Ky Lake On The Rise

I can't remember the last time that TVA brought KY Lake up to summer pool this early. Right now she's at about 358.60-ish. I don't see any significant water in the other pools, above or below the dam that would necessitate this early rise. I suspect that TVA is expecting the Drought to extend for another year and may be "Stocking" some water for later this summer.

I think this late Spring and early rise is gonna be real good for the Crappie Spawn if TVA doesn't pull the rug out from under them.:ThumbsUp

It seemed to be on a slow rise last week when were there. Hopefully we don't have any crazy flooding this year and they can hold the lake reasonably steady and the fish have a good spawn. Its got to get reloaded for seasons yet to come.

Nolin is the same way. It is at summer pool now and they aren't letting any water out.

I suspect they're extremely gunshy about a repeat of last year. They knee jerked from the previous record floods and didn't get up to summer pool at all last year or if they did, it was only for a few weeks before draw down.

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Originally Posted by crappiemax

It seemed to be on a slow rise last week when were there. Hopefully we don't have any crazy flooding this year and they can hold the lake reasonably steady and the fish have a good spawn. Its got to get reloaded for seasons yet to come.

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Another good spawn would be great,but the number of short whites and white crappie in general is already tremendous. It will be good for years to come either way IMO.

When they did the drop right at spawn last year they ruined it. The last 3 years have been bad so a good one would be grand.

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Originally Posted by Majesticman

When they did the drop right at spawn last year they ruined it. The last 3 years have been bad so a good one would be grand.

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Someone forgot to tell the short fish they didn't get spawned if that's true.

I'll regenerate. They ruined my fishing. :biggrin

I've not caught many short fish this yr. like I did last yr. I have caught a ton of 10.5" to 11.5" fish though. According to Paul Rister these would be the 2009 & 2010 spawns. I have only caught a few over 2# and very few over 1.5#. That could have something to do with where I've been catch'n though. I haven't done much deep fish'n.

I have just recently started catch'n some 10" fish that even though they are right on the line, I have been releasing. I've seen those fish shrink in the livewell.

I don't know what causes it but I've done experiments with the shorties. I put 2 fish in my back live well. Both fish were RIGHT ON THE LINE with their mouth closed and tail pinched. At the end of the day they were 1/8 or better short! Didn't matter what I did, they were short. Thank God I didn't get checked. At $202.50 ($50 fine + 152.50 Court Cost) per fish that woulda been an expensive experiment. If you catch a fish that's on the line, I suggest you release it or at least check it again before leaving. If it's not at least 1/4 inch over the line without the tail pinched it don't go in my boat anymore.

Thanks for the heads up Wiskers

In our four & 1/2 days of fishing we caught exact 5 fish under the 10" mark. We had a dozen or so right at the 10" mark which we put back anyway but it's mostly because I didn't come to Ky Lake to keep a 10" crappie...I want to see them boogers with shoulders on them. We probably had 10 at 14" or better with 2 at 15"+. I think about it was about 50% blacks.
We didn't have the numbers we've had in the past but with such limited time we don't have a ton of time to look around.

has anyone been fishing for crappie near Paris landing state park, I'm thinking of going there this weekend. whats the crappie doing there on ky lake and whats the water temps. thanks in advance for any info.

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Originally Posted by Wiskers

I've not caught many short fish this yr. like I did last yr. I have caught a ton of 10.5" to 11.5" fish though. According to Paul Rister these would be the 2009 & 2010 spawns. I have only caught a few over 2# and very few over 1.5#. That could have something to do with where I've been catch'n though. I haven't done much deep fish'n.

I have just recently started catch'n some 10" fish that even though they are right on the line, I have been releasing. I've seen those fish shrink in the livewell.

I don't know what causes it but I've done experiments with the shorties. I put 2 fish in my back live well. Both fish were RIGHT ON THE LINE with their mouth closed and tail pinched. At the end of the day they were 1/8 or better short! Didn't matter what I did, they were short. Thank God I didn't get checked. At $202.50 ($50 fine + 152.50 Court Cost) per fish that woulda been an expensive experiment. If you catch a fish that's on the line, I suggest you release it or at least check it again before leaving. If it's not at least 1/4 inch over the line without the tail pinched it don't go in my boat anymore.

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The numbers of short white crappie I've caught in the last month have been similar to fall 2011, catching 4 or 5 shorts to keepers. Between myself and another friend fishing the same stuff,we probably caught 500 shorts one week here recently. May sound like bull,but I have no reason to lie about catching shorts and honestly that's probably a conservative estimate. Some area's of the lake have a lot more white crappie than other's so doesn't really surprise me some aren't catching as many shorts. Another friend fished another area of the lake that same week and only caught 5 shorts but had similar numbers of keepers.

Whiskers, I think your right on holding the water. Saw a program early Sun morning couple weeks ago. Had some weather experts on there saying they think the Drought will extend into this year and actually be worse and more wide spread.

When I came from home work there was one gate open on KY Dam, don't know what the lake is doing but the they are letting some water go.

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Originally Posted by justinp61

When I came from home work there was one gate open on KY Dam, don't know what the lake is doing but the they are letting some water go.

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She's up over summer pool after this rain. I hope they just try to keep it at summer pool.

Look for the fish to attach themselves around the winter pool line at this point and try to hang there.

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Originally Posted by Wiskers

I hope they just try to keep it at summer pool.

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I hope so too, they used to start bringing it up on 4/15. Several years ago it was up early in the month and they started dumping it on the 10th. :bash