Kentucky Lake Fall bite improving

The fall bite has been hit or miss for me. We have been catching a lot of throw backs which is good. Tonight just before dark they turned on and we caught several nice keepers and lost a 2 plus at the boat. Why is it the 8 inch fish stay hooked but the 14 or 15's come unbuttoned so easy? The Crappie USA tournament is here this weekend. We have a front coming in at the start so I don't know what they will face. We may have clouds Friday which will be great as the water is pretty clear. But the passage of a cold front. as you all know, doesn't normally help the bite. I still imagine with the number of boaters (The Blood ramps were full the last few days) and the knowledge and electronics these fisherman have, it will still take 20 plus pounds to win the two day challenge. If I were a betting man I would say 23 pounds for 14 fish will get you some good money if not a win.

Nice pic Lyndon. Good to see you catching some fish and taking the time to enjoy being on the water. I been working a lot and can't wait to get back on the water Sat. Are you doing anygood on jigs at all? I have just about quit using minnows and was hoping to here a good jig bite going on this fall. have been losing some nice fish at the boat also. It is usually when I have been catching a lot of small fish and I start rushing the fish in and the 11' poles I use start unloading. I had one last year straighten my hook out at the boat.I was showing Chuckauten how to 2 pole and we both just about fell out of our seats. Big Fish!!! I don't see how Blood supports all the fishing pressure. I fished it this year for redear and that place is really busy! I bet you are right on the tourny weights. I fished that tourny before and there are some dang good fisherman in that bunch. Seems like the winning fish come out of Blood! See you and take care!

The bite is getting better and Lyndon probably is right about the weight for the winner but believe the average for the field will be down this year from last year. I've fished the same basic area the last several years and the numbers of 13"+ plus fish are down this year. IMO the 4.5-5.5yr classes are a little weak right now. Not claiming that just because I'm not catching big fish that nobody will, because somebody will, but just that the overall number of good ones is down a little. On the bright side though the 3.5yr old class is very strong so the next couple years should be great for good fish.

P.S. Buddy, the jig bite is alive and well, I wouldn't fool with minnows.

Hey Old Guide...

Your pic would be a great addition to this thread...

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/main-...unset-pix.html

Rickie

I just got back. One western bay was so full of shad at 10am I couldn't believe it. Went back at 2pm to record a sonar log to post, and couldn't find but the occasional school. Things kept changing even with stable weather. Fish are eating, but it took work to stay with them.

Caught 10 consecutive keepers in another bay off a small secondary point, and then the white bass took over and I never caught another crappie. I seem to gut hook half the white bass I catch, and it takes way too long to get the bait back in the water. I've never gotten into a string like that without catching any short fish.

Beautiful time to be on the lake, and I'm kicking myself for not staying through today.

We went out this evening. Another beautiful night. Caught a few in a 20 minute bite. I bet this will the last of the evenings when it is 70 degrees at 9 p.m.

How is your knee, back etc. doing now? Hope you are getting along better than you were in the spring.

Doing better CatFan. My back and knees still ache because of arthritus, etc. Haven't done any guiding lately. Still kind of leary about scheduling people and then wake up feeling bad. My knee replacement is working good but it still aches. But I am blessed. There are a lot of people a lot worse off than me.
Thanks for asking and take care.