Coin toss? (Barkley or KY Lake)

Heading down (from Indiana) to LBL around the end of October and can't decide which way to head. I'll be fishing from a Kayak, so I won't be going too awful far from wherever I'm camped. Unsure how long I'll stay around the (LBL) area, and weather/temps may be a deciding factor before heading further South.

I have looked on the internet for Campgrounds with deep enough sites (60') which somewhat limits places I can stay, but have found spots on both Lakes. Also hoping to get close enough to the water to be able to cart my Kayak to any spot which allows me to launch. Any thoughts on which way might put me on the best fish? Thanks!

If it were me. I would look at Energy Lake in LBL. You also have a camp ground right there & also access to Barkley Lake.

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Originally Posted by Wiskers

If it were me. I would look at Energy Lake in LBL. You also have a camp ground right there & also access to Barkley Lake.

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I'll second that. Don't be afraid to drive to other bays though. There are ramps all over LBL on both lakes.

Thanks guys! I'm hoping the temps stay moderate enough to stick around the area for a while (maybe the entire month of November?). I did have Hillman Ferry on my "list", but for some reason never ran across Energy Lake, or didn't think they had large enough sites. Ramp/Launch access isn't really an issue as long as there's just a spot that isn't too rough (or far) to get my Kayak in the water.

I'll be sure to check-out Energy Lake as well, really looking forward to spending some time down there, don't recall ever being down that way unless I was just too young to remember.

Thanks again for the input!

Energy would be great for kayaking. Have caught a lot of crappie in that water. It will be beautiful there that time too

Hey NeonMoon,
Sounds like my kind of trip. I have hiked ,fished and camped in the LBL since its creation.Some of my family was run off by the Feds from Twin Lake when they bought everyone out for pennies . Johnny Molloy has the best book on the LBL. JohnnyMolloy.com I helped him on some the areas to fish and camp.Watch out for some of the roads in Tennessee. I had to low lock out of Ginger Bay and all the campers there said Tn. was not doing any road maintenance in the LBL region. Hilmans Ferry(Ky) , Canal and Piney Campgrounds (Tn)will close in early November. They are the only full hookup sites in the LBL.Sounds like you are running a big rig so watch getting down some of the minor roads. There is a minor information center at the north LBL entrance on Hwy.453. ( The Trace)
Beautiful area in the fall. The deer flies should be gone by then. They are bad right now. Let me know when you are coming through and maybe I can help you out a little, Happy Trails and good fishin!

buffalo13, I gave a somewhat quick look at Energy campsites this morning, but didn't see any deep enough sites (though I may have overlooked them). I'll look again (when I'm a bit more awake), or just call them to see if they have any larger sites.

Thanks for the info ifish. I have a converted bus with a raised roof, and am right at 13' in height, though have a fair amount of ground clearance. That said, I still avoid anything that even remotely looks like something I'd have a problem navigating (wouldn't want to pay a tow Bill). I can pretty much get through anywhere any larger motorhome or larger 5th wheeler can, and assuming with the length of some of the sites at HF, they're used to accommodating larger rigs (which means they have roads sufficient to get there).

Plans are to be down there right at the end of October-1st of November, and if I get a nice spot, the weather cooperates, and the fish are biting (though the latter wouldn't be a requirement), I might max-out my stay there before trying another area of the Lake(s). I'll send you a message when I get down there, maybe we could meet-up and do some fishing. Thanks!

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Originally Posted by NeonMoon

buffalo13, I gave a somewhat quick look at Energy campsites this morning, but didn't see any deep enough sites (though I may have overlooked them). I'll look again (when I'm a bit more awake), or just call them to see if they have any larger sites.

Thanks for the info ifish. I have a converted bus with a raised roof, and am right at 13' in height, though have a fair amount of ground clearance. That said, I still avoid anything that even remotely looks like something I'd have a problem navigating (wouldn't want to pay a tow Bill). I can pretty much get through anywhere any larger motorhome or larger 5th wheeler can, and assuming with the length of some of the sites at HF, they're used to accommodating larger rigs (which means they have roads sufficient to get there).

Plans are to be down there right at the end of October-1st of November, and if I get a nice spot, the weather cooperates, and the fish are biting (though the latter wouldn't be a requirement), I might max-out my stay there before trying another area of the Lake(s). I'll send you a message when I get down there, maybe we could meet-up and do some fishing. Thanks!

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Most of the campgrounds shut down Nov. 1st.

Neon, I've stayed at Piney CG a few times. Sites #77-83 are huge and would work for you. Also right on a small inlet so dumping the yak in would be nice. Piney bay has been good for me on the feeshies too. Just an FYI.

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Originally Posted by Wiskers

Most of the campgrounds shut down Nov. 1st.

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Hillman Ferry and Piney are open until November 30th, though they shut the water off at the sites on the 1st. Energy lake stays open all year.

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Originally Posted by CatFan

Hillman Ferry and Piney are open until November 30th, though they shut the water off at the sites on the 1st. Energy lake stays open all year.

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I didn't know that. I thought you had to be outta Hillmans by Nov. 1. I knew Energy stayed open.

Good ta know.

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Originally Posted by Wiskers

I didn't know that. I thought you had to be outta Hillmans by Nov. 1. I knew Energy stayed open.

Good ta know.

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It is Nov. 30 cuz they open up bowhunting in the campground on the 1st of Dec!

Just wanted to give a quick "thanks" for the help/info. I'll just have to play it by ear, and if worse comes to worse, Reelfoot isn't that far away.

How you like to fish and how deep you like to fish need to be considered. Overall you'll find a lot more shallow water in Barkley. Energy is shallow but has a lot of ditches running thru it. You might try to get some tips about what to use before going.

Call Energy Lake campground and get a fishing report, they are pretty helpfu.

Barkley should be fairly protected from the winds. Weather is usually calm that time of year and absolutely beautiful out on the water but Kentucky can get rough if he weather picks up.
Seen several people with kaya's on Barkley, don't remember seeing many fishing out of them on Kentucky. Good Luck!