Hi All,

We are progressing through fall at a good clip. Fishing has been decent considering some of the tough conditions we have faced. Some heavy rains along with fluctuating lakes levels have made for some challenging days on the water. We are now about where we should be at 355.5 feet above sea level. I imagine we will get down to 355 or slightly less and hopefully hold near that mark for the next five months before we start rising next spring. I like stable water for more predictable fishing no matter the season.

We have seen a decline in water temperatures with the shorter daytime hours and cooler nights. We are now in the low 70’s. This is on course for this time of year. Looking back on the last four years, we have usually been in the low 70’s by October 1. I enjoy comparing conditions year to year and try to forecast what the future may hold. We tend to lose around ten degrees per month and end up at 60 degrees by November 1 and 50 degrees or slightly below by December 1.

This may sound cool to us but for the fish, it is just right. They emerge from the summer doldrums and have a desire to add protein to their diet to bulk up for cooler and less active winter months. As we cool the next few weeks, the crappie and bass will get more and more active. I tend to compare the upcoming few weeks with mid March to mid April, just in reverse. I have a hard time convincing anglers how great fall fishing can be. The weather can be beautiful, lakes calm, fishing pressure ½ or less than it is in spring, and fish hungry. Another good thing is we tend not to see the big swings in elevation (5 to 8 feet or more at times) that we can see in the spring during floods. The bays fill with shad and the bass and crappie follow to feed up for winter.

Shad are the key to fall fishing making spinnerbaits, bass assassins, rat-t-traps, crank baits, etc. some of my favorite baits. Anything that resembles our forage works. This goes for bass as well as crappie. Along with gizzard shad, we have a huge population of threadfin shad. Kentucky Lake is on the northern edge of waters that the threadfin can inhabit, as they are very susceptible to cold water. They run smaller than their gizzard cousins and make excellent forage for the crappie in Kentucky and Barkley.

One thing I would like to mention is we can still see severe weather in the fall. Many people do not realize the area sees a second severe weather season. Just as we see severe storms during the spring as the season warms, we see it in the fall as the season cools. Anytime you have a clash between cold and warm air, storms can occur. The fall of 2005 was particularly tough. Early in November on the evening of the fifth and morning of the sixth, we had a strong cold front push through the area. The result was strong late night/early morning supercell storms that spawned tornados that cut swaths of damage across western Kentucky and southwest Indiana. Twenty-five deaths in and around Evansville, IN were attributed to this system.

A little over a week later on November 15, 2005 the set-up of a strong cold front and warm air across the area again spawned severe storms and eventually tornados. Unfortunately two of the most power were in the lakes area. One was an F4 with winds estimated near 210 mph in Hopkins County. It had a damage path of 15 miles and injured 27. The second was a strong F3 that was born just south of Mayfield, KY and maintained a damage path for the next 44 miles! It reached peak winds of 200 mph while traveling along Big Bear Highway and while doing damage to the Moor Resort area of Kentucky Lake.

It continued across the lakes doing damage around Hillmans Ferry campground and finally dissipating in Lyon County. Many of you will remember this storm. It did MAJOR damage to the Moors resort, one of the lakes nicest resorts. Unfortunately, it killed one man outside of Benton when it rolled the trailer where he was located and it caught fire. However, the area was lucky. If it had struck an hour or two later when the schools were out and when more people were home from work the death toll could have been much greater. In addition, had the campgrounds been occupied at the Moors or Hillman Ferry the death toll could have been massive.

I say all this as a reminder. The fishing is great in the fall and one reason is, we are undergoing a change towards winter months. The cooling water and abundance of shad in the shallows gives us great fishing. The change of seasons can also bring severe weather. Keep an eye open when you know a cold front is approaching. Do not take chances. Do not get caught far from the ramp or marina. Being on the LBL in severe weather is not a fun thing.

Have a weather alert radio when you are here fishing. Our local station is KIH46 from Mayfield, KY, which is about 30 miles west of the lakes area. With most of the new weather radios, you do nothing but turn it on. It detects the alerts from the closest station and alerts you to severe weather. Whether you live here 12 months a year or visit a time or two, keep one handy day or night. They can be found from $25 and are available at most hardware and department stores or online. It may save your life!

If you need a guide for a day or weekend, give me a call. We will have a good time regardless and I will show you how to fish our lakes.

Good luck next time out and God bless ya!
Lyndon
Fish Tales Guide Service

Jonathan Creek Area – Shad are being found further into the bays than a few weeks ago. Start working points leading into the bays and remember the importance of matching the bait. Shad are our bass and crappie populations main forage come fall. I look for the fishing to improve further back in Jonathan as the month progresses. By November 1, fishing west of the 68 bridge will improve and likely peak near Thanksgiving weekend.

Blood River Area – Blood is getting primed for some fantastic fishing. Don’t get me wrong, fishing isn’t bad now, especially that the water may be getting stable but as we cool look for fishing from Sheep’s Ridge back to Fannin’s point to improve big time! Eventually the fish will also taking up positions near cover from at the mouth of Wildcat south towards Fannin’s Point and into Jack’s Branch.

KY/TN LBL Bays and Main Lake –

Look for the shad to continue filling the LBL bays. Largemouth, smallmouth, white bass, striper, and crappie fishing will continue to improve. Again shad imitation baits such as spinnerbaits, rat-l-traps and crankbaits will catch a little of everything. For crappie regardless of location, I favor the roadrunner. I vary size and color depending on what the fish are telling me they want. Do not be afraid to change up when what you are doing is not working. In addition, as the water cools I rely more and more on enhancements such as Berkley crappie nibbles. They not only improve bite but they seem to extend the time the fish will hold onto the jig. This can make a big difference in a slow or light bite.

WICKS CURRENT CONDITIONS - Lake Elevation is 355.5 with slightly fluctuating levels. The surface temperature is around 72 degrees.

A front passed through the area last night and right now the current weather is sunny, cool, and windy. Air temperature is 66 degrees with 20 to 30 mph winds from the west. With cooler weather and some rain predicted the next week or so, I look for the water to continue to cool into the 60’s.

FISHING TIP – Keep moving when crappie fishing. Often times I will pull up on a spot and catch a couple right away. Then nothing for a half an hour or more. If this happens move onto the next location then return after an hour or two. Often times some feeding crappie will replace those you caught earlier.

Special thanks to the Murray State Hancock biological station, NOAA, and weather.com in providing information I use when developing my reports.

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