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fished walnut creek area of Barren this morning.
We put in at 6"30 and fished till 11. Caught 2 keepers. Was tough to say the least.
I almost NEVER fish with bluebird skies...but a buddy had bought a new boat and wanted to go. The wind was out of the southeast, skies high and blue, and back end of a cold front. I knew better!
There were a lot of people there fishin but didn't see anyone catching.
Hopefully we will get some rainy or at least overcast weather soon.
We need some rain!
I hear you! Barren stumped me as well a couple Fridays ago. I caught 17 fish, but only two keepers. Saw the article in Kentucky Afield talking about Barren being a hidden gem for crappie. If it is, I haven't seen proof of it.
Forecast doesn't show a chance of rain for a while. Things are unusally dry for this time of year.
If it is a hidden gem it is well hidden. I have caught them over there but never had a barn burner day like could occur on KY or Barkley. Green River seems to even be a better lake for crappie than Barren.
I just keep filling that lake with brush and new spots and keep on keepin on.
they are there..
I have been fishing it since 1969 and have had some awesome days. The crappie on barren seem to really be on or off. Depends a LOT on conditions. If you can catch the barometer falling, cloudy skies [better yet drizzling rain] and the lake rising slowly or stabilized your chances are MUCH greater for having a good day. IT is hard to catch it just right. Add in the fact that the Corps WILL pull the water right off the eggs some years sure doesn't help.
As for it being a "gem" I don't think I'd go that far.
I do think the cat fishing is very very good [even though I am not a cat fisherman] I read once that it was in the top 10 or so in the country at one time. [was in field and stream I think]. There sure is no problem catching some cats when you want to.
The older I get the more "selective" I am as to when I fish. I just have trouble going fishing on Barren when I know the cards are against me. You can just about bet that if the lake conditions aren't like I described you aren't going to have a "gem" of a day.
This lake has a lot of fishing pressure too. Most do in this day and age. I have been crappie fishing and had boats bumping into me in the channels. I have had guys roll in and bump into me as they tied to the tree I was fishing over and say "I put out this bed, you don't mind if I fish with you do you?" I have had bass fisherman about swamp my boat as they go from 75 to 0 and slide rite in front of me throw 3-4 times fire it up and go another 200 yards WIDE open and shut it down again cast 3-4 more times and do it again. This kinda stuff is worse on the weekends so I almost NEVER go on the weekends. I still try and be sportsman like any time I go n matter how some others act.
With all this said.....I guess my point is that the days that will produce "gem" days of crappie fishing on Barren are few and far between but they still can be had. One just has to be selective and know when to go and when to not go.
Good fishing Guys!