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The pumpkin month has been a bit mean!

Normally October is a month with a reputation for stability in terms of wind and temperatures but the last week to ten days have been challenging for the Kentucky Lake fishing scene.

Nasty winds and falling temperatures greeted anglers and that’s had a negative impact on the overall bite for bass, crappie and catfish.

A better weather pattern is forecast for the weekend and well into next week. Anglers are ready to rebound.

Fishermen had to dig deep in the closet for winter clothes as it has been brisk out there on the big pond. Temps fell to the 40-degree range for nighttime lows and struggled to reach the mid to upper 60’s a few days.

The cold front and high skies diminished the bite this week. High pressure means mile high skies and that often has a negative impact on the overall bite.

Crappie and bass were reluctant to bite earlier this week as the front descended and appeared to be holding tight to structure with little desire to chase a bait even when it was presented right in their face.

Downright sluggish and stubborn. Just not wanting to play fair for fishermen.

Northwest winds and falling temperatures can do that sometimes, altering the mood of fish for a few days until stable weather returns with a southwesterly wind direction.

Presently lake levels have been stable and holding around the low ebb of 354.8 range. That’s winter pool elevation neighborhood. Water color remains clear.

Surface temperatures fell the last few days, reflecting the influence of cold nights. Readings are now in the 67 degree range and may fall another degree or two by the weekend. Daytime high are expected to moderate some and climb back to the 72 degree range early next week.

It’s a beautiful time to be on the lake as each week more color enters the picture along the rolling hills and shorelines of Kentucky Lake.

Meanwhile, crappie are overdue to move up into shallow areas now that lower surface temps have arrived. Depths of 6 to 10 feet should start producing some fish.

Most of the fish have been hanging out in the 10 to 14 foot range or even deeper where stakebeds and brushpiles on the edge of drop-offs have been the most productive.

Live minnows have worked well and outperformed jigs at times. However, white/chartreuse combos and other dull colored presentations have worked too.

Finicky crappie have been sluggish to show aggressive behavior. Strikes have been very light. A few warm days and cloud cover could change that.

It doesn’t take long for crappie to have a mood swing and it’s past time they got in gear!

Bass anglers have slugged it out tossing some topwater jerk baits at times and have reported limited success on rock and gravel banks. Tossing swim baits and shad colored variations of crankbaits have worked at times as have chrome/blue Rattle Trap style lure selections.

Not much to report from catfishermen lately. The bite has been slow along the river channel as of late.

Watch for improvement this weekend and throughout next week once normal fall weather resumes. The fish and the fishermen are ready to link up and get back to a good fall bite with nice weather complimenting the autumn display.

It appears the mean windy days are now in the rearview mirror for a spell.