Kentucky Lake Late May

My wife, brother In Law and I will be making one of our twice annual trips to King Creek Resort. We really like the cabins and the people all over the area.
Now I know that I am way past Crappie spawn at this time but we just want to catch fish, Crappie would be great but we like catching them all.
We fish mostly from bank at the resort, finding other bank fishing spots that are easily accessible (we are no spring chickens) is difficult.
We usually rent a small pontoon for a couple of days but the lake is so vast that we get frustrated while wondering where to fish. My wife likes night crawlers and bottom fishing and does better than I but catches more cats. I use crawlers and minnows under a bobbers with less success but I don't want the cats.
Just looking for suggestions from those that know the area on improving our results, we catch and release just want a little more catching and would appreciate any tips.

Alan

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Originally Posted by funfishers

My wife, brother In Law and I will be making one of our twice annual trips to King Creek Resort. We really like the cabins and the people all over the area.
Now I know that I am way past Crappie spawn at this time but we just want to catch fish, Crappie would be great but we like catching them all.
We fish mostly from bank at the resort, finding other bank fishing spots that are easily accessible (we are no spring chickens) is difficult.
We usually rent a small pontoon for a couple of days but the lake is so vast that we get frustrated while wondering where to fish. My wife likes night crawlers and bottom fishing and does better than I but catches more cats. I use crawlers and minnows under a bobbers with less success but I don't want the cats.
Just looking for suggestions from those that know the area on improving our results, we catch and release just want a little more catching and would appreciate any tips.

Alan

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The cat fish should Be spawning at that time, leeches and night crawlers under slip bobbers in the canal can be very productive for catfish, and usually catch a few nice bluegill and red during the process. Wished I knew where to catch crappie at that also. Hope y'all have a good trip.


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We smoke the catfish during that time of the year pulling crankbaits on ledges and channels. That's not what we are targeting and they can be frustrating to deal with when they tangle all the lines up. We also catch some really big crappie in the same areas. This type of fishing is very productive from a pontoon if your have a way to get your speed down to 1.5 to 2.0mph.

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Originally Posted by mrdux

We smoke the catfish during that time of the year pulling crankbaits on ledges and channels. That's not what we are targeting and they can be frustrating to deal with when they tangle all the lines up. We also catch some really big crappie in the same areas. This type of fishing is very productive from a pontoon if your have a way to get your speed down to 1.5 to 2.0mph.

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That sounds like fun, how deep do you run your cranks?


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Originally Posted by mgrimm

That sounds like fun, how deep do you run your cranks?


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It all depends on what level my electronics show me the schools of bait and crappie are hanging out. Folks who fish for cats on the bottom all the time are missing some good catches. It's not at all uncommon to catch cats 6 feet deep in 30 feet of water right in with the crappie.

I jug fish for cats with 3ft of line

Late may is primetime for catfishing. That lake is so full of them they can be a nuisance when trying to fish for anything else. But if you just want to keep things lively they are great.

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Originally Posted by mrdux

We smoke the catfish during that time of the year pulling crankbaits on ledges and channels. That's not what we are targeting and they can be frustrating to deal with when they tangle all the lines up. We also catch some really big crappie in the same areas. This type of fishing is very productive from a pontoon if your have a way to get your speed down to 1.5 to 2.0mph.

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Would love to fish with you!

Alan

I bet you are already booked for May.

[QUOTE=funfishers;3389239]I bet you are already booked for May.[/QUOTE

Got lots of May dates left open. This is my 1st full year guiding so I don't have the client list built in like lots of others do. My number is in the link below my post.

Some years I catch crappie still on the beds on Memorial weekend. Doesn't happen all the time but it has happened on several years. Black crappie,Bluegill,Redear, Bass,can still be on the beds on Memorial weekend some years. There are certain banks which are the primary spawning banks. Sometimes all the different species of fish are on the same stretch of bank.They will just be positioned differently. The bluegill may be in a pocket or shallower area,the crappie nearer a point with a stick or stump...etc.

Usually the years with the latest springs. But you take a good road runner head and tube jig, swimmer or twister tail jig and cast it on those spawning banks swim slow right through their beds for a reaction strike. You can catch males guarding the nest too. I remember some years I caught Bass,Redear,and Bluegill to fill a washtub on Memorial weekend and never got out of Kentucky Dam marina.