Weekly Report For Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley dated April 26, 2018

[Dave Stewart]

April 26, 2018 

Kentucky Lake:  Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 361.55  Surface Temperature - 61 
Lake Barkley:  Water Level at Barkley Dam - 361.35  Surface Temperature - 61

Both Lakes are 2.5 feet over summer pool and on a slow draw down.  Kentucky Dam was spilling at an average rate of 150,385 cfs this afternoon.  Barkley Dam was spilling at an average rate of 87,500 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:  Some big condition changes occurred since my last week's report.  Heavy rains here and up river earlier this week raised the lakes to their present level.  This coupled with some warmer days raised the water temperatures about 5 degrees.  Those scattered and finicky bass that we have been reported for the last few weeks finally moved into the shallows and the bite has been good this week.  We are catching numbers of fish right now in the flooded brush and wood cover in the creeks and bays.  There are still some bass staging on secondary points and channel banks also in the creeks and bays but the shallow bite has ruled this week. The TVA has started a slow draw down this afternoon and unless something changes weather wise the slow drawdown will continue until we once again reach summer pool 

LARGEMOUTH BASS:  Largemouth are being taken on creek channel banks and secondary points in the creeks and bays on jigs, Carolina and Texas rigged creature baits and crank baits.  Largemouth are also being taken in the flooded brush and wood in the creeks and bays on spinner baits, chatter baits, jigs, Texas and Florida rigged creature baits.

SMALLMOUTH BASS:  Smallmouth are bedding right now on gravel banks on the main lake and in the mouths of the creeks and bays.  These fish are taking jigs, Texas rigged creature baits and tube jigs.

PRODUCTIVE LURES:   Rapala DT 10 and DT 6 crank baits in crawdad patterns and shad patterns, Strike King Red Eye Shad in red craw and chrome "woops"y shad, D&L jigs in Cumberland craw and oops patterns, Slong's jigs in black blue, Slong's spinner baits in white/chartreuse and vibrating jigs in blue glimmer and white with pearl white swim bait trailer and Charmer 6" lizards and timber pups in watermelon/red. green pumpkin/blue and green pumpkin.

Crappie:  Crappie are still being reported as scattered with most of the fish still being taken in the 10-20 ft range over submerged cover by vertically fishing with minnow rigs and small jigs tipped with Crappie nibbles.  These fish are still staging around the mouths of the creeks and bays with some occasional few fish being taken in shallow water on warmer afternoons on bobbers and minnows. 

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 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 Comanche 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.

Available Dates: 

April:  Sorry, I am booked up.
May: 16,17, 24
June 13, 14, 21 25, 27, 28, 29

I am also taking reservations also for July, August, September, October and November.


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