Lake Level, Water Temp & Weather Outlook:
 
According to the lake level markings at my dock, the lake has dropped about 1.5 feet this week.  It appears that the TVA is adjusting the water level to coincide with its normal operating plan and elevation for this time of year.  The normal operating plan calls for a gradual increase until the lake level reaches summer pool later this month. 
 
The surface water temp is varying a few degrees depending on what part of the lake you’re at, but generally speaking, the base water temps are in the low 60’s.  In some of the bays I have seen surface water temps as high as 66 degrees.  Remember, it’s the base water temps in the main lake that move the fish not necessarily the surface water temps in the bays which can fluctuate daily.  However, the warmer water temps are triggering a lot of activity with crappie.  Other species such as bass, bluegill and redear are also responding to the warmer water by becoming increasingly active.  If you haven’t planned a trip to Kentucky Lake to take advantage of the fishing … shame on you!
 
The weather has been either very good this week or very bad due mostly to the howling winds. When the sun shines and it’s not too windy, we’re able to fish and have good results.  When the wind is unmerciful, as it has been for a couple days this week, fishing is a challenge but not impossible.  The Wednesday night thunderstorm washed a lot of the pollen away and dropped the air temperature a bit but this weekend looks to be picture perfect weather-wise.

Weekly Highlights: 

Mitchell and Tim Clark from central Kentucky (photo right ) and I had an awesome day catching crappie.  We began our day casting jigs but when they ignored our offerings we switched to a minnow and a slip bobber.  Later in the day when the water had warmed, we switched to jigs and caught some really big crappie. Tim (photo left) was the lucky one landing a  2 lb. 11 oz brute which, by the way, was the big fish of the week.  The huge egg laden females were holding 10’ deep on a ledge a long cast away from prime spawning grounds. We finished off the day catching some nice bass on shakey heads.  It was a great day and especially rewarding for me to see the Clark boys catch their first bass on my favorite technique … fishing a shakey head!
 
"The guide doesn’t always know best".  John and Derek Haller from Michigan and I fished for bass on a beautiful but windy day on Kentucky Lake.  I snickered at John when he showed me his shakeyhead rod, which looked like a pretty good imitation of a crappie combo since it didn’t have much backbone and 6 lb line.  However, he made a believer out of me when he caught about 35 bass on it and never broke the line or re-tied.  We really had a lot of fun and all of us had a shot at a really big bass but just couldn’t get them in the boat.  I thoroughly enjoyed my day with John and Derek and I look forward to doing it again. 
 
"In the Zone" For those of you whom read my reports, you know I like working with the young ones to become better anglers.  However, at times it does take a lot of patience and understanding.  Steve Heinzen from Kenosha, Wisconsin brought his 8 year old son Jared (photo) to Kentucky Lake to fish for crappie.  This trip had been in the works for several months and to say that Jared was looking forward to the trip would be an understatement.  The original plan was for me to meet them at Shawnee Bay Resort but with the huge waves on the main lake from the howling wind, that was impossible.  After discussing our dilemma, we decided to meet at the Big Bear boat ramp and fish the Malcolm Creek area where the wind and water would be more manageable. 

The morning was filled with hang-ups, crossed lines, wind knots and a really depressed look on a little man’s face.  I have to admit the wind and waves made it a challenge for me too!  Finally, I reached the point where I had enough of fighting the wind and waves.  I knew I had to come up with something to salvage the trip.  With my Power Pole shallow water anchoring system stabilizing the boat in about 6 feet of water, we began casting with the wind letting our minnows and slip bobbers drift over a shallow stump bed.  Jared immediately caught a nice black crappie and over the next 30 minutes or so caught five more really good ones.  I have never seen a young man’s demeanor and attitude change so abruptly.  With every fish caught his smile got bigger.  Jared was “In the Zone” and this is what he came to Kentucky Lake for.  Steve was really proud and I could see that he didn’t care if he caught a fish or not.  This was all about Jared.  At the end of the day when Jared gave me a high five and a big "Man Hug" it reminded me of something …  "It ain’t never over till it’s over and nothing puts a smile on a kids face like catching fish"! 
 
Fishing Report …
 
Crappie:  Crappie are being caught at different depths. Some are in the brush in the bays, others are on the first drop adjacent to the spawning grounds and still others are moving shallow in preparation of the spawn.  Spider rigging, with minnows and jigs over brush piles 10-12’ ft deep near the creek channels or in the mouth of the bays, has been productive for some fishermen for staging fish. Some really nice slabs are being caught this way and both Black & White crappie are showing up. 

Casting a curly tail and lead head has been a good way to catch fish too.  Even with the drawdown this week several male black crappie have been caught in shallow water while the large females are being caught 7-10 feet on the first drop adjacent to the spawning grounds.  Expect to see the Crappie spawning in big numbers next week.   The most productive color by far this week has been Shelton’s Kentucky Hot Pink Glitter in a 2 ½ inch curly tail fished on a 1/16 ounce lead head.  Crappie fishing has been great so far this year and the next several weeks should be some of the season’s best fishing. 
 
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, 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 have been very productive.  Smallmouth Bass Some are on the beds and others 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. 
 
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.  
 
Other Lake News …
Congratulations to Capt. Dave Stewart of "Bass Buster Guide Service"!  Capt. Dave Stewart has been named coach of the University of Kentucky Bass Fishing team.  With Dave at the helm I feel certain the team will increase their competitiveness on the college bass fishing circuit.  As many of you know Dave has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to eliminating unproductive water, patterning bass behavior and just plain catching them.  With Dave’s help I look for the UK team to make a big improvement.  Again, Congratulations Dave!
 
Note:  “June Special” at Shawnee Bay Resort.  John Rezek, resident manager at SBR, is offering a “June Special”.   To take advantage of this offer all you have to do is, when booking your stay, mention that you saw this announcement in the Kick’n Bass fishing report.  Contact John at 800-272-4413 for the details.
 
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.  Special orders available with a 2 day turn around.  Contact Robert @ 800-733-6713.
 
"The Best Food on the Lake" Bee Spring Lodge offers clean reasonably priced motel rooms and cottages but the draw for me is the restaurant and grill.   The restaurant is open Friday thru Monday 6AM to 2PM.  The breakfast items are great and for those of you who like a good hamburger try the "Bee Spring Burger", it will set you free!  Come by boat or by car, there’s plenty of parking either way.  Bee Spring Lodge - 800-732-0088.

"Tip of the Week"

How to make your crappie jig weedless; A lot of you are using lead heads and curly tails when fishing for crappie.  These are great fish catchers but when it comes to fishing where crappie live, in brush, downed trees, etc., the exposed hook can get the lure hung up.  If you follow these easy steps you won’t have to worry about those snags anymore.  Start by purchasing rubber bands like the ones orthodontist’s use on braces.  These rubber bands are small and about as round as the tip of your little finger.  Before you attach the rubber band to the lure stretch it out a couple of times to make it more flexible.  Once you have tied your lure on, stretch one end of the band over the eye of the lead head and the other over the barb of the hook.  Next bend the end of the hook downward ever so slightly so the lure will ride over the limb, brush, etc. and the tip of the hook will not get hung up.  That’s all there is to it.  Now you are weedless.

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 …