July 29, 2010
Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Ky Dam -
358.24 Surface Temperature - 88
Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam -
358.40 Surface Temperature - 89
Both lakes are slightly less than one foot below
summer pool and on a slow drawdown. The deep summer heat continues with daily
heat indexes reaching over 100 on most afternoons. The forecast for the weekend
and next week is for more hot days with of course the chance for isolated
thunderstorms most afternoons. Make sure you take plenty of cold water and sun
block with you when you go out on the lakes and keep an ever watchful eye out
for an approaching storm, especially during the afternoon and early evening
hours.
Of course, as our temperatures remain hot, the
water temperatures continue to rise. The ledge bite for the bass is still
spotty, especially during the morning hours when there is no current present.
One can get into and catch some nice fish but it is more of a "be there at the
right time" more so than normal. The higher percentage bite on the ledges is
during the afternoon and early evening hours as this is when the TVA is
generating and we have some current present. The summer back up pattern in the
creeks and bays where Largemouth are chasing schools of baitfish fry is doing
well and one can catch some numbers of fish consistently on secondary points,
creek channel banks and on the shallow flats. Most of these actively feeding
fish are small fish but we are also getting some numbers of keeper and bigger
sized fish. White Bass anglers are doing best fishing vertical
presentations along the river and creek channel ledges during periods of no
current. During current draw times, White Bass are schooling around the mouths
of the creeks and bays as well as on the flats adjacent to the river and creek
channel ledges.
Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass are
being taken on the old river and creek channel ledges on the main lakes with
Carolina rigged worms and creature baits, Texas rigged worms, jigs and shaky
heads. Although I have heard of a few fish being taken on deep crankbaits, the
slower techniques mentioned is taking more fish. Largemouth Bass are also being
taken on secondary points and channel banks in the creeks and bays as well as on
the flats in the creeks and bays. These fish are feeding on schools of shad fry
from the spring spawns. The deeper fish are being taken on topwater lures early
and late in the day, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, Carolina and Texas rigged
creature baits and worms as well as jigs and shaky heads. The shallow fish are
being taken early and late in the day on topwater lures, lipless crankbaits,
spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. The shallow water fish are being taken during
the heat of the day by fishing near wood cover with spinnerbaits, Texas rigged
creature baits and shaky heads.
Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth Bass are
being taken during the day on the old river and creek channel ledges on the main
lakes. These fish are being taken on Carolina rigged creature baits, jigs and
shaky heads.
Bass at Night: The night bass fishing was
reported this week as feast of famine. Largemouth and Smallmouth are being
taken at night on rocky and gravel points on the main lake and on secondary
points and channel banks in the creeks and bays. These night feeders are being
taken on large dark colored spinnerbaits, Carolina rigged creature baits and
tubes, finesse jigs and tube jigs.
Lures: Some of the productive lures
reported this week are: Lucky Craft sammy in ghost pearl lemon, Rebel pop r and
Rapala skitter pop in black/silver, Strike King series 6 XD in sexy shad and
chrome sexy shad, Rapala DT 16 in parrot, Bandit 200 and 300 in rootbeer, Rapala
DT flatside in pearl grey shiner, Charmer 10.5 " ribbon tail and gator tail
worms in green pumpkin and plum, Berkley 12 " ribbon tail worms in plum,
Charmer timber pups in watermelon/purple and green pumpkin, Strike King rodent
in amistad special, Slong's spinnerbait in blue glimmer, Slong's chatterbait in
blue glimmer, D&L and Slong's shaky head jigs baited with Zoom trick worm in
green pumpkin and Charmer shaky head worm in green pumpkin and green pumpkin
blue, Net Baits baby paca craw in green pumpkin and summer craw and Slong's
football head jig in phantom.
White Bass: White Bass are being taken
along the old river and creek channel ledges by vertically fishing with inline
spinners, small spoons and minnow rigs. White Bass are also being taken on the
flats and around the mouths of the creeks and bays during current draw by
casting inline spinners and small spoons. Some jumps are being reported during
current draw periods and these surface feeders can be taken by casting inline
spinners, small crankbaits, small spoons and small surface poppers into the
feeding schools.
Catfish: Channel Catfish are being taken
along the old river channels in 20-30 ft of water by bottom bouncing rigs baited
with leeches/shrimp combinations as well as on bottom rigs baited with cut baits
and leech/shrimp combinations. Blue Catfish are being taken along the old river
channels in 25-40 ft of water on bottom rigs baited with yellow tails and cut
baits. The Catfish are most active during the periods of current draw and at
night.
Bluegill: Bluegills are being taken on
deep rocky creek channel banks and points near wood cover by vertically fishing
small jigs tipped with worms. Bluegills are also being taken at night around
lighted deep water docks with wood cover. These night feeders are being taken
on worms and crickets fished under bobbers.
FLASH: On July 1st, one of the
nicest and well respected members of the bass fishing community here was
severely injured in and auto accident. Ronnie Brinegar, a tournament director
for FLW Outdoors is now currently a patient at Shepard Center in Atlanta, Ga
where he is beginning a long journey to recovery and rehabilitation. In
addition to being a great all around person, he is also a young husband and
father. On September 4th a benefit bass tournament will be held at Ky Dam
Marina to assist the Ronnie and his family. Registration for this tournament
will be held at Fast Eddie's Tackle on U.S. 68 East in Fairdealing from 5-7 p.m
on September 3rd. A pretournament meeting will be held at 7:15 following
registration. There will be free hotdogs and hamburgers compliments of Fast
Eddie's. One can also register at the ramp up until 5:45 a.m. on Saturday
morning. There has been a number of donations made to guarantee payout for this
tournament so the proceeds can go to assist the Brinegar family. For more
information contact Danny York 270-906-5477 or Steve Alvarado 270-841-4626.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
Congratulations to The Cabin Bait and Tackle for the successful Lowrance Seminar
Night held there last Friday evening. The turnout was large and the Lowrance
Technicians were great and even stayed was past normal closing hours to assist
folks wanting to learn more about their sonar and side finding units. Stop by
The Cabin Bait and Tackle, meet the great folks there and check out the full
line of fishing tackle and accessories and you will see why it is one of the
best tackle shops in the lakes area. The Cabin Bait and Tackle is located on
U.S. 62 in Kuttawa just about one mile west of the I-24/U.S. 62 interchange.
FISHERMAN'S HEADQUARTERS IS BACK!!
Just in case you have not gotten the word yet, The Fisherman's
Headquarters Tackle Shop is now back in business in Draffenville. John Parks,
formerly of Jet-a-Marina is the proud new owner and he and previous owners Bart
and Lori Schutz as well as assistance from many of John's friends, including
Mark Menendez have really been working hard to get the store stocked up again
and looking in tip top shape. If you have not had the chance to get by there
yet, you need to stop by and meet John and check out the great selection of
fishing tackle and accessories. Fisherman's Headquarters is located at the U.S
68/U.S. 641 triangle in Draffenville.
If you are in need of a bass fishing guide for
some just for fun, catch and release bass fishing, tournament preparation, lake
familiarization or technique instruction, don't hesitate to give me a call to
make a reservation for one of my open dates:
I have the following dates available for booking
in July, August,September, October and November:
July: Sorry, I am booked up
August: 16, 19, 26, 27, 30, 31
September: 1, 2, 7, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22,
24, 28, 29, 30
October: 10, 12, 15, 17, 21, 22, 24, 26,
27, 28, 29, 30, 31
November: Plenty of dates available, this
is some of the best of the fall bass fishing...make your reservation now while
there are still plenty of dates available.
Don't delay in making your reservations for the
fall fishing. I am booking the fall trips daily right now and if you wait, you
may not be able to get the date(s) you want.
LEDGE FISHING INSTRUCTION:
I offer a focused teaching trip on how to fish
the ledges. This trip consists of a class on how to eliminate the water on your
topo map before you leave home so that you can concentrate your time on only the
highest percentage ledges while on the water as well as some time on the water
to learn how to use your electronics on the ledges, set up on the ledges and
learn the techniques used to fish the ledges. This teaching trip has been very
popular over the past few years since I started offering it as it will teach you
how to go out and find and fish those ledges on your own. To book one of these
trips, all you have to do is give me a call or drop me an email to book one of
my open dates.
Captain Dave Stewart
Bass Buster Guide Service
270-354-5039
dave@kentuckylakeguide.com
www.kentuckylakeguide.com
"Fish With a Professional"
