Where to go on Ky lake this time of year

I have Thanksgiving week off and would like to take my father in law down to Ky Lake for a few days of crappie fishing before Thanksgiving. He nor I have ever fished the lake and I would like to help him get this off his bucket list. The problem is I have no idea where to go and would like some advice. My father in law being set in his ways will not spider rig so we will be doing mostly vertical jigging. He does like to fish stumps and laydowns but not sure what that will produce this time of year. Looking for any advice on what area we should concentrate on to fish as well as suggestions on where to stay.

What little I know about ky lake I would suggest blood river or Jonathan creek. Lots of stake beds and and stumps/brush in there. Wind is always a factor on that lake so watch that and be safe. There is ramps in most coves to help you there. I personally would target 4-12fow and just vertical jig right in the goods. If you have electronics and a bigger boat or calm wind you can venture out on the drops and ledges on the main lake or in the big sandy area. Again, vertical jigging will be fine there. Target 10-25fow on the drops. The lake is really in a downswing from all the Asian carp, but still a beautiful fishery and should have fun. Good luck and be sure to post in the ky/tn forums for help too!


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emptycooler, If you don't mind going to Lake Barkley I would go there.. I was just there a week ago for the Crappie USA tournament. Most of the winners came from the
Barkley side. Eddy Creek and Little River and a few other bigger coves. The fish are way more abundant and healthier... Most of the good fish was in steakbeds. 15 to 18 ft deep. On the drops. Good luck Kentucky Lake was always a favorite of mine.

I'd second Barkley, just be careful running around at winter pool. That being said I took 3 vacation days to fish down there two weeks ago, after one day packed up and drove back up to Rend and absolutely wore them out. Kentucky lake is still one of my favorite lakes, but just doesn't seem to be like it used to.


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How bad are the asian carp on Kentucky lake? As bad as the Illinois River in the Havana/Peoria area such that some areas are just plain dangerous because of the jumping Silver carp?

Been going to Kentucky lake for 11 years. In 2014 spring I did very good went back in fall and noticed schools of carp. Each year after I have done worse this spring I had about thirty keeper crappie in a week long trip. Many carp sightings snagged lots of zebra musssels. Rend is two hours closer for me and I did better on a weekend trip there then the ky lake trip. Rend is a good jigging lake

Majority of my fish this spring came on a pink and white plastic. A chartreuse head would help. It was cold this April and even snowed

Due to the feedback on CC and the regular fisherman at work we decided to stay in So IL and fish the local lakes. Monday was a cold day and we went to Crab Orchard and today we went to Rend Lake. Both trips were successful and very enjoyable. We didnt set any records but caught our share of fish at both lakes. Thanks everybody for the feedback on my post.
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