Guessing Ky Lake

Ok guys I know the lake has been up to or over summer pool for a bit. I know they are dropping it rapidly. Do you think, feel, that the lake will be down to winter pool and stabilized by Thanksgiving. We were planning a trip to Ky lake for 4 days starting on Thanksgiving. We do not want to make the 8 hour trip pulling the boat if the lake is going to be dropping a foot a day. Hopefully someone from down there can have a better feel for lake stages than I know. Thanks for any opinions you may want to share.

The best advice that I know of is for you to go to explorekentuckylake.com

There is a section that lists lake conditions. Things can change rapidly and it is almost impossible to predict. I would say if the lake is stable for a day or two go ahead and go.

Thanks Pete.
I was checking the lake levels and they seem to of slowed down on their rate of drawdown. I just kinda figured that possibly some of the locals from down there may have a better idea as to what to except. We usually go down the end of Oct and have some real good success. This year we just couldn't make it at the usuall time.

TVA: Reservoir Information

This may help. It gives a few days notice of what to expect. Good luck! I haven't been out cuz I'm trying to kill a deer........but i SUCK at it!:eek:

I have been able to catch a few fish the last few weeks as the water was falling. I caught 11 nice keepers friday afternoon.

barring heavy rains the levels should be stabilizing by the time you get here

Thanks all. I was hoping by next week that lake levels should be somewhat stabilized. Do you think any of the white or yellow bass will still be back in the coves? I know them little yellar b*stards are a pain in the butt, but they do fry up and are pretty tasty. I am way behind in my supply of fish in the freezer this year.

Just be careful running the lake at winter pool. It will bite you!

I fished till just past noon on Friday (had to quit early because of an appointment) and caught 14 while trolling near the mouth of Jonathan. All of the fish came in the same location just off one of the creek banks as you enter Jonathan creek from the main lake. I caught 2 fish at 12 ft around brush, 5 fish between 16 -20 ft further down the ledge. But then I caught the last 7 at 23-24 ft with my depth finder reading about 24.8. All seven were nice slabs totally gorged on shad. The largest weighed 2.6 lbs. A few of the fish came on minnows, but the majority came on lemon-colored panfish assassins tipped with minnows. I don't know the actual name of the jigs but I call them "lemon-drops" cause that's what they remind me of. They are the best color jig I've found for Kentucky Lake...and I have been fishing the lake for 40+ years.

I fished this morning (Sat) at Kenlake at the mouth of the creek there. Again I was fishing water 23-26 ft deep. The fish seemed to have moved up a bit as the water movement is slowing. I caught 9 keepers and about that many little fish at 16 to 18 ft deep. It was hard to crappie fish because of the yellow bass. I was trolling with 6 rods and at times had yellow bass biting every rod. From 20 to 25 ft deep, the yellow bass were murder. That's why I ended up fishing shallower for the crappie. Glad I did.

We were at Big Sandy hunting last weeekend. Went out fri and sat evening to catch enough for supper and fished an hour each day. Fri we caugh ten (10-15') and sat we stopped at eight because four were at the 2# mark. (18-25#) Hope this helps.

Thanks Downwind for the warning about lake levels. I have been there in the spring and in the fall. It is always an education and an eye opener to go there at winter pool and see all the stuff out of the water you never new was there. I primarly stay in the Big Bear and Moors area. Know that part of the lake pretty good and have usually had good success. Sounds like they are starting to hit pretty good. Save me a few. Don't catch them all. I may have to look for some yellow jigs. I have 50 different colors I think but yellow. Well I do have some old yellow mariboo jugs. Old timers jigs I call them but they still catch fish.
Thanks everyone for your info. Everyone have a good Thanksgiving. We'll be on the water catching crappie I hope