Weekly Report For Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley dated June 15, 2017

[Dave Stewart]

June 15, 2017

Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 359.09  Surface Temperature - 81
Lake Barkley:  Water Level at Barkley Dam - 359.00  Surface Temperature - 81

Both lakes are at summer pool.  Kentucky Dam was generating at an average rate of 41,000 cfs this afternoon.  Barkley Dam was generating at an average rate of 36,800 cfs this afternoon.  The latest lake levels , current flows and forecasts for all the TVA lakes can be found at http://www.tva.com/river/lakeinfo/index.htm.

Current Conditions:  The heat of summer certainly showed itself this week with high's in the mid 90's and heat indexes around 100 each day.  These high temperatures shot the lake temperatures up to present levels.  With the lakes back down to summer pool now, the TVA is only generating enough water to produce some current during the afternoons and early evenings when everyone's air conditioners are cranking up.  My observations this week has been a somewhat slower ledge bite early in the day than we had with the steady current around the clock the past few weeks, with the bite increasing in the afternoon's and evening when there is current being generated.  This does not mean you cannot catch bass on the ledges during the morning hours, we certainly have, but the reports I am getting is indicating a better bite late in the day right now.  I have seen this cycle many times during my years here and sometimes lasts for a week or two when we have heat waves during the summer months.  If you check the TVA website using the link I provided above, you can get a past 48 hour history of the hourly generation at the dams and you will see what I mean. 

It looks like we will get a couple of days relief from this hot and humid weather early next week after this next front passes through the lakes area.  The forecast for tomorrow (Friday) is for a high of 93/night time low of 70 with wind S at 5.  Saturday's forecast is showing a high of 94/night time low of 75 with a 30% chance of isolated thunderstorms with wind SSW at 10-15.  Sunday's forecast is showing frontal passage with a high of 87/night time low of 67 with a 100% chance of thunderstorms and wind WSW at 10-15.  Keep an eye on the sky for approaching storms.  These storms that develop in the afternoons this time of year move fast and generate a lot of lightning and localized high winds.  Don't wait too late to find a safe port with approaching storms.

The lakes are getting a very crowded over the past couple weeks and it is time to remind everyone to use some common sense and courtesy when on the water in regards to your fellow anglers and boaters.  Be aware of other boats that are stationary either fishing or swimming, there is no reason to run close by them when in most cases you can manuever your boat to pass well away from these folks.  If you park your boat in a narrow navigation lane, you can expect to be washed by other boats transitioning the navigation lane, it is not smart to park your boat in a navigation lane.  If someone is fishing a ledge spot you wanted to fish when you get there, find another ledge, do not pull up beside another boat and start fishing just because you wanted to fish there.  If you don't know any other places to fish other than that spot, come see me and I will teach you how to find other good spots.  The lake is 184 miles long and 2 miles wide...there is no excuse for showing disrespect for your fellow boaters and anglers. 

Largemouth Bass: Largemouth are being taken on primary points on the main lake as well as on ledges on the main lake and in the mouths of creeks and bays. These fish are being taken on deep diving crank baits, swim baits, spoons, Texas rigged large worms, drop shot rigs, shaky heads, Carolina rigged creature baits and jigs. Largemouth are being taken in the backs of the creeks and bays early and late in the day on topwater lures as they are feeding on schools of fry.  Some Largemouth are also being taken near wood cover during the day in the shallow water on spinner baits, texas rigged creature baits and Senko type baits.

Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth are being taken on main lake points and on ledges during the day on jigs and Carolina rigged creature baits.  Smallmouth are being taken at night on rocky main lake points and rocky points inside the mouths of creeks and bays on dark skirted spinner baits, jigs and tube jigs.

Productive Lures: Some of the productive lures reported this week are Lucky Craft Sammy in ghost pearl lemon, Strike King spash baits in white, Rapala, Strike King XD 6 and XD 10 in Tennessee shad, "woops"y shad and chartruese "woops"y shad, Rapala DT16 in parrot, Big Hammer swim baits in "woops"y smelt and bay smelt, Kitech swim baits in pro blue, D&L jigs in "oops" and cumberland craw, Slong's jigs in cumberland craw, Slong's spinner baits in blue glimmer,  Charmer and Zoom large worms in plum, red bug and watermelon/red on Texas rigs, Charmer lizards and timber pups on Texas rigs and Carolina rigs in green pumpkin and green pumpkin/blue and watermelon/purple.

Bluegill: Bluegills are being taken around brush shallow as well as on the spawning flats in the creeks and bays in 2-5 ft of water. Crickets, red worms, wax worms under bobbers and red worms and pinched night crawlers fish on bottom on split shot rig is the ticket for these tasty fish. Bluegills are also being taken around mayfly hatches near overhanging trees and docks early and late in the day on crickets and wax worms fished under bobbers.

White Bass:  White Bass are being taken along main lake ledges and the ledges around the mouths of the creeks and bays with in line spinners and blade baits fished vertically. 

IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON VISITING OUR LAKES I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING BUSINESSES FOR ALL YOUR FISHING AND BOATING NEEDS:
Fisherman's Headquarters is located in Draffenville at the U.S. 68/U.S. 641 triangle, or the Draffenville "Y". FHQ stocks everything an angler could need, from live bait, hooks and bobbers to top of the line tournament bass tackle. More than a "bait and tackle" store, Fisherman's Headquarters is a true "pro shop", offering advice, training and special order assistance not found online or at the big box retailers. Services even include custom electronics training and installation. The store offers a wide variety of nationally known brands as well as many regional and hard to find items we use on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes. They stock many of the products I rely on daily, such as Charmer Baits, Slong's lures, Picasso lures, Bag 5 lures and Pro Tungsten weights. From bluegill to bass and catfish to crappie, FHQ has you covered! Stop by and visit or phone 270-527-5938

Jet-A-Marina: If you have a problem with your boat while you are visiting our great fisheries, let me recommend you have the folks in the service department at Jet-a-Marina check it out. These folks have a well known reputation for trying to keep our visitors on the water while they are here if they can possibly do so, especially you tournament anglers. Hopefully you will not need this kind of assistance but if you do, you can find Jet-a-Marina located on U.S. 62 in Calvert City, just a couple of miles north of Kentucky Dam. Jet-a-Marina also has a great showroom for all your boating accessories and check out the new Ranger and Stratos bass boats too as well as bulk oil at rock bottom prices for your engine. Phone: 270-395-4030.

GUIDE SERVICE:

For those of you that may not be familiar with my service: I am a full time catch and release bass fishing guide. I only guide for bass. I have been guiding for bass full time on these lakes for over 20 years and bass fishing the lakes for over 30 years. I do not go out and fish panfish for 4 or 5 days and then try to guide on bass for one or two days.

No one knows everything the bass are doing but one thing is for sure, if you only fish for bass day in and day out, you will have a lot better idea of what they are doing and also be familiar with all the different techniques it takes to be a successful bass angler.

If you book with my service, you will have me as your guide and you will be guided in the comfort of a late model Z522 Ranger Commanche equipped with Lowrance HDS electronics and top of the line tackle. I provide just for fun bass fishing trips, tournament preparation trips, focused teaching trips and technique instruction. If you are in need of a bass fishing guide give me a call or drop me an email.

Ledge Teaching:

I am also taking bookings for my Ledge Teaching trip. The Ledge Teaching trip consists of both classroom and time on the water. This trip not only teaches you how to find the highest percentage ledges but also what you are looking for on your electronics and how to interpret what you are seeing, how to search the ledges, set up on the ledges as well as making decisions on what type lures you should be throwing depending on enviromental conditions. You do not learn how to find and fish the best ledges by simply looking at your electronics....it takes knowledge to find and fish the best ledges, the electronics are just a tool to assist you in seeing the fish afer you find them.

Available Dates:

June: Sorry, I am booked up.
July: A number of available dates, make your reservation now to get the date(s) you want.
Of course I am taking reservations for the rest of the season also through November. Make your reservations now to get the dates you want.


Captain Dave Stewart
Bass Buster Guide Service
270-362-9987
dave@kentuckylakeguide.com
www.kentuckylakeguide.com
"Fish With a Professional"

[Lipripper]

Thanks for the great report Dave .