Doug Wynn's Fishing Report
Adapting to Summer Patterns on the Lake
Published on July 17, 2025
Hey y'all from the Excel 230 Elite. If the dog days of summer aren’t here already , they will be soon. It sure feels that way now.
The lake levels are dropping ever so slightly but even that slight drop seems to be having a big effect on the areas I’ve been fishing. The concentration of baitballs have relocated from mid depth to the deeper channel drops and even river ledges. The last three trips I’ve made have all been in 20+ feet to over 30. My electronics are showing fish scattered in proximity to the schools of minnows. My catches are reflecting it.
After some vacation time off, I finally got Miss Vicki out for the first time all year. We got our schedules meshed on Saturday morning. The winds were going to be a factor later in the day so we decided to start around 8 until the wind and boat wakes made it uncomfortable. That ended up being about noon. We found scattered fish but some nice crappie.
Monday and Tuesday found the crappie on the move and each day was totally different. My catch dropped each day. What worked yesterday had nothing to do with today’s success. Cranks and Fin Spins were the top producers. I even started putting snap weights in front of some baits to get them well below 20 feet.
Thankfully my schedule is very light for the next few weeks. I plan on doing some exploring of new areas and revisit some I haven’t fished in decades. My guess is most of the crappie have moved with the bait to main lake ledges, maybe even the Tn River ledges. Dog days with little wind, even though almost unbearably hot, are good times to check out spots well away from the protection of the bays.
Summer is getting shorter on the calendar. Early fall into cold weather is a great time for crappie catching. My September and October schedules show plenty of dates available but with plenty of off dates built in.
I got a diagnosis from my spine surgeon last week that I didn’t want. My third lower back surgery is in my future even though I turned down treatments for the near future. All this means is my booking schedule for next year will show many less available dates. Rest and improving my diet are what the doctor ordered for the near time frame.
Be careful out there. We had another Ky Lake drowning over the weekend. Safety should always be first and foremost for lake activities. Wear your PFDs when running the big motor. Save that booze for the time on the shore.
Welcome to our slice of Heaven.
Doug Wynn's Bio
Doug Wynn has been fishing Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley for most of his life. He is the owner of Crappie Gills 'n More. Doug fishes both Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley and specializes in crappie, bluegill, catfish and other panfish species.
Doug's fishing report covers Lake Barkley from Canton to Barkley Dam and Kentucky Lake from Paris Landing to Kentucky Dam.
Doug WynnCrappie Gills 'n More
doug@5riversdux.com
270-703-7600
www.crappie-gills-n-more.com
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