Ky lake,go or no go?

Well I'm on vacation and my 9 yr old is on spring break and I'm trying to decide wether to load up and go to Ky lake for three or four days or not. My boat is in the shop and it'll be ready tomorrow and we are both itching to go but all the reports I'm seeing and hearing aren't good.I usually fish Blood River but fish Johnathan and Ledbetter some also.My contact at Blood River says it's still no good but haven't been there for about 10 days and it wasn't exactly on fire then.If anyone has any current report please post good or bad.I primarely fish the drops and was wondering how the falling water will affect them?

If I were in your shoes, knowing what I know, I'd stay put. Don't want to bust your bubble but this lake is up & down. One cold front after another.

We just returned from the lake yesterday from a week and a half camping trip & came up with 13 keepers out of all the time we camped & fished. It's as bad as I've seen it in years.

I have a good friend who is a full-time guide on KY/Barkley. He is killing the bass but the crappie are terrible. Same I'm hearing from several sources. Weather this week doesn't look to improve things.

A bad day fishing is better than a good day laying on the couch.

Whiskers, My fishing buddy is still managing some good trips fishing on Jonathan. 20' deep with jigs. He works very hard to catch his fish but that is his nature anyway. I go to relax, he goes to catch as many fish in as short or time as possible. I go for the day, he goes for a few hours. We both catch about the same amount of fish on a trip the only difference is the time spent. When we go together he wore completly out when I am just reaching my stride. Different people, different reasons for going. He does catch a lot of fish. THE BANDIT

i say go, i just got back and although the fishing was tough we still caught 30 fish per day, water temp was 54, i think at 55 and higher the fish will move up, if i had a few days i would go try it, the fish are used to the high water now, if it would just warm up a little i think you could do pretty good, just my 2 cents.

how deep are you catching them?? Still out in deeper water in the bays?? On ledges?? Spider riggin or casting?? Any he;p would be appreciated I'm heade down next week with a group of friends and any help would be great..

thanks

16 feet in bays, that depth would normally be about 12 feet befor the high waters, i did best at the mouths, i think with a little rise in water temp, maybe a little closer to bank, a little further back, if the winds hold down try main lake humps.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mrdux

I have a good friend who is a full-time guide on KY/Barkley. He is killing the bass but the crappie are terrible. Same I'm hearing from several sources. Weather this week doesn't look to improve things.

---

MRDUX good to see you found your way over here from the usual internet forum spot.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by crappie52

i say go, i just got back and although the fishing was tough we still caught 30 fish per day, water temp was 54, i think at 55 and higher the fish will move up, if i had a few days i would go try it, the fish are used to the high water now, if it would just warm up a little i think you could do pretty good, just my 2 cents.

---

All I got to say is if you caught 30 fish a day last week you are 1 h*ll of a crappie fisherman and should do it for a living.

Fishing for me has been as tough as I can remember for this time of year. What fish I've been catch'n have been about 14' to 19' deep in 17 to 23 foot of water. All white crappie, can't buy a black. I talked to some guys the other day that fished a tourny this weekend and the said that several boats came in with less than a limit and the ones that had limits had to work their a$$e$ off to get what they got.

As for the fish being used to the high water... The lake has been falling close to 4 to 5 tenths a day for the last few days and will continue to fall until they get her down to summer pool at least.

My hat is off to ya. Glad somebody's catching fish.

Go ahead and go.Fishing is not always about numbers it more about the time spent on the water and the memories.Take that boy and have a good time.

If you have the ability to go, then by all means go. We never know what tomorrow brings. It's not always about catching fish; sometimes it's about making lifetime memories. My dad and brothers and I are headed down on April 12 for a week of fishing and while catching fish will be great; the memories will be better. I will be honest, I am going with the intention of catching crappie; but if I don't, then so be it. I find fishing a great way to relax and not worry about the stresses of life. I will get back to the real world after our fishing trip. Take your kid fishing and make some memories. Life is precious and should be enjoyed.

Slabdaddy, GO! Take ur son fishing.... Just like Michael D and Ky Teacher say make memories with ur son! I remember the time with my father going fishing. They stay with you forever... Now I get to repay the favor and take my son's as well as my father as he doesn't get around as good now! We just got back from there and we did better then some, and not as bad as others. We caught fish in 18' to 23' using 1/4 bigjig heads and umbrella southern pro glow orange/ chartreuse tipped with a minnow on ledges... And also we are heading back the 9th to the 12th for more fun and memories....

Going to get my boat in the morning load up the truck and head out tomorrow.Taking rainsuits,rocky boots and plenty changes of clothes for all the rain they're expecting.Have taken him for the last 2 yrs on spring break to KY lake and I think I will continue the tradition for many more.He's pretty tough to be only 9 and even though I try to tell him its going to rain and the fishing is tough he's still ready to go!If he's ready then I'm ready and will post results and hopefully pictures when we return.

thanks!

hey wiskers, i would be glad to teach you how to fish, just let me know.

my buddy just got back from ky lake today and had a mixed bag of white and black crappie, he had several in the 13-14 in range with a few kickers.they had a total of 64 crappie in 2 days. he said he caught some in 12 ft of water and some in 3 ft. water, so it shouldnt be long , theyll be hot

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by crappie52

hey wiskers, i would be glad to teach you how to fish, just let me know.

---

Hey, I'm open for lessons. I'm sure not finding any fish with this water falling. After all this rain we're gonna get the lake will start back up & they'll make a dash to the bank just in time for me to go back on the boat on the 8th! Just my luck.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wiskers

Hey, I'm open for lessons. I'm sure not finding any fish with this water falling. After all this rain we're gonna get the lake will stary back up & they'll make a dash to the bank just in time for me to go back on the boat on the 8th! Just my luck.

---

Sorry, but I'm pretty sure they will be hitting the banks hard about the 9th... they are getting you back for the cold front you were praying for last year. I'm still blaming you for that one!!! :D

There are still some fish out there to be caught, but it's pretty tough and I haven't been able to catch them casting the way I like thus far. Last weekend my 13 year-old daughter and I fished the Crappie USA tourny and managed to qualify for the regionals and caught several fish in Blood River, but we had to work for them alot harder than I like. Best fish came from 18' holding a chartruse jig tipped w/ a minnow as still as possible about 2' off the bottom in the dead middle of some large treetops. Lost as many trying to get them through the brush as we got in the boat.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by caseydrew

Sorry, but I'm pretty sure they will be hitting the banks hard about the 9th... they are getting you back for the cold front you were praying for last year. I'm still blaming you for that one!!! :D

There are still some fish out there to be caught, but it's pretty tough and I haven't been able to catch them casting the way I like thus far. Last weekend my 13 year-old daughter and I fished the Crappie USA tourny and managed to qualify for the regionals and caught several fish in Blood River, but we had to work for them alot harder than I like. Best fish came from 18' holding a chartruse jig tipped w/ a minnow as still as possible about 2' off the bottom in the dead middle of some large treetops. Lost as many trying to get them through the brush as we got in the boat.

---

Thanks Casey and congrats to you and your daughter on qualifying for the regionals. I had already heard thru the grapevine that yall did well.

That's pretty much where and how I've been catching the few that I've caught. It's just hard to hold a jig still with a 15 to 20 MPH wind hitting you in the face.

About all I've been catch'n have been whites. The blacks must be suspended out over deeper water now that the lake is fall'n. All the reports I've been getting on blacks is that they are few and far between. 3 weeks ago I was catching them in 4' of water. They'll head back to the shallows after all this rain. I'll get to kick their butt a day or 2 before I go back.

Good luck in the regionals! :D

Wiskers,

I don't think there is a black crappie living in Blood River....I've only caught 1 the last 2 weeks. However, I caught several in Big Sandy.....fishing seems much easier down there. I'm with you on trying to hold a jig still in 20mph winds as I had all the weight I possibly could in the front of the boat last Saturday to keep the front from bouncing up and down!