Weekly Report For Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley dated July 28,2017

[Dave Stewart]

July 28, 2017

Kentucky Lake:  Water level at Kentucky Dam - 358.00  Surface Temperature -  89
Lake Barkley:  Water level at Barkley Dam - 357.95  Surface Temperature - 89

Both lakes are one foot below summer pool.  Kentucky Dam was generating at an average rate of 21,700 cfs this morning.  Barkley Dam was generating at an average of 9,000 cfs this morning. 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 experienced a continuation of the heat wave we have been experiencing over the past couple of weeks again this week with heat indexes over 100 degrees every day.  The lack of current on the lakes also continued this past week and is forecasted to continue for the near future.  The ledge bite for the bass continues to be slow during the day as it has been for past three weeks.  We are catching some fish on the ledges during the day but the numbers are few and you have to work for them.

Our most productive ledge techniques this week were Carolina rigging small creature baits and drop shot rigs.  The better bite for us this week was shallow in the backs of the creeks and with top water lures early and then tube jigs and finesse jigs around shallow isolated wood cover after the sun came up.  Our best morning on this pattern yeilded over 3 limits and our worst morning only a few short fish.  The reports I am getting still indicate a better late evening and night bite on the ledges and also on main lake points and secondary points in the creeks and bays.  Dark skirted spinner baits, jigs, Texas rigged worms and tube jigs are being reported as productive at night. 

The better news is that we had a cold front move through the area early this morning and the forecast is looking good for breaking this heat wave and having some cooler days and less humidity for the immediate future.  The forecast for Saturday is for a high of 84/night time low of 60 with wind NE at 11.  Sunday's forecast is calling for a high of 84/night time low of 61 with wind N at 8.  The extended forecast is calling for more post frontal conditions through Tuesday with high's in the 80's/low's in the 60's with light and variable winds.  The next front is currently forecasted to arrive sometime late Wednesday.

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 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 shallow near isolated wood cover and around docks with cover during the day on spinner baits, texas rigged creature baits, jigs, tube jigs 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, Big Hammer swim baits in "woops"y smelt and bay smelt, D&L jigs in "oops" and cumberland craw, Slong's jigs in cumberland craw, Charmer and Zoom large worms in plum and green pumpkin on Texas rigs and Carolina rigs, Charmer lizards and timber pups on Texas rigs and Carolina rigs in green pumpkin, green pumpkin/blue and watermelon/purple, Charmer shaky head worms and zoom trick worms on shaky head jigs in green pumpkin and watermelon/purple and Charmer tubes in smoke purple on tube jig heads rigged stupid style. 

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. The mayfly hatches are not large but some smaller hatches are still occuring on some nights. There has been some early morning jumps around the mouths of the creeks and bays but they are not lasting very long but some fish can be taken in these jumps with inline spinners and small spoons cast into the surface feeding fish.

Catfish:  Channels and blues are being taken along river ledges in 20-30 feet of water on cut baits on bottom rigs. 

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 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: 31  (this date just opened up yesterday due to a late cancellation....if you want it, call me now)
August: I still have some 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"