Lake Conditions: Both lakes are sitting around 355, 1 ft above their winter pool stage. There is significant current in both lakes as they try to keep them around their winter pool stage due to recent heavy rains in lakes areas. Kentucky is pulling 180,000 while Barkley has been running 68,000 CFM's. Kentucky has a heavy stain to it with the bays beginning to clear but still stained and water temps running in the 47-52 degree range while Barkley has much more color with only 6'' of visibility and water temps are running 48-53 degrees.

 

Weather: It has been another mild week temp. wise. With highs running in the low 60's ushered in by some very windy days early in the week. The past couple of days have been down right spring like. The weekend looks to have move into the lakes area on Friday night and Saturday with sunny cool days Sunday thru Weds.

 

Fishing: Fishing overall has been good this week. The A-rig is still catching fish but not the way it had before the water got dirty. Jerkbaits and tubes have come into play more this week than in the past few months due to the heavy stain to the water. Spro McStick and Lucky-E-Strike RC Stick have been baits of choice. With the warmer water temps we are moving these fairly fast with only short pauses between jerks. Outkast Tackle  tubes texas rigged with a rattle have taken a bunch of fish this week also. We've thrown almost all the different models of A-rigs on the market with most working as well as the other. The biggest difference comes in the type of jig and bait used. The two heads of choice have been the Outkast Tackle Pro Swim jig or Buckeye Lures JWill head both in 1/8 or 1/4oz. Choice of bait to put on these heads vary from curly tail grubs to high end Bass Trix swimbaits with the new Keitech Swimbait which looks like a large ring worm with a paddle tail and the Net Bait BK swimbait being the two go to baits. Reaction Innovations Skinny and Little Dippers are also getting a lot of use.

Crappie - It's been another good week of crappie fishing with lots of fish being caught and weeding thru them to get the keepers. I've been fishing brush on KY Lake in 12-20 feet of water but have been catching them much shallower on Barkley where I've caught them as shallow as 7' down to 15'. We've caught some fish by casting a tube jig or curly tail grub to brush piles on bank breaks. Most fish though have come by vertical jigging a tube or grub over the brush. White, pink, and chart. have been the best colors as of late. There looks to be an excellent spring and early summer bite on the lakes this year with lots of 9 - 9 3/4" fish being caught. 

 

                   

*****Make sure to stop by The Cabin Bait and Tackle before you hit the lake to catch up on the hottest baits and areas to help you have a great day on the water. While there check out the great selection of A-rigs and accessories to catch your next trophy. You can also get a quick bite to eat from the deli before you head out or after long day on the water.

 

*****Winter may be here but the fishing has been hot give me a call today to set up a crappie trip or learn how to throw the A-rig. Also this is the time to get your dates set for the upcoming spring season before someone else gets them.