Thread: Kentucky Lake spawn?

Originally Posted by tubejig

As of this writing the surface temp. on S. Ky is 59. I usually look at 60 as the magic temp. Tomorrow is supposed to be warm and will probably push the temp. up to 60. There is going to be a cool down startin Sat. and going through Wed. night. with night temps getting into the 30's, which will cool the surface temp. I know there is alot of info saying that 65 is the magic temp. but my log of several years says that 60 is when I start whacking them. I think some fish will spawn in the next 2 days and some will hold till the next warmup. I hope that's the case since I can't go until late next week. I'd like to hear what some of you guys think.

and I'm counting on it :D
I'm not going to KY Lake ... but, I am going to Watts Bar (East TN) late next week, and the temp dip & recovery should hold them where they currently are ... 10-15ft range. Last week they were still out in 20+ft of water, on WB, and still at the creek mouths/channel ledges. A week of warm weather, and slowly rising water levels, has brought them into these mid depth ranges. The cool spell should affect only those that are already in shallow water, possibly pushing them back out to the mid depths. Those already in the mid depths should probably stay there, and move shallower when the weather turns back warm. That's what I'm hoping for, anyway :D

It also doesn't hurt, that the Moon will be full on April 20th. Solunar predictions are for the hours of 9AM-2PM to be the better timeframe for the days I'll be there. (17th-20th)

As for the "water temp magic number" ... depends on which specie of Crappie we're talking about ... since Black Crappie tend to come shallow a couple of weeks prior to White Crappie (preferring cooler water temps than the White Crappie). A day or two, of cold weather, shouldn't affect matters too much, if followed up by warm days ... but, a week of much cooler temps, will slow their progress towards the shallows.

... luck2ya ... cp

What worries me is the high water we have here on the TN river/KY lake. The water is dropping now, is still at about 41/2 ft. over summer pool, but is already at 58-59 degrees. The fear is that the fish will move shallow, spawn, then they drop the water to normal levels leaving the "nests" high and dry. How likely is that? I'm no expert. Of course, we expect the cool down this weekend.

Originally Posted by BigSandyRookie

What worries me is the high water we have here on the TN river/KY lake. The water is dropping now, is still at about 41/2 ft. over summer pool, but is already at 58-59 degrees. The fear is that the fish will move shallow, spawn, then they drop the water to normal levels leaving the "nests" high and dry. How likely is that? I'm no expert. Of course, we expect the cool down this weekend.

As long as the lake is falling any at all, the crappie will retreat back out over a little deeper water. They may maintain a shallow depth but be suspended over the deeper water. They'll pull back to at least the old summer pool water line. Looks like most of the bad rain went north of us so that will help some. What rain we got in combination with the high winds should stain the water enough to help the crappie that are already shallow maintain that depth or close to it. The coming days are gonna bring some cold weather which will also help hold off the spawn. I hope!

Tubejig, I see your from BG..I teach school in Edmonson, do you fish Big Sandy?

This is a little off track, but I just got back from Lake Weiss and found 68 degree water and those fish weren't spawning yet. Most females were still out in deeper water. The eggs didn't look like they were ready yet either.

No, I usually fish LBL,Jonathan and Barkley.

This is a little off track too,I'm catching black female's on the bank full of egg's and have not caught a single male.Seem's kinda backward's to me.I've been every day this week and probally cleaned 50.This weather going to mess me up 2.

Questions from a ROOKIE.......I have been to Blood twice in the past two weeks and have caught 4 crappie total. Have not found ANY fish shallow....all 4 were whites and all
in deeper than 15 ft. Have fished structure in over 15 ft deep along with shallow water.
Where are the blacks? Have they spawned already ? Are they holding deeper and getting ready to move up with the whites? Are they way,way back in the flooded cover ? Obviously I would love HELP from all you experienced crappie men. HELP !