Camping at Wildcat Creek Campground on Blood River.

Hey guys,

I finally talked the wife into taking the family camping April 4th-7th. Never been there before, never fished KY lake, I have bass fished Barkley quite a bit. Looking for any advise you guys can give me.:biggrin Not looking for gps coors unless you want to give them, just what to try to catch some fish with my 4yr and 10yr kids and their granddad. I do not have any spider rigging gear just zebcos for the kids and spinning rod for me.
I figure cork and slip bobbers with worms for the kids, but if me and grandpa slip out by ourselves what would you suggest? Do I need to buy a bunch of minnows or go with artificial lures.
Any and all advise is appreciated and I would love to meet some of you guys while I'm down there!!

Thanks in advance
Clint

Blood river should be hot by then. Minnow or jigs should get you a nice mess of crappie.

Hi Clint,

I am on Blood 95% of the time. And I thrown artificial 95% of the time too. I like 1/16 ounce pro-model Roadrunners. I use the black shad panfish assassin as the body. There is cover but most is under water. Some right in Wildcat where the campground is located. It just takes some searching to find it. I don't know how on the crappie will be by then. They are still a long ways off right now and the lake won't likely warm much the next week or so. But you are looking at two weeks yet so we can keep out fingers cross we warm up by April 1. The lake level should be on the way up towards summer pool by then. Since you have never been here I would consider casting bobbers with tube jigs a foot or two underneath. Then work the banks casting to them and pulling back to the boat. That works best on the black crappie. For the kids you might even consider a bucket of minnows and the slip bobbers. One tip I can give ya is don't quit to early! Some of the best fishing happens in the last hour before sunset. Many have gave up by then. Often times I will head out before sun up, fish to 10 or so. Then go home, eat lunch, get a nice long afternoon nap, and head back out about 5pm and fish the last few hours of daylight. Those are great days!!!:biggrin

Thanks Old Guide!, I've been wanting to learn to crappie fish. I've caught a few but I have not gone out just for crappie. I have plenty of roadrunner jigs and some panfish assassin but not in that color. I'll be picking some up!!
I have a Humminbird 570 down imaging on the bow that I got last year and need to learn how to work it as well so searching around is something I need to do anyway. The kids will have fun just riding around while I look for structure.
Do you think blugill or shellcracker will be around? My worm ranch is going strong, so I have plenty of big red euro-crawlers to drown.
How long do you think minnows would live in a bucket with an aquarium air pump bubbling?
Thanks again for the info and if anyone else has some keep it comin!!

Also thanks timd3200.

Hey CT forgot to mention. My friends camped at wildcat creek RV park last summer and they loved it.

Thanks timd, I was wondering about that. My wife is not a camping "fan" so if it is not nice I will here about it. They sounded very nice when I called.

ctf58 my wife I will be at Irvin Cobb the same time. We may see you there give us a shout if you see us we got a blue antique Kcraft with a Chrysler engine.

Don't know about the redear and bluegill, last year though we caught a ton of redear in April off of points. But it was a few weeks later in April the crappie spawn was about over and most of the crappie seemed to be in post spawn mood, as we both know this is totally a different year. However I can usually catch redear and bluegill any time of the year after all they still got to eat.

What are you feeding your euro-crawlers? I have had mine a few years got a ton of them but they don't get big and fat.

Gone, I just started with 60 worms last October and prob have 300 now. I tried pumpkin when I started since we had plenty at the time and they loved it. I froze chunks bigger than my fist because it took them about a week to eat one. Now I am putting 3 chunks a week. I also bought some chick starter scratch feed and they really eat it up. Bought a small 4 pound bag at a ag supply store for about $5. I'll be in a red and white BassCat boat with a red lightning bolt on the side.

We stay at wildcat every year. And my wifes uncle has a camper there year round. Nice camp ground and nice people. We wont be down until June this year due to new job. Wifes uncle has camper beside bath house on lower side. If you see him ask he will help'

I would be surprised if bluegill or redear are coming real strong by then but you may very well find some. For them I usually do my best when the water nears 70 degrees. I don't see a 20 degree jump in two weeks but you never know. Accuweather is showing a few days near to slightly above average over the next two weeks. But not many. Most are looking to be below average for high temps. So if it were me I would try and find crappie, and mainly black crappie, along the banks. It is an easy pattern. Plus having down imaging will let you locate some of the cover in Wildcat and other bays. As far as minnows I am sure many guys on here can offer better suggestions than mine. I rarely use live bait but when I do if it is cool like it has been you can keep minnows for a few days. If the temp jumps above average with high in the 70's or higher they can be tough to keep very long even with the cool bubbles pump. I don't use live bait much but when I do I always try and keep then in the shade like under the dash of the boat or in the shade when home. I also don't get more than three dozen or so at a time. Overcrowding can kill them quickly as well. Most bait shops in the area have treated water that helps them. Places like Murray bait on 94 will give you a shot of the blue chemical to help them out. I have tried ice but I don't think they do well with the chlorine from treated water without a stabilizer. They have minnows at the "Y" on 280 (Wildcat Grocery) just before the turn to Wildcat and Murray Bait is right at the 280/94 interesction closer to town so you are just a few minutes to fresh minnows. Both close early however so if you are wanting to fish late make sure by around 4 or 5p.m. you have the minnows you need for the evening. If you are on the water and run out you can go into Sugar Bay marina (the old Irvin Cobb marina) which is north of Wildcat in Sugar Bay on Blood River and get bait or fuel. Also you might want to keep them in a semi-protected area at night. I have had possums and coons tip over my buckets and feast on my minnows!:yikes

Thanks again guys, your input is priceless! Really hope we have good weather and can wet a few lines!

Hey High Bridge, what about firewood? Do they sell it? If so do you know how much? I've got plenty here but their site say not to bring it.. Kids got to have marshmallows and hot dogs and I love a good campfire all day long!

There was a river otter around our slip area too. The sure did a number to a guys fish basket he left overnight with some fish in it.

Yes they do sell fire wood. I don't know how much, State law prevents bringing in fire wood.