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Went down last week tough conditions with wind and water temp. We did not do very well caught a few 14 inches in houseboat cove other than that nothing. People who frequent the lake yearly stated that fishing has been below average last couple of years. Your thoughts on this before I make plans fir next year. Some were blaming the influx of the Asian carp. I can't base an opinion being my first visit. I would also like to thank you guys again for the info you provided before my trip.
I’ve been making the eleven hour drive here for a long time and this is by far my toughest week I’ve ever had here. Wind and water temps just didn’t get right. Warm but the wind wouldn’t let the big bays heat up. Only found 62* in one spot on the west side. I’ll hire a guide next time I’m down this way. The fish weren’t in any of my spots I’ve caught them in for over thirty years. Brush was there shallow and deep but not the crappies.
unfortunately your results are the same as many making the trip to Kentucky lake. It can be tough fishing, especially if you aren't on it regularly. Many areas of the lake simply don't have great numbers of fish. I fished all day Friday and half a day Saturday (until I just couldn't take the wind anymore) I had 33 Keepers. It was one of my better trips recently. I would guess I had to hit 150 waypoints to find 30 fish. Most beds were empty. We really need a few years of good spawns to really improve our fishing.Quote:
Originally Posted by chaunc
The ones I know who can pick and chose their days to go (whether it's weekend or weekday) are still catching plenty, and catching them regularly. The fish are still there, in good size and numbers, but the techniques needed to catch them are ever-changing.
Too many folks blame carp, when they should really be blaming themselves for fishing the same way now as they did 5 to 10 years ago or longer. That's my take on it, but to each his own.
Thanks to all for the response and glad to hear that the fish are there. We stayed and fished in the shawnee bay area and not only us but no one was catching or marking. As a previous post stated maybe we don't know what we are doing. I generally fish lakes with cover which I feel is different in locating the fish. Makes me concerned about rebooting when some feel the lake needs a couple of good spawns. Loved the area and the lake. Thanks again for the responses
You will get a 100 different answers on this question. For sure though if you are mainly comfortable fishing visible cover or shallow shore line type fishing then these aren’t the lakes for you. These lakes are a better fit for people very comfortable with electronics and a solid understanding of of how reservoir operations and current conditions affect the seasonal movements affect the fish.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lrob
I don’t think you will find anyone trying to tell you that the lakes are at their peak population wise currently, although the numbers are much better than two or three years ago and the fish are healthier than I have seen them in 15 years of chasing them here. For me though I can’t really think of any other lakes in the Kentucky/Tennessee area that have the potential to produce numbers of quality fish like Kentucky and Barkley. There are definitely lakes around that are much easier to fill up the coolers with small fish though. Or longer drives to be made to Mississippi or Texas or Florida. But I know plenty of people that have taken trips and struggled at those vaunted lakes as well.
I’m not complaining. I know that if I was staying as long as I usually do, I’d eventually find the pattern to put these fish in the box. We just had tough conditions on this area of the lake. That happens sometime. The key for me is time to spend here. The longer I stay, the better the fishing gets.Quote:
Originally Posted by pab1981
I have to use a tactic that can involve multiple clients. If it was me and one other fisherman experienced with Livescope, that’s what I would be doing. People don’t pay me to watch me catch their fish. Attachment 425529Attachment 425530
The constant winds have caused me to cancel multiple bookings. My rules say 15mph winds forecast, we don’t fish.
Longlining is my preferred tactic in pre-spawn conditions. There’s nothing more fun than getting your boat spun sideways with a dozen or more lines out the back and sides of the boat. I can at least maintain momentum at crankbait speeds.
I’ve been pulling cranks since the surface temps reached 52 degrees at 1.5-1.7mph. We have caught multiple good crappie every trip. I cover a bunch of water and fish multiple patterns until I find what they want that day.
I had a friend catch a limit last Tuesday in 4 feet of water with multiple 2 pounders. This was when TVA was letting the levels rise. Those fish scattered as soon as the levels started dropping.
Blaming carp for one’s lack of luck is spilt milk. Blame TVA for the lack of luck. They are the one who have ruined multiple spawns in recent years.
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No I know you get them when you make your normal trip, my post was more geared to the original poster and few general thoughts as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by chaunc
Some hoss fish there MR! Thanks for sharing
I eyed it then asked another guide what he thought it would weigh, we both said 2.5. It was almost 16”.Quote:
Originally Posted by BuckeyeCrappie
I have tourney scales on my boat. I never offer to weigh a client fish. I want them going home believing their fish was what they guessed.
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I'm a lousy crappie fishermen, but I do catch my share of bluegill and redear. I've caught five redear since Saturday that weigh over 1.5lbs. The big boy of the bunch was well over 2lbs and Mr Doug is mounting him. If the shellcracker are growing to these large sizes, it would seem the lake is in better shape than we often give it credit for?? From this evening...
Attachment 425577
WOW, NICE , THEY AREN'T BEDDING YET ARE THEY
Two of my friends fished last week, all week out of Benton. Rough conditions. Wind, rain and cold. Saw one of them yesterday after their trip and they called KY Lake the dead sea. They didn't do well at all. For those that know the lake, can fish the good days, Live Scope, I guess they do OK. But, it isn't the lake it used to be. I base that comment on reports from the people that fish there as well as my personal experience over the past 3 years. Be it carp, TVA or what ever, it just doesn't seem to be what it once was.
Redear Hoosier must be from or still in indiana.. if so have you fished Brookville and if so how did u doQuote:
Originally Posted by Lrob
I've never fished Brookville...Quote:
Originally Posted by Lrob
Conditions on KY Lake have been awful this spring. Some of us pretty much have had to deal with a different fish pattern most every day. Boat control is a big issue with a big boat so I started pulling cranks when the water temp was 52 degrees. Some days have been much better than others but we have caught crappie every day. Attachment 425871Attachment 425872Attachment 425873
I take time to talk to anybody who approaches me on the dock asking for help. I’m not going to give out GPS coordinates but I first find out how they are fishing and not catching crappie. Many are using tactics that might have worked here 40 years ago when they came here with Grandpa. When I tell them some things they might need to try, many just shrug me off, keep doing the things that haven’t been working, then go home and say KY Lake is dead.
Pulling cranks isn’t rocket science or I wouldn’t be doing it. It doesn’t have to be expensive to start. But when they walk by my boat and scoff about it when the results speak for themselves, I find it hard to feel pity.
Sure, it has been a while since I could consistently catch limits with clients. Those days may never be seen again in my lifetime. At least I’m will to try whatever I think it will take to make my clients go home happy. Many aren’t willing to get rid of their nostalgia.
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Just like here in Indiana the Army Corps will ruin a spawn about every year on the flood control lakes. So I do believe the TVA is part of the problem.
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