Kentucky Lake/Blood River Side Scan

Hi All,

I thought for those new to crappie fishing and especially those new to side scan technology I would upload a video from a few days ago I took while sidescanning in Blood River. I acquired my first sidescan before they hit the market years ago thanks to a friend who consults with Humminbird who got me on their pro/guide/staff. So I have been using it for severeal years now. I often have people in my boat who don't see what I see mainly because of experience. If you own a sidescan nothing is a better teacher than time on the water.

I spend time sidescanning both new and old areas for new fishing spots. I like late afternoon and evening and even at night when it is warm. The lake is more calm, no boat traffic, and small objects on the screen are easier to see.

In this video I actually show two spots. One is just leaving the screen when the video starts. The second shows up a few seconds later. Many beds in Blood are round because people anchor and spin circles while driving stakes from their boat. They look like a doughnut. There are also a few like this in Jonathan. Most others you will see in Jonathan and north to Bear are square or rectangle. Mostly square or rectangle beds are what you will see when sidescanning south into Tennessee.

No one wil give out GPS coordinates to their favorite honey holes. But if you know what you are looking for when using sidescan you at least have somewhere to start. Just click the picture below to start the video.

Take care especially since we are going into the winter months and falling into cold water can be a death sentence if you are not prepared. God Bless you and your family!

Lyndon (Old Guide)


http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/g...ice/th_020.jpg

Great info , thanks!
I have never owned a side scan, would have never guessed that was a stake bed, probably would have never even noticed it.

You know the sad part is that someone spent a lot of time and money putting out this structure. If everyone would put their own structure out then each person wouldn't have to put out so much, so they can find just a few to fish that someone isn't sitting on. What is the worst part is the guides that are making a living using someone elses structure.
I know when it is put in the water it is public domain, but when you pull up on it and a guide is sitting on it, with clients, making money, it makes you want to ask for your cut of the trip.

I have put out a LOT of cover Buffalo and I understand what you are saying. At first I got upset. But also like you said once it leaves the boat it is public domain. And with the new and future electronics nothing is a secret spot anymore. What you are seeing in this video is my cover. But I have came to the conclusion that if cover I put out benefits someone else so be it whether they are a guide or not. The benefit of giving fish structure to live and spawn around not only benefits the fishermen but also the fish and that is my main goal.

Old Guide, that is the only way to look at it. I put out some brush piles last winter and the majority of time I went to fish it, there was already a boat there. I didn't get upset because I too believe once it's in the water it belongs to everybody. I know that I fish other piles that someone else put there before me so turnabout is fair play.

I feel the same way dncncwboy61.

Fishing is a sport to me if fishing began to upset me then I would stop fishing.

Preach on Brother Buffalo!!!
By the way didn't you get the memo Buffalo.
We only get to use the lakes when the tourist aren't here and the guides don't have clients... Ha Ha

I think that it is the tourist and the guides clients that helps the fishing and the economy more than anything else in your area. Just my two cents. From what I have seen without them the area would just be all run down. Look around you what else is there.

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Originally Posted by Frank Cecil

I think that it is the tourist and the guides clients that helps the fishing and the economy more than anything else in your area. Just my two cents. From what I have seen without them the area would just be all run down. Look around you what else is there.

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You need to get out a little more.

I have to say I agree a little with everyone. As Frank said tourism is one of the biggest industries that the counties around the lakes have. It needs to be supported.I know personally how hard the last few years have been on the resorts and guides. With the downturn in the economy and last years lake levels in the spring many lost a lot of business including myself. That plus a back injury are two of the main reasons I haven't done any guiding this year. I can do better just fishing for fun when I feel like it and working at other things.

And I understand the frustration of locals with bays full of boats and ramps full of trucks and trailers. This spring I wanted to go up and fish Jonathan and between locals and tourists the ramp was full and people were parked to the bridge on 68. To park at Wildcat you were half way to Murray! LOL But you know these times are few and far between. I can deal with it. I can find an out of the way ramp to use. And most people, including guides, are lazy! They like to put out their cover within a mile usually or less from the ramp they use most for time and gas savings. And that is where most people look.

So I plant cover on the LBL or on the west side in out of the way spots where no one normally looks. There is plenty of water out there. And if you have never planted cover on the LBL give it a try. West side bays like Sandy, Blood and Jonathan have a good bit of cover planted. The LBL doesn't so what cover is there tends to hold more fish. I can pull up to stakes or brush on the west side and catch one or two fish then we have to move. But I have had days when I can pull up on the east side and limit out off one good brush pile.

And to top it off I can usually fish when I want to fish. I am not locked into a week's vacation in April. The spawn is over rated to me anyway and that is when things are most crazy. I can do better and have more fun in the fall, winter and early spring (pre-spawn) and then in May after others give up. And guess what, no one is at the ramp, the bays are empty, and no guides are fighting over cover with locals or other guides. And let's not forget the great job the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife does managing the lakes in our district. They are supported directly by our license fees, local and out-of-state both. If it wasn't for the efforts of guys like Paul Rister the fishing wouldn't be what it is today.

After all it is fishing, folks. We have troops dying in Afghanistan from road side bombs and supposed friendly Afghan forces turning on them. Our embassies are under attack from extremists that want us dead. One major ecomonic event could push us from a recession into a depression. I feel God has truly blessed me with a passion for fishing that I love, good friends to share it with, and the best lake in the nation in which to practice it. And if the only problem I have is when I go fishing someone is catching a couple crappie off some of my cover I feel I am still pretty lucky, don't you?

Thanks All!

Well said Lyndon

As I looked back on some older posts, I saw your video of a side scan, my first viewing ever. My friend and I fish 3 different channels on Barren and we do rather well, but last year a friend came up along side and was chatting as we worked our way down the channel and told us to get ready. We looked at each other like two red-necks normaly do and sure enough, we had 3 fish on at the same time. He later told us that he'd seen a big ole narley stump with fish on it. Even afte seeing yours i'm not sold on it. With my traditional depth finders, one bow and one astern, I can tell what depth the fish are, and also when to turn the boat as the rear depth finder falls off into the channel I nose the bow back towards the flat, and visa versa.

Of the 3 channels we fish, each about 3/4 mile in length, i'ver never seen more than 4 boats and with that kinda space no one seems crowded. Don't get me wrong, we will fish a stake bed or brush pile on occasion, but our main stay is spider-riggin.

That video wasn't one of the best but I happened to have the camera that evening and wanted to shoot it. I used to do the same thing before sidescan seeker. I spent hours on the trolling motor watching my front LCR. I would turn the dash LCR around and watch it too. The bad thing is you just about have to go directly over (or at least real close to) the structure to see it. With sidescan you can cut a path a couple hundred feet wide and cover a cove pretty quick. I normally run mine 50-75 feet to each side and can see everything with pretty good detail. Then when you see something you want to fish you can run a cursor over top of it and set a waypoint. All you have to do is go to the navigation screen and run over it and drop a marker. It keeps you from fishing fishless water. And it amazing how much of the lake bottom is bare. It is like the old saying 90% of the fish are in 10% of the lake. I really do believe it. By being able to keep by bait in and around stumps, stakes, brush, etc. your odds really go up. The bad thing is the price. New models from Humminbird have allowed a price drop but it is still expensive at just over $1000. Hopefully they will continue to drop.

A thousand bucks! Have you met my wife? The last time out my cranking battery layed down on me and I told my wife I was going to buy a new one,and as I tried to leave the room before she had a chance to respond. Yea right. "Yur gonna buy a what, how much is that thing and is it necessary? But Honey, the boat won't start. Did you loose the paddle too? Get Jerry to paddle, according to you, all he does is sit there and drink coffee anyway." Take a close look at those rods, They're from Walmart $8.00 each and I pAttachment 107918:notworthyut the eyes on them and tape the reels on the handle. I'm lucky she doesn't know how well you can see in the water if you cut the bottom out of a bucket. And yes I love crappie fishing THAT MUCH! Well maybe its not all that bad, I told her $65.00 and she said I could get it. That's why its worked for 39 years. LOVE YOU HONEY!

Ain't love grand! :Rofl Good Luck Seeker!

And now the problem is, I'm likin the new Humminbird 1198...@ $2799!!

Seriously doubt I'll ever git one, but I'm still likin it!....

Old Guide, appreciate the video. I am still learning how to use my 898 and info like that is a big help! And like you, I have put several sets in the lake and I have seen other fishermen fishing them. That is par for the course. Thanks Again!

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Originally Posted by slabseeker1

A thousand bucks! Have you met my wife? The last time out my cranking battery layed down on me and I told my wife I was going to buy a new one,and as I tried to leave the room before she had a chance to respond. Yea right. "Yur gonna buy a what, how much is that thing and is it necessary? But Honey, the boat won't start. Did you loose the paddle too? Get Jerry to paddle, according to you, all he does is sit there and drink coffee anyway." Take a close look at those rods, They're from Walmart $8.00 each and I pAttachment 107918:notworthyut the eyes on them and tape the reels on the handle. I'm lucky she doesn't know how well you can see in the water if you cut the bottom out of a bucket. And yes I love crappie fishing THAT MUCH! Well maybe its not all that bad, I told her $65.00 and she said I could get it. That's why its worked for 39 years. LOVE YOU HONEY!

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I hope when I die, my wife doesn't sell all my stuff for what I told her I gave for it! :biggrin

Hey Buddy, in case I am still around when that day comes will she use the Benton or Paducah paper to advertise the yard sale???:Rofl

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Originally Posted by Old Guide

Hey Buddy, in case I am still around when that day comes will she use the Benton or Paducah paper to advertise the yard sale???:Rofl

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Now there's a comforting thought. Whiskers, what have you done to desirve a friend like this?