Kentucky Lake Homes For Sale  |  Levels  |   Events |   Lake Cam

• Places To Stay
• Things To Do
• Fishing
• Boating
• Local Guide

Kentucky Lake’s mid-summer fishing scene continues to be productive for catfishing along the Tennessee River. Even during the periods high heat and humidity ole’ whiskers has held up a pretty good bite for anglers willing to hang in there and ride it out.

Experienced summer catfishermen are finding them in the 35 to 50 depth range lately. Some are bumping the bottom with double hook rigs while others use just a heavy egg sinker above a barrel swivel to alleviate line twist, allowing a short leader to dangle below.

Observing the sonar screen closely to pinpoint the balls of baitfish will put you in touch with the catfish. They are usually hot on the trail of their forage.

Nightcrawlers, chicken livers, cut bait, hot dogs marinated in garlic scent and a host of commercial stink baits sold at local shops have been productive. The overall catfish bite has been good this summer.

It has been a typical summer fishing pattern lately as a combination of a few sightings of white bass in the jumps have been seen up and down the main river channel areas plus bass still holding around main lake sandbars.

Bass fishermen are tossing the usual big shad colored crankbaits plus Texas rigged worms and a variety of finesse baits to grab the attention of a few smallmouth too.

The main ingredient that seems to stimulate the summer bite for catfish, white bass, largemouth and smallmouth out on the ledges is moving water. TVA has been pushing enough water through Kentucky Dam as of late to keep the bite going too.

Lake levels were in the 357.6 range as of this report, which is in the normal range for this period of August. Watch for the elevation to continue to fall slowly in the weeks ahead.

Water color remains clear across the reservoir. Surface temperatures reflect the long stretch of hot weather and are staying in the 88 degree range.

A few anglers have been night fishing in an attempt to beat the heat. Some report success on white bass and some stripers while fishing beneath the lights.

Whenever light winds occur those floating lights really draw the schools of shad and that lures the white bass, stripers and some crappie at times. Mayfly hatches also enhance the night fishing as that sudden surge of forage creates a feeding frenzy.

By day anglers are finding a few sightings of surface feeding frenzies from aggressive schools of white bass busting the surface. Tossing white Roster Tails, chrome colored spoons and inline spinners that mimic the swimming action and appearance of darting baitfish will produce.

It’s wise to keep a rod and reel rigged and ready with a chrome colored topwater bait that rips the water and makes noise to attract the schooling white bass. Once they tear holes in the water in hot pursuit of shad they’ll attack anything that rips across the calm water as though it were being chased by other fish.

August has traditionally been prime time for finding and catching white bass on Kentucky Lake. Watch the sandbars near the main channel areas for activity. Sometimes it requires a lot of running around and looking but if you happen upon a school tearing up the surface it’s one of fishing’s finest hours.

Cast after cast can produce quick results. These fight to the finish gamefish will test your tackle and put a smile on any angler’s face.

Best to keep a cooler full of ice as white bass won’t last long in the livewell during these high surface temps of mid-summer.