Im from Il and have been goin to Ken lake for 6 yaers.The frist year we came down was the best we killed em.08 was pretty good bad wheater at the end of the trip.The only time I can make it this year is April 15 for a few days is that to late?.
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Im from Il and have been goin to Ken lake for 6 yaers.The frist year we came down was the best we killed em.08 was pretty good bad wheater at the end of the trip.The only time I can make it this year is April 15 for a few days is that to late?.
I think you will be alright. We usually try to keep the last week in March all the way through the 2nd week in April open. I stay with a buddy in Aurora. He lives down there and fishes the lake regularly. This kind of gives me an advantage on finding when the hard spawn is. You can also watch the fishing reports on Kentuckylake.com and they are pretty accurate. But I wouldn't worry about it. Yes, you may have to search for them, but anytime you can take a trip to Kentucky Lake you should take advantage of it. Crappie can be caught at anytime of the year........you just have to work a little at it. Good luck!!
You should be okay with that, not all crappie spawn at the same time. I've been there that late and killed them. Like dkb23 said, thay can be caught anytime.
I like to hear that.Last year went the second week of April and couldnt catch a cold.Fished boold river and near sportsman lodge total for four days was 12.So maybe a week later will be better.
Last year the water level were really high and they were pulling the lake pretty hard all spring. I suspect the water levels had more to do with the bad fishing than anything. We were there the third week last year and didn't do much goo either until out last day. We did catch more short fish than we've ever caught though.Quote:
Originally Posted by ronnbo
This year I'll be there April 7-11. I'm thinking of going back in May for the gills and redears.
Baring any crazy weather, the blacks will be winding down if not completely done by the time you get there. They make up about 70% of the population now.
I did catch a lot of short whites last year that will be keepers this year. You should/might be able to pick off some whites with the ocassional late black throwed in.
The guys are right. You can catch them bout anytime, and I do. I fish year round. I prefer fall and winter. Fish are just tight lipped post spawn.
thanks for the info guys.I think I might be able to get there a week sooner which would be the 8th thru the 15th.what would be the best method roadrunners or minnows
I am a big roadrunner fan. Has always done well for me.
No one can ever predict what they will be doing for sure, but I would suggest going earlier if possible as post spawn fish can be really tough. As Wiskers said....blacks will probably be done by then.
We caught these the 2nd week og April in 08. The females still had eggs. We do fish the northern end of the lake. I think all we blacks. We were culling everything under 11"
http://i391.photobucket.com/albums/o...8kylake003.jpg
The Old Man And I Will Be Down There April 8th-11 In Jonathan.. We Usually Try To Hit The 2nd To Last Week Or Last Week In March, But Do To Work Schedules, Kids, Cant Do The A 3 Or 4 Dayer... Im Sure We'll Sneak Down There For A Couple Overnighters In March... We'll Be Drifting Around In Jonathan Creek Aimlessly... So If You See A Couple Fellars Just Taking In The Relaxtion And Acting Dumbfounded You'll Know Who It Is... I Agree With Making It In March.....
LOL.....I know what you mean there. It takes awhile to figure them out when you can't be down there all the time.
thanks again fellas the thing dont understand is how you guys do so well in so sotten wheather 4 years ago couldnt even get out on the water maybe Im not fishin the right way
Think outside the box. If they are not shallow, then they have to be deeper and usually on brush. Kentucky is full of brush that people have set out......at lease I think that is where it has came from. You just have to find the structure. Use your electronics and move around.....just like we have to in Illinois. Good luck.
those are some nice fish.We where there the second week of april 08 it seemed like the water was high caught most of our fish in the trees.Two of the five days we where there wheather was crap.I fish for walleye's and smallmouth most of the time so when it comes to crappie's I need all the help I can get.Maybe Ill run in too some of you guys and we can pop a cold one and tell some lies.
I like cold ones!!!!:)
Im not sure about the dates now work might slow down for awhile so I might be able to come a little sooner than I thought but I will try and let you know dkb23 a coulpe of colds sound good
I mean a couple of cold ones sound goodQuote:
Originally Posted by ronnbo
.. and be aware of the "open container" law, on KY waters ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by ronnbo
Save the "cold ones" for when you get back to camp :p
... cp :cool:
I would highly recommend saving the cold ones for back at camp. I got a ticket for an open beer a few years ago on our pontoon. That one beer cost me $185:eek:
dont really know the laws in Kentucky as far as open contaniers on the water but always wait till we get back to camp
Here's the law : KRS 222.202Quote:
Originally Posted by ronnbo
"KY law specifically prohibits the drinking of alcoholic beverages in public places ... and the waterways of this state are considered public places.
Further, in a public place, persons who are manifestly under the influence of alcoholic beverages to the extent that they may unreasonably annoy or endanger themselves or others shall be subject to arrest."
(copied from 2010 KY Fishing & Boating Guide, published by KDFWR)
And, just as a reminder ... KDFWR has changed the daily limit of Crappie on KY/Barkley Lakes (within the borders of those lakes ruled by KY licensing law) to 20/person per day. Possession Limit is 2 daily limits of unprocessed fish. Size Limit on Crappie is 10 inches (mouth closed/tail pinched).
Stay safe, stay legal, and have a great trip !!
... cp :cool:
Pappy,
Haven't been to KY lake for years what was the limit before the change ??
Z21
30 fish 10" limitQuote:
Originally Posted by Ranger Z21
Thanks crappiepappy for the info shouldnt be a problem hope we can catch some fish thanks again.
That's great, might finally get to say I caught a limit on KY Lake.
Dennis
I still like the cold one idea:) LOL .......at camp though:))
This really says it all for Ky Lake(or really any lake). I rarely can get there before April so we just go looking. We have 4 guys in 2 boats and we usually fish different patterns until one of us comes up with something. This year I'm trying to talk a friend of mine into going down a couple of days before me. I'm hoping he can find some fish before we get there.Quote:
Originally Posted by dkb23
we try and go the second week of april wev'e done okay a coulpe times last two years couldn't catch a hickory shad.Where goin try and time it this year. prayin to the fish gods.Ill try and post when we will be there.
... it was back in the early 1970's :eek: :p
Always went around the end of the third week in April. Always fished Barkley, & usually from the dam to the prison ... small bays & main lake cuts with buckbrush/buttonball bushes or flooded brush/timber ... 10-12ft fiberglass poles w/minners under a slip float. Camped at the Corps campgrounds at the canal. Almost always found them bedding in <4ft water. Cold mornings turned into the 50's & 60's by afternoon.
Many years later -
The "one" best trip I ever had on KY Lake ... went in early April - fished a small bay up near the dam - caught'em on Roadrunners in flooded field weeds in about 6ft of water, while our companion boat caught theirs on minnows while drifting just outside of where we were. It was cold & rainy (mid 30's air temps).
Been on both lakes when they were flooded ... but still managed to find some fish. Fished Barkley, when flooded, and found the Crappie to be holding on the trunks of flooded live trees, in 2-4ft of water. They were nose to tree trunk, so you had to put your minner right next to the trunk ;) or they wouldn't hit. Water was dirty brown, but clearing. Another guy in our party fished KY Lake, same pattern & same result.
Many more years later -
Another buddy & I fished KY Lake, when flooded ... and found the fish scattered. Water was clear, and we caught fish from around everything from flooded concrete picnic tables, to along cliff walls, and even some keeper Sauger (caught off a small brushpile in 12-15ft of water).
If'n I was goin' there, now ... I'd seriously study the Crappie Movement Study Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources - Kentucky Lake - Crappie Movement Study ... and try & coordinate my plans to account for the major changes that have taken place over the last decade. ;)
... cp :cool:
Sounds like you know the lake pretty good pappy wish I lived closer and had more time.Hey dkb23 when you use roadrunners do you tip em with anything or use scent?.I mostly walleye and smallmouth fish not real good at this crappie stuff.
I can't really say I know the lakes, at all :p .... I was just lucky enough to have good contact info (before going), and the dogged determination to fish the way that provided the most success (whether or not it was the way I "wanted" to fish) :D
My experiences with Roadrunners has been that KY/Barkley Crappie seem to like them, quite a bit ;) ... and, I've never tipped them or scented them. About the only thing I've ever done to a Roadrunner, to change it in any way, is to trim the marabou tail ... usually cutting it off about halfway between the hook bend & the tip of the tail. I've found that this "can" do two things - it can cause the short strikers to get hooked more often .... and it can keep the tail hair from tangling up in the swivel. It does make the profile of the bait a little smaller, but that hasn't seemed to make a hugh difference. I've used marabou Roadrunners, almost exclusively, for decades. Not that the others don't work, or that I don't have other versions, just that I've had reasonable enough success with them that I haven't seen the need to change, yet. ;)
... cp :cool:
We do not tip the roadrunners. Most of the time we are casting or trolling them. Unlike crappiepappy, we use the grub tailed roadrunners. I have used the marabou type before but seemed to have more luck on the grub tailed ones. Last year it was anything that was green or chartreuse in color. Just goes to show you that everyone has there own ways to catch fish. It is all what you have confidence in. Good luck.
dkb
after the last two years we might need some luck.Would hire a guide for a few days but can't afford it.Have to travel real cheap this year.When you guys troll do you use a kicker motor and how fast do you troll. When I troll for walleyes I just gotta make sure my lure is diggin the bottom pretty simple.Thanks again fellas
when will you guys start fishin for crappies?.
Most of us started before we were teenagers, I'm sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by ronnbo
hehe
I fish for crappie all year long! As far as trolling....watch some youtube video's and go to a sight called Myoutdoortv.com and look at some of those video's. You will grasp the concept from these. It is not hard. If you can troll and catch walleye's you should be able to do the same on crappie.
dkb
We normally use minows and bobber one pole and then throw road runners,countdown crankbait,mini rattle traps anything small.I think it would be cool to troll for some crappie"s.Like pappy said you gotta try somthin your not use to I quess.Where do you normally fish dkb23,in the main lake?.
just picked up my new ultra lite hope I can hang on to this one.The last one went over the side of the boat jiggin with my grandson,got his line snagged set my pole down like a dummy looked up in time to see it go over the side don't know if it was a fish or snag 200 bucks
hey dkb23 what kinda grubs do you use with your roadrunners?.