Weekly Report For Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley dated June 29, 2017

[Dave Stewart]

June 29, 2017

Kentucky Lake:  Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 359.09  Surface Temperature - 82
Lake Barkley:  Water Level at Barkley Dam - 359.15  Surface Temperature - 82

Both lakes are at summer pool.  Kentucky Dam was generating at an average rate of 38,700 cfs this afternoon.  Barkley Dam was generating at an average rate of 20,400 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:  We had some good days on the ledges earlier this week as the TVA was pulling water around the clock.  The past couple of days the it was tough to fish the ledges on the main lake on Kentucky as the wind was coming up from the south to the point we had waves coming over the front of my 22ft Ranger.  When it is like that, it really is not any fun so my clients and I came in early once the wind got up.  I have not stayed in business for 22 years by treating my clients to rough water in order to make a dollar.  With the lakes having leveled off from a draw down back to summer pool at midweek, they are now back in the pattern of shutting down the flow at night and during the morning hours and then increasing the flow around mid day and through the heat of the afternoon and early evening.  Our best bite this week was on slow moving techniques ie...Carolina rigged creature baits, Texas rigged large worms and dragging football head jigs.  Most of our fish over the past week are coming from the bottoms of the ledges in 20-25 ft of water although now and then we are getting an actively feeding fish off the tops of the ledges in 10-15 ft of water. 

Expect a lot of boat traffic this weekend with the holiday.  Please be courteous to your fellow boaters and most of all be safe and drive your boat defensively.  Please also take some time to reflect on why we celebrate our independence and freedoms and remember those that have sacrificed and are sacrificing so that we can remain a free country.

The forecast for Friday is for a high of 86/night time low of 70 with a 50% chance of afternoon thunderstorms and wind SSW at 12.  Saturday's forecast is calling for a high of 86/ night time low of 67 with a 40% chance of thunderstorms in the evening with wind W at 11.  Sunday is showing post frontal conditions with a high of 90/night time low of 69 with wind N at 4.  The extended forecast into mid next week is calling for daytime high's in the 90's, night time low's in the 70's with a 60% chance of thunderstorms each day.

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 and Largemouth 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 and Carolina 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 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 as well as around mayfly hatches near overhanging trees early and late in the day.

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:

July: Sorry, I am booked up.
August:  A number of dates available, make your reservations 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]

Dave thanks for another great and detailed report.  You be careful out they with all them holiday boaters out there.