Printable View
Hello, our family of four has been going to Minnesota for the last 10 yrs on vacation. We fish and the kids like to tube some.
The place there has sold and we thought about going South once to try some crappie fishing.
Looking for a place within a days drive of Iowa
I know its kind of a general question but would any of you guys have a suggestion of a good lake to go to for a family vacation?
Thank you
Ky and Barkley lakes will fit your needs. Check
ExploreKyLake.com
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
If you’re looking for a guide while you’re there, M R Dux is the guy you need to talk to. He will do everything in his power to put you on fish.
crappie-gills-n-more
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
Lots of vacations are spent at Kentucky and Barkley lake, you would not be disappointed! As for the fishing I would agree with the above with hiring a guide for a day because there big lakes. Mrdux is a great guide
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Green river lake near Columbia ky is full of crappie. Come check it out.
Sent from my SM-J327V using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
Green river lake is a good place to vacation. Lake is 8,200 acre so not so big you can't find your way around. Crappie numbers are really good, quality not going to be as good as Ky or Barkley. Holmes Bend marina has nice cabins to rent.
Enjoy Ky !!
X2Quote:
Originally Posted by colayn
Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com
PM sent.
Sent from my SM-J327V using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
Ky Lake is tough to beat. Good fishing for a wide variety of species, so if one isn't cooperating it's not too hard to try different ones until you find some that are biting.
Moors Resort is a good one for kids, the place has lodge rooms and cottages. Nice pool, good restaurant with nightly live entertainment, mini-golf, swim beach, and some other nice things. It's a good part of the lake too as you have great fishing for a variety of species, and there are several nice sand beaches in Pisgah Bay, Smith Bay, and the shoreline in between those two bays. There is also camping in this same area as well in Land Between the Lakes (LBL) with Hillman Ferry being more civilized with electricity and water available, and Smith Bay being more primitive that's a good trade-off by having fewer people around.
Green Turtle Bay on the north end, by the canal that connects KY and Barkley, is more upscale/expensive and nice. Great cottages, great restaurants, great boat ramps, and the most upscale place on the lakes. Their "Thirsty Turtle" restaurant has great food with lakeside dining, and live music.
Lighthouse Landing by the canal is very nice too, it has the most incredible view of sunsets over KY Lake and within walking distance of Grand Rivers that has plenty of food options and nighttime entertainment.
Buzzard Rock Resort on Barkley is a nice choice as well with its pool and restaurant and nightly live entertainment. It's location on Barkley Lake tends to have less boat traffic/fishermen. Good fishing to be had here as well, I basically grew up on a houseboat at this marina. All kinds of fishing options in this area.
If smallmouth is your thing, you might find Dale Hollow to be a good choice. I love Ky Lake most, but when I want a change of scenery I go to Dale Hollow.
Mike, I agree with most. For you, Kentucky or Barkley Lakes would work. Depends on what you want for accommodations. The 3 KY State Resort parks there are very good, little pricy, but they have lots to offer other than fishing while you are there. If you plan to stay there, get reservations soon. They fill up for Spring and Summer. The parks on KY Lake are KY Dam Village, and Kenlake State Park. The Barkley Lake park is Lake Barkley State Park. There are many other places to stay other than the parks.
I am from northern IL and we have been going to Ky lake for the last 12-15 years. Once per year and sometimes twice or more. We have never stayed at Moors but have went there to eat on several occasions. Seems like a very nice place. We have stayed at Big Bear Resort for most of the trips. It is only a stones throw from Moors. We have also stayed down on the KY/TN border at a place called Cypress Bay Resort. I don't know what time of the year you normally go to MN. but you may want to check out the best times for KY lake. When it is getting nice in MN, it is getting hotter than the dickens in KY. Best crappie fishing in KY for us has been end of March thru April. And I love the end of Oct (my favorite) for crappie fishing. May is not bad. May and June is a mix of crappie and big bluegills. I am not saying you can't catch crappie anytime, just requires a little more work at other times of the year. Some of the residents on here from KY know way more than I do about Ky lake. Just trying to share all the info I can with you. We have stayed down in TN a couple times too. The Paris Landing area boast some great crappie fishing. There is a big state park there also. As many has said its a big lake. I would recommend a guide the first trip or 2. I have never fished with Mr Dux but I have met him. Very nice feller. I have heard nothing but good things about him. I have used Rodney Hairgrove Guide service a few times. Another super nice guy. And I'm proud to call him a friend.
If you decide to stay up around the north end of the lake I recommend you visit Catfish Kitchen for dinner one night. GO THERE HUNGRY. You won't leave hungry.