for ADvice on the best chance for fish the first full week in April. Know the weather's gonna dictate some of that. Fished the south end of Kentucky a few years back and had limited success. Think we may have been early then??? Don't have thermometer on my finder so didn't know the water temp. Some said Barkley was doin better back then so tho't we might try there, or perhaps Nolin. Anybody wanna shout?

[sixfin]

Hey Yankee,
Barkley always seems to be a little behind Kentucky on the bite. I fish the North end of Ky and one of my fishin' buddies fishes Crooked Creek on Barkley. When we are starting to wind down on this end, he's just starting to wind up. You would think it would be the other way around because Barkley is a shallower lake. But you are right...it all depends on the temp of the water. Just keep watching this forum and people will let you know when the bite is "on"!

[yankee doodler]

Hey thanks Sixfin. I have been parusing this site ever since my fishin' partner (also my wife) and I decided to try Kentucky again over spring break (she works for local school district). There's a lot of good people and advice. I'll be pullin' a 5th wheel w/ the boat taggin' along. We are planning on staying at one of the many campgrounds. I'll be back in touch soon, and will make sure to share pics and lies after our trip.:D

[dojig]

Hey doodler
your timing may be good as far as catching fish is concerned, but the weather has the final say-so. The earlier the better as far as I'am concerned. Things has changed in the last few years for crappie fishing- black as opposed to white crappie. If your not catching fish, then you are probably fishing to deep...black crappie can be found in shallow water right up next to the bank in 18" of water.
Also, the first part of April is KEA week, when all the public schools are out for spring break, a lot of people camping, so camping spaces are at a premium. Plan ahead...

[caseydrew]

If I had to pick a week to fish the 1st week of April is traditionally a great time. I personally prefer Kentucky Lake, but Barkley is probably just as good. As you know water temp is a big player, but if you find isolated cover on flats in 6' to 10' of water you should catch some fish. Fish are on the banks as well, but 20 boats have probably cast to the same laydown as you by 10:00 a.m. and the isolated brush on the flat might not have seen a jig yet. Good luck.

[yankee doodler]

Thanks for the advice guys. I tho't I saw a site that had real-time water temps, etc. for Kentucky/Barkley, but can't seem to find it back. I reckon it won't matter much as I will have reservations made well in advance at a campground and will be locked into fishin' near there as my puddle jumper boat won't take me too far too fast. It seems like most of you are likin' Kentucky or Barkley better than Nolin...right?

[caseydrew]

This is by far the best site for water levels and temps on Kentucky Lake....also it has a searchable database if you want to look back to see water temps in years past.

http://www.murraystate.edu/qacd/cos/hbs/wq.cfm

Good Luck and yes my pick is Kentucky Lake w/ Barkley an extremely close 2nd.

[Boone]

This is by far the best site for water levels and temps on Kentucky Lake....also it has a searchable database if you want to look back to see water temps in years past.

http://www.murraystate.edu/qacd/cos/hbs/wq.cfm

Good Luck and yes my pick is Kentucky Lake w/ Barkley an extremely close 2nd.

Casey, thanks for the link to Murray State. Good Information on there .

Good Fishing,

Gary

[yankee doodler]

Yeah, thanks Casey. Just got out a work and checked out the link. Not sure if that's the one I stumbled on, but it has all the stuff ya need to know. Took Dojig's advice and quite dinkin' around and reserved a campsite on Barkley at the state park. Hope the lakeshore there is conducive to beachin' the boat as I don't want to pull 'er out if I don't have to. Have to do some e-scoutin' to see what's all around that area for lake geography, etc.