wondering when the spawn starts down there i have always wanted to make a trip down there during that time being from ohio it is about a 6 hr. trip any info would be appreciated.
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wondering when the spawn starts down there i have always wanted to make a trip down there during that time being from ohio it is about a 6 hr. trip any info would be appreciated.
Last week of March or first two weeks in April have been the best for me on average. Weather varies things quite a bit.
i can't beleive it is that much earlier down there. here in central ohio the first weeks of may r the best for spawning crappies.thanx for the info. r there plenty of hotels around the lake or should i start reserving now for the first of April???
There are plenty of hotels and cabins, but at spawning time it can be tough to find a room, especially on the weekend. Once word gets out that they are on the banks, everything fills. I usually tent camp, so there is a little less competition and it lets me be flexible on when to get there. There's a crappie tournament on the 31st, so it might be even busier.Quote:
Originally Posted by crappies4ever
no don't want to be on the water during a crappie tourney down there wow. if i make it down this year it will be april11,12,13 not a weekend. is the east banks usually the best spots like they r around here with the dominant west wind blowing the warm water to the east side of the lake?
I was wondering have you been here before? A west wind has more effect in the bays and not as much on the main lake. I have never noticed a push of warm water east across the lake. The current in the main channel controls temperature more then wind does. Kentucky (and Barkley)is a long lake running mainly north to south. Because of that the winds to watch for are southerly or northerly. The main lakes can get rollers over 5 feet. Bays here are as large as lakes other places. From my experience the spawn in the east side bays are usually equal to or a little before the west. You find more black crappie on that side and they tend to spawn a little before the whites. The east side tends to be clearer and the west side more stained but it can clear also. April 11th - 13th should be fine. The lake should be at or near summer pool which helps. The water should also be around 65 degrees maybe warmer if the weather stays decent. If the crappie slow look for some shell crackers or bass. They tend to follow the crappie and extend into May depending on water temp. If you get a chanced to come down during the tournament you can still find spots to fish. They average maybe 200 or so boats but we can fish either Barkley or Kentucky which are the two largest lakes in Kentucky, and make up the largest manmade reservoir in the world so you can always find a place away from the crowd. Especially if you have a large enough boat to cross the main lake and get to the LBL. And I agree with Catfan, the last week or March and the first two weeks of April have been best for me too when it comes to the spawn. But they are catchable year around if you know where to look.
Good Luck!
thanx for all the info fellas and i have never been there before didn't realize there was that much current in the lakes. as far as the wind goes that is what i watch for here in central ohio just goes to show how much fishing varies from state to state. i know u can always catch good crappie down there from reading this, but for a first timer and such a big lake it always helps to narrow them down at first and then go from there. i just have a 14ft. deep v so won't be going out too much just looking for coves and points with good spawning habitat. i figured a tourney down there would bring so many boats that u would have a hard time finding a place to fish. thanx again for alll the info will let u know if i can make it down. see u on the water.
Quote:
Originally Posted by crappies4ever
You have to get a handle on how big the place is. There's a big tourney of some kind almost every weekend, but you can find plenty of places to fish. It's huge. Get a decent map so you can find ramps in other bays in case the wind is up and you can't run the main lake.
i just realized how big it is went to a ky lake website and it said there are 2380miles of shoreline and from spfld,oh where i live to L.A.,cal it is only 2212 miles and 160,000 square acres of water surface, the biggest lake in ohio is st. mary's and they call it the other great lake and it is only 12,000 acres and probably as big as some of the bays on ky. lake wow. just curious is barkley lake as good a crappie lake? what r the names of some good bays that r not so big a newby could find them in a relatively short amount of time on the east side of the lake that have public ramps?
East side of Kentucky and West side of Barkely are all public ramps as they are in the LBL, although some are in campgrounds where you'd have to pay a fee to get in. Here's a site with some of the non-LBL public access ramps listed: http://www.kentuckylake.com/fishing/launchramps.htmQuote:
Originally Posted by crappies4ever
Many of the on-lake places like The Moors have their own ramps. Check out the map at http://www.kentuckylake.com/maps.htm to see some of the bay names. The nav charts are online. Go to http://www.lbl.org to see a detailed map of the LBL with ramps. They are all good. Jonathon Creek is kind of "crappie headquarters" when they go shallow. Public launching and motels are available there. The LBL bays on the other side are good too.
Make sure you get a FHS type map. If you have a GPS, you will be good, but if not, make sure you pay attention to where you are. A guy I know about ran out of gas trying to find Sugar Bay because he was sure he was north of it, even though he was south of the 68 bridge.
hey crappies4ever,
What kind of set-up are you fishing out of? Ill be down there the same time for a couple of weeks. I fish the 79 bridge area and have alot of luck. I found listening to these other guy's on here prove to be very helpfullllll. Good luck fishing and never be found wanting.
Hi,
I will be heading down to energy lake the first week of April from northern Wisconsin.
I was wondering if this lake can be navigated with a canoe? I also read some info about a dam. Is this a good location for some fishing action.
This is the first time we will be going down their. So I have no idea what to expect. Any information or fishing techniques would be appreciated.
Thanks:)
Energy Lake is fine for a canoe. People use canoes in the bays on the big lakes too.Quote:
Originally Posted by packerfan
Energy Lake dam is basically an earthen wall across the back of a bay. Haven't fished it but it would be fine for a canoe as CAtfan has stated. Also as he stated many of the bays are accessible from old roadways leading into the water. Find one protected from the wind and you should be able to fish the buckbrush and stake beds. Also there are other similar impoundments throughout LBL. Get a map at the visitors center when you arrive. There is also Hematitie lake and Honkers lakes on the Barkley side and they say they catch big gills at Duncan lake
great websites catfan thanx. r u saying that up in johnathan creek is good crappie fishing for that time of year. by the way i have been a ky b'ball fan my whole life and just read something very unpleasant on the net ky's athletic director said Tubby is our coach and remain our coach. i am so aggrivated with him this year and then him telling that kid to move off the free throw lane at thelast second just did it for me it is time to Tubby to move on and least to say he let that Lofton for Tenn get out of the state just blows my mind and it tellls me he can't recruit. but just me 2 cents not many ky fans around to vent with.
hey Trip i have a 14ft alum deepV with a 15hp on it big enough to take on some bigger water but doesn't take much water to run in. that 79 bridge looks like another hour drive for me so i think i will stay towards the northern end.
is there a size or daily limit on crappie at any time?
10" minimum on Barkley and Kentucky, 30 creel limit, 60 posession limit.Quote:
Originally Posted by crappies4ever
what does creel mean?
Thanks for the info on energy lake. Do the Gills spawn a few weeks later such as the end of June or early May. And also with the crappie spawn does it really matter if you use artificial or live bait? Thanks
I meant end of April
In this case, daily.Quote:
Originally Posted by crappies4ever
Never bluegill fished down there. As to live or artificial, some days they want one, some days the other.Quote:
Originally Posted by packerfan
From what I have seen on gills is that its usually in May when they are hot and heavy on the beds in the smaler waters. I am mainly a minnow dipper but am learning more about the plastics. Kinda one of those "Dance with the one that brung ya" things. Minnows always have kept me in fillets so its hard to put them down for someth9ing else!
I like live bait myself because I am basically a lazy fisherman. Don't like to have to work too hard at it. Up in my neck of the woods they are called crappie minnows or fat heads. What do they call them down kentucky way?
:D :D :DQuote:
Originally Posted by packerfan
But, seriously .... they're called by several different names, but basically all relate to one of these two -- Fathead minnows or Bluntnose minnows.
You may see them listed, in bait shops, as "Minnows" - "Tuffy Minnows" - "Tuffies" - "Crappie Minnows" - "Pond Minnows"
You may also find "Shiners" or "Creek Chubs" ... but, they're a different species of minnow.
We also like to use small Gizzard or Threadfin Shad, and Brook Silversides ... but, those you have to "net", yourself.
........ cp :cool:
when u guys talk about johnathan creek r u talking up in the creek or that area out in the lake. is there a boat ramp nearby?
crappies4ever, Ky Lake is like nothing you've fished in Ohio. I've been going there off and on (more on lately) for the last 15 years. I have caught fish on every part of the lake I've ever tried. My advice is go to the area or cove of your choice and fish that cove like you would any lake in Ohio, you will catch fish.
I like fishing the LBL (east) side of Ky lake but the western side is good too. When you get there buy a lake map of the section of the lake you'll be fishing they're available at most bait shop and are very helpful. Try different debths and different tactics and you will catch fish.
These lakes can be challenging, but the fish are there. If the water is muddy on the west bank, drive over to the LBL side and fish. It will be clearer.
We usually take some time and fish for bass and bluegill, so if the crappie don't want to play there's more options.
The only bad part is once you've been there, you'll want to go back.
Aren't they kinda hard to clean:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by 3's
are there any motels/cabins around the dam area?
The wife says we can go the first week of April.
I see a lot of info on Big Sandy and not much on the northern end of the lake?
I drove over the dam area a few years ago and liked what I saw.
This would be our first time fishing Ky. lake.
all info will be appreciated. Thanks
Ky Dam Village is one of the biggest and nicest on the lake.Quote:
Originally Posted by crappiekiller2
Try looking here : http://www.explorekentuckylake.com/
You're sure to find lodging all around both lakes !
You may also want to look through this, for some insight into the rapidly changing face of the Crappie fishing scenario at Ky Lake : http://www.kdfwr.state.ky.us/navigat...vPath=C101C552
Read thru the whole thing (Overview, Log, Results) and take notes ... it could prove to be valuable info, especially for a first timer ;)
........ luck2ya ... cp :cool:
Another good site is www.kentuckylake.com . Lots of good information and advise. I moderate the fishing forums there and there are a great bunch of guys willing to help.
u guys have been more than helpful. u don't know how much i appreciate all the info now all i got to do is wait for April. thanx a lot.