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Fall has been slow to arrive. Overdue rain and cooler temperatures finally arrived to the Kentucky Lake fishing scene earlier this week, putting the region in a normal fall type weather pattern. The region and lake itself had been hot and thirsty for quite some time.

Fishermen have been anxiously awaiting those typical fall fishing days comprised of jacket mornings and shirt sleeve afternoons.

Lake levels this week are stable and hanging around the low ebb of 355, which is close to winter pool. That elevation requires pleasure boaters and fishermen darting about to use caution and play close attention to channel markers.

The vast open waters of Kentucky Lake hide sandbars and shallow stumps so resist the temptation to take shortcuts out over unfamiliar territory out there. Otherwise, boaters run the costly risk of damaging both their motor’s lower unit or the boat itself.

Surface temperature has cooled slightly but still has a way to go. Readings this week were 76 degree range and cooling off some each day.. Watch for that to fall slightly in the aftermath of a cool spell now under way.

Daytime highs are expected to be in upper 70’s with nighttime temps dipping down into the low to mid 50’s. That should influence cooler surface temps. A slight warmup is in the forecast beginning early next week.

Water color remains clear across the reservoir. Watch for a few foggy mornings to enter the picture.

Crappie fishing has been fair for most anglers who have anxiously awaited cooler conditions to take over. Most all of September and the first week of October saw above average temps dominate the fishing scene.

The shallow bite on fall crappie has been sluggish to materialize. No doubt warmer surface temps and hot days influenced that scenario. Watch for that to change in the days ahead.

Some stringers have been taken in 12 to 14 foot depths. A few scattered fish were beginning to move up to 6 to 9 foot depths but that should improve by next week.

A few anglers are backing off shallow structure and casting jigs plus using slip-bobbers at times to twitch and jig or live minnow presentation.

Both jigs and minnows have been paying dividends. Most anglers have been targeting the main lake areas.

Bass fishing has been tough at times but improved on cloudy, rainy days recently. Cooler surface temps should see the shallow bite turn on this week as more schools of baitfish move up. Shad have begun to occupy gravel banks in the early morning and late afternoon lowlight conditions.

Popular lure choices have been chrome colored Rattle Trap style selections and shad colored crankbaits. Some topwater jerk baits and swim baits have also worked when fish were active.

A few boats are still targeting main lake ledges and searching for schooling smallmouth or largemouth. A few surface feeding schools of whitebass were also busting the surface at times in hot pursuit of shad.

Current has been relatively low out on the main river channel. TVA has been pulling about 25,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) through Kentucky Dam. That’s enough to keep a slow flow out there for catfishermen stalking the edge of the river channel with bottom bumping rigs.

Some catfish have been taken by anglers using skip-jack, nightcrawlers and commercial stink bait concoctions in the 30 to 40 foot depth range.

Now that normal fall conditions are finally here the overall bite should improve for a variety of anglers.