Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Ky Dam - 354.14 Surface Temperature - 73
Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 354.30 Surface Temperature -
73
Both lakes are at winter pool. This is about two feet lower than normal
for this time of year. Boaters need to use caution when running the
lakes. If you are not familiar with the lakes you should stay inside the
marked navigation channels and only run outside the navigation markers
after you have become familiar with the area you are navigating.
FLASH: There is a sunken barge at the mouth of Moss Creek on North
Kentucky Lake. This barge sunk during the big wind storm we had here
with the passage of hurricane Ike. The barge is just below the water
line. It is marked with some white buoys. Boaters should avoid this area
until further notice. There is also a sunken houseboat just east of the
entrance to Ky Dam Marina on the main lake. This accident just happened.
At the lake level this afternoon the top of the houseboat is visible.
Use caution in this area.
The fall transition bite on Largemouth Bass continues here on the lakes.
The overall bite has been good this past week with a myriad of patterns
working from ledges to the flats on the main lake and in the bays. Water
temperatures have dropped a little from last week with the passage of a
cold front in the area this past Monday night. I have observed more shad
in some of the bays and some of the bays still seem to be holding the
same amount of first year shad as observed last week. As the water
temperatures drop, more shad, thus more bass should be moving into the
creeks and bays. The weather forecast for the weekend looks good with
light southeast winds and sunny skies. A chance of scattered
thunderstorms is in the present forecast for the coming mid week as
another cold front approaches.
Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass are being taken on the river and creek
channel ledges near the mouths of the creeks and bays. These fish are
being taken on deep diving crankbaits, Carolina rigged creature baits
and by dragging football head jigs. Largemouth are also being taken on
main lake primary points as well as secondary points and associated
creek channel banks in the creeks and bays. These transitioning fish can
be taken on topwater early in the day, crankbaits, Carolina rigged
creature baits, shaky head worms and jigs. Largemouth are also being
taken on the flats on the main lake as well as on the flats in the
creeks and bays. These fish are feeding on schools of baitfish and can
be taken on topwater lures, lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, soft
jerkbaits and dead stick worms.
Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth Bass are being taken on main lake primary
and secondary points early and late in the day on topwater lures,
crankbaits, shaky head worms, tube jigs and finesse jigs. Smallmouth are
also being taken on main lake flats on Ky Lake on topwater lures and
spinnerbaits.
Some of the productive lures reported this week are: Lucky Craft Sammy
in ghost pearl lemon and American shad, Lucky Craft g-splash in ghost
pearl lemon, Zoom horny toads in watermelon/red, white and green pumpkin
swirl, Hook Some Bass spinnerbaits in blue glimmer, Norman DD22 in white
and rootbeer, Rapala DT 16 in black/silver, Bandit crankbaits in
rootbeer and rootbeer/chartreuse, Lewis rattletraps in blue/chrome and
black/chrome, Strike King red eye shad in sexy shad and chrome/blue,
Charmer timber pups in green pumpkin, Hook Some Bass baby brush hounds
in chameleon craw and green pumpkin, Zoom super flukes in white and
chartreuse shad, Last Cast hairy bug jigs in green pumpkin, D&L baby
advantage jig in "oops", Ozark stik m in green pumpkin and Yamamoto
senko in green pumpkin.
Crappie: Some Crappie are being taken over brush piles on creek channel
ledges in 12-20 ft of water by fishing vertically with small tube jigs
and small minnows. Some Crappie are being reported on some days being
taken on banks adjacent to these brush piles early and late in the day
by casting curly tail jigs and small road runners.
Catfish: Catfish are being taken along the old river channels in 20-30
ft of water on bottom bouncing rigs baited with yellowtail and
shrimp/leech combinations.
Bluegill: Bluegill are being taken on gravel creek channel banks and
gravel points using small jigs tipped with wax worms and pinched
nightcrawlers.
This is the time of year for all the fall bass fishing classic and
regional tournaments to come visit our lakes. I would like to welcome
the tournament anglers to our lakes and wish you the best of luck in
your tournament. Take time to stop by the lakes area's two finest tackle
shops for all your tournament fishing needs. You will find a great
selection of lures and tackle at both the Fisherman's Headquarters
located in Draffenville at the U.S. 68/U.S. 641 triangle and The Cabin
Bait and Tackle located on U.S. 62 just west of Kuttawa. Both these
shops stock the lures mentioned here in my report.
If you are in need of some service on your boat while you are visiting
the lakes area, I recommend that you visit the fine service folks at
Jet-a-Marina located on U.S. 62 in Calvert City, just a couple of miles
west of Ky Dam. The service people there are dedicated to keeping you on
the water if possible. Jet-a-Marina also stocks your favorite engine
oils in bulk jugs for a big savings.
Fall is a great time to fish for bass here on Ky/Barkley lakes. November
can be especially fun with schooling shallow bass feeding on schools of
baitfish. This is a great time for topwater lures, spinnerbaits and
crankbaits. Of course you can get a cold front that slows the
fishing...but the good bite days will make memories that will last a
lifetime. Make your reservations now for some great fall fishing in
November.
If you are in need of a bass guide for some just for fun fishing,
tournament preparation, lake familiarization or technique instruction
don't hesitate to give me a call or drop me an email to book one of my
open dates. I have the following dates available in October and
November:
October: 31
November: Plenty of dates available..contact me to schedule your trip.
Dave Stewart
Bass Buster Guide Service
270-354-5039
