May 6th, 2011

Lake Conditions

Current lake levels are around 372 and we’re in the midst of a drawdown so there is significant current in both lakes.  Barkley is muddy to heavily stained and the best water seems to be on the LBL side of the lake.  On Kentucky Lake the main river channel is moderately stained. Some bays are murky and others are not quite clear. That being said there is a lot of ideal water to fish and the overall bite has been good. The lake temps are in the mid to high 60’s. 

Kentucky, Barkley Lakes have crested
(Thursday 3:30 p.m. Update)  The record-setting levels of Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley are now beginning to fall.  TVA's latest reading confirms Kentucky Lake has crested.  New projections indicate that TVA’s intent is to drop the lake approximately a foot per day. As the drawdown progresses, these conditions can change.  You can keep up to date on the lake situation by using these links to the TVA website www.explorekentuckylake.com and www.kentuckylake.com.  Both sites are posting the latest news releases from the TVA concerning projected lake levels as they come available.
 
Launching Your Boat: Some boat ramps will be usable while others will not.  However the courtesy docks will most likely not be accessible. Make sure you know where the ramp is located and if possible have someone assist you in launching.  Ramps that are usable will be crowded.
 
Safety is the order of the day! Make sure you wear your PFD and use good judgment and always err on the side caution.

Fishing Report

I’ve had the pleasure of fishing with Mark Scherer and his son Kevin, from Fowlerville, MI., before and our results from a couple of trips set the bar pretty high on numbers of bass and size.  But this is not your average early May conditions.  When Mark got out of the truck amidst a windy, rainy, high water morning the look on his face told me that keen anticipation had been replaced with the look of frustration from dealing with the adverse conditions.  After launching in the parking lot at Bee Springs Resort we went bass fishing flipping and pitching bushes with mixed results.  Mark & Kevin are Shakey Head enthusiasts and it didn’t take long for us to find ourselves fishing main lake points.  By the end of the day we had caught two days worth of bass and a lot over 15 inches including the big fish of the day, a 6 lb post spawn female caught by Mark.  I guess it’s not how you start but how you finish, right guys!

Largemouth Bass … are in transition and basically in three modes: Pre-Spawn, Spawn and Post-Spawn.  More are Spawn and Post-Spawn than Pre-Spawn.  With the post Spawn / Pre-Spawn migration a lot of fish are congregating around main lake points at the entrance of the bays.  Shakey Heads with Z-Man Watermelon/Red Flake and Green Pumpkin finesse worms on a PJ’s 3/16 oz bass extractor jig head has produced a lot of bass this week.  A 3/8 PJ’s jig with a Tiny Paca Craw trailer has been a pretty good back up plan.  Also, the high water has a good number of bass holding around submerged buck brush and flooded timber.  The Flooded Timber pattern had us pitching a Berkley Blue Fleck Power Worm or Black / Blue Fleck ZMan Saw worm to flooded foliage.  The Foliage is holding bass too. Before the high water came the trees along the banks leafed out and now the leaves are submerged yet still in sight and forming a submerged canopy for the bass to suspend under.  A lot of bass have been caught right in the foliage or between the boat and the trees.  It’s a lot of fun especially when you get a good one on a short leash.  We found the best way to fish the worms was Texas rigged with a pegged sinker. The slender profile of the worms allowed us to get the bait down to the base of the trees if needed. 
 
Smallmouth Bass … The spawn is for the most part is over and the big ones are on the move. The most productive locations are main lake points and gravel banks on secondary points in the bays and best depth is 17-20 feet.  The top lures have been ZMan finesse worms in Watermelon / Red Flake 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.  Best results came when the lure was dragged slowly on the bottom. Billy LeVan and Richie Head of Clarksville and I spent the day catching a bunch of bass and a fair amount of them were quality smallmouth. Richie (photo) caught this post spawn 6 pounder on a main lake point on a Shakey Head.  The bite is definitely on for Big Bronzebacks! 
 
As you can see the bass are spread out and several presentations are productive.   We’ve put in a lot of hours on the water and I’d have to say that bass fishing has been very good, especially considering the weather and extremely high water.  It’s important to remember you must be willing to try different locations, get in tune with the transition and fish deeper than normal.  Please practice Catch, Photo and Release on all bass.  Thanks! 
 
Bluegill & Red Ear … Although we haven’t spent much time fishing for these, when we have it’s been really good and some are really good size like the one Kevin Scherer (photo) caught.  Best areas are flooded backwaters, gravel bars and grassy yards.  The heavy rains and high water have washed a lot of bugs and worms into the lake and the bluegill & red ear are on a feeding frenzy and close to the bank.  Best artificial lures are a Ken’s Cricket (The Fisherman’s Friend) and a Shelton’s bluegill bug fished either with or without a cricket or meal or wax worm.  Another very productive method is to fish a cricket or red worm under a slip bobber.  If you have all the baits you can alternate between them and catch a good mess.  The run on Bluegill and Red Ear is just beginning and it looks like we’re in for another really great season on both species.
 
Catfish & Stripes … No Report
 
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 bass, crappie and stripes located in and around submerged stake beds on an isolated mid-bay hump.  These fish were aggressively feeding and we used a variety of lures to catch several nice fish.  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
 
Experience the Thrill of Bass Fishing at Night!

Last year our clients had a blast fishing at night and caught lots of big fish.  We will begin our night fishing season in May.  The dates available are the 16th, 17th & 18th.  The same lures you used during the day are very productive at night and the best spots during the day can be even better at night.  There is just something about catching a really big bass at night that really turns a fisherman on.  Have the lake all to yourself!
 
For more information on putting together a night fishing trip send an email rk@kicknbass.net or call 270-703-6133.

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.

Welcome Home Army Bass Angler Jeffrey White from Afghanistan!    
 
Jeff,
It was my pleasure to share a boat with you this week.  I speak for all of us anglers when I say we’re proud Americans and deeply appreciative of the sacrifice and service you and others make to protect our freedom and way of life.  I am proud to call you my friend! 

Sincerely,
Kick’n Bass

 
Kick’n Bass & Area Tackle Shops Team Up for Rod & Reel Combos …
 
For the past two seasons Kick’n Bass clients have been fishing with Shimano Rod & Reel combos. These rods & reels are species specific that have been specially paired for Bluegill & Red Ear, Crappie & Light Bass and Shakey Head fishing for bass. Clients have raved about they way they cast and handle a good fish.  These combos are budget priced and a great value for the angler.  Ask for the Kick’n Bass Combos at Lake area tackle stores and at Malcolm Creek Resort’s on the water tackle shop.  

Tight Lines,