May 25th, 2011

Check Out the Fishing on Kentucky & Barkley Lakes …
Is Kentucky Lake & Lake Barkley among the best places in the country to fish?  Many of my clients say yes.  Guiding every day I get to fish with some really neat people from all over the country.  More times than not, they tell me that our lakes provide their best day of fishing ever.  If you haven’t experienced the fishing on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes, you don’t know what you’re missing!  Blessed with resorts and campgrounds that are easy on the wallet and fisherman friendly, it’s an angler’s paradise!  Whether it’s Bass, Crappie, Bluegill & Red Ear, Stripes or Catfish or any species in between, we got ’em and their plentiful.  What phenomenal fisheries we have here in Western Kentucky.  Check us out!
 
Lake Conditions
Lake Levels … As of this morning both lakes are right at summer pool give or take a few inches. 
Water Clarity … The main river channel on Lake Barkley is stained and the bays are fairly clear.  Overall the water is very fishable.  The water on Kentucky Lake is in great shape for fishing. 
Water Temps … Lake temps on both lakes are in the high 60’s rising to the low 70’s in the afternoon on sunny days.
 
Fishing Report
Bass Fishing, Stripes and fishing for Red Ear and Bluegill dominated the week’s action.  Here’s what’s going on in the world of Kick' Bass …
 
Largemouth Bass … as we speak the bass are in transition and basically in either Spawn or Post-Spawn mode.  With the exception of some late spawners that recently went on bed during the full moon, most bass have spawned and are migrating to their summer haunts.  A good number of fish are congregating around main lake points at the entrance of the bays.  Also schools of post-spawn bass are beginning to show up on the ledges.  The migration to the ledges generally lasts a while so we’re in for some real good fishing over the next few weeks on the points. The depth varies but 12-15 feet is a good place to start.  The best baits this week have been Shakey Heads with Z-Man Pumpkin and June Bug finesse worms on a PJ’s 3/16 oz bass extractor jig head. These lures have produced a lot of bass this week and some really good ones too.  A 3/8 PJ’s jig with an Alabama Craw or Green Pumpkin Tiny Paca Craw trailer has been a pretty good back up plan. (Photo) Dave Phillips of Paducah, KY with a good Shakey Head bass caught on a main lake point.
 
Bass in the Bushes … With the drawdown basically completed and the lake at summer pool, this pattern has changed considerably. We caught a few this week pitching a Black / Blue Fleck ZMan Saw Tail worm.  We found the best way to fish the worm was Texas rigged with a pegged sinker. The slender profile of the worm allowed us to get the bait down to the base of the bush where the bass were.  Mostly the fish being caught are males guarding nests or an occasional female that set up on the bed during last weeks full moon.  Overall this pattern is waning noticeably.   Back of the Bays Bass … a few bass are chasing schools of shad in the back of the bays too.  Creek channels and depressions in the flats in the backs of the bays are holding some bass.  Strike King Red Eye Shad in Sexy Shad, Excalibur Lipless crank baits in Royal Shad and Steel Shad blade baits in Silver and Gold are a good choice for this type of fishing.  Ledge Pattern … More bass are starting to show up on the ledges but not so much the main lake ledges.  Better areas are ledges close to secondary channels and at the mouth of the bays.  A few fish were caught on deep diving crank baits (Strike King 6XD in Sexy Shad), jigs (PJ’s 3/4 Missouri Craw) and Shakey Heads.  I’m not ready to commit to fishing the main lake ledges just yet but the bass are headed that way and this pattern will become more of a factor in the weeks ahead.  Remember, it costs nothing to check out the ledges in the course of a days fishing, so add that to your game plan.
 
Smallmouth Bass …
Right now is one of the best times to catch a good smallmouth.  The spawn is over and they are feeding aggressively.  The most productive locations are main lake points 12-17 feet and gravel banks on secondary points in the bays 8-12 feet. The best lures have been ZMan finesse worms in Pumpkin and June Bug fished Shakey Head style & Tiny Paca Craws in Alabama Craw and Green Pumpkin & Candy.  Both plastics are fished on a PJ’s 3/16 Bass Extractor Jig. The bite is definitely on for Big Bronzebacks! 
 
There are several areas that are holding bass and many methods are being used to catch them.  Although I wasn’t able to spend as much time as I wanted to fishing for bass, I’d have to say that bass fishing overall is exceptional.  Remember to be willing to try different locations and methods.  Please practice CPR: Catch, Photo and Release on all bass.  Thanks!
 
White Bass …

We didn’t spend much time fishing for whites this week but when we did the results were outstanding.  On an afternoon trip with Kick’n Bass, Ned & Barbara Grant from Des Moines, Iowa filled their cooler with stripes trolling a Ken’s Rig and some were pretty good size.  The whites have recovered from the spawn and are really feeding on schools of shad. Best locations are the mouths of the bays and where the creeks meet the river channel.  Your best bet is to either cast a white rooster tail (1/4 oz) or troll a Ken’s rig.  While we caught some doing both the majority and bigger fish came on the Ken’s Rig.  The Ken’s Rig (The Fisherman’s Friend in Lake City) resembles a spinner bait without the hook and blade.  Instead, a ball bearing swivel is attached where the hook and blade would be.  Monofilament leaders of different lengths are attached to the swivels with the top leader about 30” and the bottom about 18 inches.  A white rooster tail spinner (1/16 oz) is tied to the top leader and a deep diving crank bait on the bottom.  I snip off the middle hook on the front treble to reduce hang ups and troll at idle speed in the mouth of the bays in 12’ -18’ feet of water. Once you locate a school of fish and get a hook-up mark the spot and make multiple passes and most likely you’ll catch a bunch.
Note:  See the Sonar Screen Shot below showing the area we fished …
 
Sonar Tip of the Week
Be sure and check out the new Sonar Tips Page on our website http://www.kicknbass.net/sonar.htm

The screen shows a huge school of white bass feeding on shad on a mid-bay ledge.  We used a Ken’s Rig to troll to catch several nice fish before the school got wise and moved on.  With out the aid of our electronics, locating these fish would not have been possible. Kick’n Bass can help you get more out of your electronics and become a better fisherman.  To schedule an on the water fishing trip & instruction send an email to rk@kicknbass.net
 
Bluegill & Red Ear …

 
 
This was another amazing week for Bluegill & Red Ear and we had several fun filled trips catching these fighters.  Kick’n Bass had the pleasure of fishing with the Hartman kids from Tennessee; Anna, John & Katie (Photo) and we put some serious hurt on the bull bluegills and red ear.  Four year-old Anna caught the big fish of the day, an 11 inch Red Ear. This wasn’t the first time I’d fished with the kids and I hope not the last.  Their parents, Price and Alison, had them focused on fishing; no cell phones, no texting or video games and such just catching fish and enjoying the great outdoors.  We really had a great time.  I’m glad Price brought his filet knife too!
 
Try Ken’s Catalpa Bug for Big Red Ear …

Back in February master lure maker Ken McGregor at the Fisherman’s Friend in Lake City turned me on to one of his prime red ear baits; a black bug with yellow stripes and legs.  Several months had passed and I’d completely forgotten about the bug.  Lately we’ve been catching a lot of fish on the Ken’s Cricket and Shelton’s bug with a bit of live bait on them; a cricket on the bug and a wax worm on the Cricket.  Early this week while fishing, we ran out of the Ken’s Cricket and Shelton’s bluegill bug as well as the live bait and I nearly panicked.  Out of desperation I found the Catalpa Bug, rigged up and everyone caught both Red Ear & Bluegill at will.  What amazed me was previously the fish would only bite on artificials tipped with live bait and now we were reeling them in on every cast on just the Catalpa bug.  A fluke, I think not!  I used the Catalpa Bug the next day with similar results.  That Bug saved my rear end!  I won’t go fishing without a good supply of Ken’s Catalpa bugs anymore.
 
The Bluegill & Red Ear bite is HOT!  Lucky are those who are coming to the lakes this week.  You won’t be disappointed!
 
Catfish & Crappie … We didn’t have the opportunity to fish for these species therefore there is no report.
 
To Book a trip with Kick’n Bass Guide Service email rk@kicknbass.net  or Call (270)703-6133

** Announcements **

GRAND OPENING AT BASS & GAS May 27th – 29th

Bass & Gas (formerly Judy's Fishing Depot) 3243 US Highway 68 East Benton, KY 42025, is having a Grand Opening Event May 27, 2011 6:00am to 8:00pm.  Come and help celebrate the complete remodeling of the store and meet the friendly staff.  The event will include a store wide 10% discount** sale, hourly product giveaways and attendance prizes (see list of prizes on our website), Tackle Industry Representatives showing there new tackle and techniques, new product introduction from Fish Guardian, Kentucky Lake Fishing Pros and Guides to talk fishing.  The Electric 96.9 will be doing a live remote from 9:00am to 11:00am as well as the Double Q 94.7 will be doing a live remote from 11:00am to 2:00pm.  Listen for the new Bass & Gas radio commercials on WKYQ 93.3 FM, WQQR 94.7 FM, WKYX 93.4 FM and WNGO 1320 AM this week!  If you are unable to attend on that day, don't fear, you will still be able to save 10% storewide from May 27 - 29, 2011. note **(gasoline not included).  Call us at (270)527-1900 for more information or visit our website at www.bassngas.com .  We look forward to meeting all of you.

New Product Helps Keep Your Fish Healthy!

The FISH GUARDIAN is a patent pending product designed to dispense live release formula in a liquid form directly into your boat livewell with the push of a button.  It saves precious fishing time and helps protect your catch instantly.  No more time away from casting, no more time finding the live release formula in your boat, no more clumps and manual dispensing.

Tournament Anglers:  The FISH GUARDIAN assists tournament anglers with a need to be environmental stewards by making a process more automatic to dispense live release formula in a liquid form into their boat livewells without penalizing them by taking away much needed fishing time or creating a mess in their boat.  By installing this product into a boat, you can dispense liquid live release formula into the livewell throughout the day with only the press of a button on the control console.

For more info check out the website www.fishguardian.com or call 1-888-544-2035.

Tight Lines,