I am getting the impression from looking at maps of both lakes and from fishing in both of them that there are just more people sinking brush in Kentucky than in Barkley. When you look at a map of Bear or Jonathon or Big Sandy it looks absolutely eat up with brush piles. These are just the ones that make it on the map too, not counting all the "secret" spots. Take a look at some maps of the bays on Barkley and there seems to be far fewer marked spots, i.e. KDFWR stake beds and marked brush piles.

Seems to me if you want to make a real sweet spot you should pick a creek arm or bay on the east side of Ky far from a boat ramp and build away. Granted by doing this you are limiting yourself on the amount of time you will be able to fish it due to its distance from a ramp and due to the fact that if the wind gets up you may or may not be able to get down the main lake to it.
My .02.