Based on the lake level markings at my dock, it appears that we are at summer pool, give or take a few inches.
 
The surface water temp is varying a few degrees depending on what part of the lake you’re at but generally speaking it is in the high 50’s.  By the time you read this report the water temps should be right at the 60 degree mark.
 
The weather early in the week started off cool.  Finally we had three consecutive days of warm weather, Wed. Thur. & Fri. but along with it came strong winds.  This time of year we do get strong Southerly winds that accompany the warm days so make sure you are aware of the weather forecast.  It appears we’re over the cold weather that plagued us early on.  Now is a good time to be here fishing for bass & crappie.  So come on down!
 
Weekly Highlights: 
Robert Walter and his neice Allyson Thompson (photo) from Evansville, and I took advantage of a beautiful afternoon on Kentucky Lake to fish for crappie.  Casting grubs, we caught a nice mess off rocky points about 6 feet deep.  It’s always great to see the young ones having a good time in the outdoors.  Helping a youth become a better angler is one of the more enjoyable aspects of being a guide.  Allyson was a real pleasure to be around and a fishing machine to boot! 

Darrell Garland (photo) from Ohio came to Kentucky Lake to learn to fish the shakey head.  He also wanted enough crappie for a fish fry back home so we began the first hour of our day casting grubs for crappie and caught a bunch.  A day that had started out cool but calm turned harsh and warm about 10 AM with South winds 10-15 mph and big main lake waves.  At that time, we decided to fish for bass using shakey heads along chunk rock banks mid way up the bays. Catching a nice bass on your first cast with a shakey head has a way of instilling confidence in the technique and Darrell was a prime example.  By the end of the day he had become a certified shakey head freak.  I learned something from Darrell too, how to keep a positive attitude even when you are soaked to the bone from the spray of a good ‘ole’ Kentucky lake roller.  Thanks for a great day Darrell and I look forward to doing it (not getting wet but the fishing) again!

One of the highlights of my week was fishing with Price & Alison Hartman from Tennessee and their three children (photo).  When Price informed me he had three children ages 9, 7 & 4 that wanted to fish my first reaction was it was going to be a real challenge for me to manage.  Nothing could have been further from the truth.  Not only were the kids extremely well behaved and attentive they could fish too!  More parents should be like Price & Alison and get their children introduced to the outdoors.  There is something really special about sharing your boat with kids that love the outdoors and like to fish.  If you want to see a couple of big fish, go to the Crappie Photo Gallery on my website www.kicknbass.net and check out the monster crappie John caught.  Which, by the way, was Kick’n Bass’ big fish of the week at 2 lbs. 9 oz. Thanks to the Hartman’s for showing me how much fun fishing can be when you’re treated like family.
 
Sometimes Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate but it doesn’t mean that the fish don’t bite.  In spite of the very high winds we experienced, Dave & Sue Gish (photo) from Indianapolis and I had a great time.  Sue, facing hip replacement, was a real trooper.  Instead of feeling sorry for herself and being non-active, she decided to do several things before having surgery and one of them was to go fishing with Kick’n Bass!  You gotta admire somebody like that.  It didn’t bother me one bit to be out fished by Sue!  Dave thanks for setting up the trip and good luck Sue on your recovery.  I look forward to our next trip together.
 
Fishing Report …
 
Crappie: Except for one day this week when the crappie were suffering from the post frontal blues, they bit pretty well.  Crappie are being caught all over the lake and at different depths. Spider rigging, with minnows and jigs over brush piles 10-12’ ft deep in the creek channels or in the mouth of the bays, has been productive for some fishermen. Some really nice slabs are being caught this way and both Black & White crappie are showing up. 

 As the water continued to warm, we caught lots of crappie casting jigs on the gravel banks.  By the time you read this report, this pattern should be red hot.
 
Bass:  Last week I reported that Largemouth bass were being caught on chunk rock banks and main lake points and this still holds true.  However, with the water warming and rising lake levels, some bass are now making their way to the back of the coves and bays.  Some of the productive lures are: Excalibur X50 in Royal Shad and shallow to medium crank baits in root beer & chartreuse.  A very consistent pattern again this week has been casting a grub along chunk rock banks.  The overall numbers have been outstanding and we’ve stumbled upon several schools of really good bass too.  When we found a concentration of good fish, we’ve been cleaning up with shakey heads in green pumpkin.   Chunk rock banks with 10’ of water close by has been very productive.  Smallmouth Bass are being caught in 5 – 6’ feet of water along pea gravel banks closest to spawning coves.  The most productive lures, for Smallmouth have been tube jigs, shakey heads and a Smallie Beaver in green pumpkin.  Some smallmouths are on the beds.  This week I saw a 22 inch female laden with eggs.  The fish was weighed, photographed and released to complete her spawn.
 
Yellow Bass:  Yellow Bass seem to be getting bigger and more plentiful every year.  You can’t help but catch them.  Especially when fishing for crappie.
 
Bluegill & Redear:   Although we are not specifically fishing for them, some fairly large Bluegill & Redear are showing up on occasion which indicates to me we’re going to have another great season on them very soon.  

On the Water Tackle Shop:  Check out Malcolm Creek Resort’s selection of name brand fishing tackle, rod & reels and such.  They keep the hottest lures in stock and the prices are less than you’d expect.  I purchased 3 Shimano Clarus rods and Sienna reel combos for crappie fishing and my customers love them.  Special orders available with a 2 day turn around.  Contact Robert @ 800-733-6713.

"Tip of the Week"

Reducing Line twist when using spinning reels.  I know a lot of you are using spinning reels when casting for crappie.  Line twist is a major cause of line loops and over runs on your spool.  Here are a few tips to help you over come these issues. Choose the right line. Stiff line will give you nothing but trouble.  A line that it is limp and castable, within the pound-test guidelines on the reel itself will work best.   Use the instructions that come with the line to show you how to install the line on your spool.  Make sure you don’t overfill the spool. Too much line on the spool is a major cause of looping and problems with spinning reels. Leave about a 1/16 of an inch of the spool rim showing.  Once you make a cast, use your fingers to put tension on the line until the weight of the lure does it for you.  Reeling in loose line will cause loops on your spool. Once the line is tight you can reel normally. Manually close your bail.  This certainly will help reduce line twist.   If you do get some line twist, take the lure off and let the line out behind the boat as you idle down the lake. Let as much line out as you can and then, keeping tension on the line, wind it in. 

Fishing with spinning gear is fun but having line trouble isn’t.  Try this; I think you find it helpful! 

Guide Service Bookings.   I have just a few of days left in April so if you want to Catch Fish & Have Fun, contact me as soon as possible.  Thanks to those of you who booked a trip this week.  Bookings came in from Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Tennessee & Michigan.

Book your May & June Bluegill & Redear trips NOW!   Get ready for a great season on these fighting fish.  Send me an email rk@kicknbass.net or call me at 270-703-6133 and let’s get together.

Tight Lines …