October 8th, 2010

The lake level is about four feet below summer pool and water clarity ranges from stained in the main river channel to clear in the bays.
 
Water Temperature Forecast - surface water temps have been in the mid 60s mid-week but should rebound to around 72 by Sunday.
 
Current in the lakes continues to be very low due to the moderate drought conditions across the area.  Warmer temperatures are on the way and the weekend weather forecast calls for plenty of sunshine and temperatures in the low 80s.

Fishing Patterns
Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass fishing has been spotty but not impossible, as evidenced by the lower weights in the tournaments the past weekend.  Although there is some pretty intense fishing pressure on the lakes right now due to the previous weekend tournaments and anglers practicing this week for upcoming tournaments, a big challenge to the fishing has been the clear blue bird skies and North winds that have dropped water temps, especially in the morning.  What does all this mean?  We just have to fish smarter and think outside the box.  If you’re not having success doing what you normally do don’t be stubborn like I was, switch up.  I found this out the hard way and fortunately it wasn’t too late.  A prime example of what I’m talking about occurred when, Robert and Burnette Lowe and I spent a day bass fishing this week. When the usually dependable Shakey Head bite vanished, at the last minute we switched to casting Blade Baits in deep water (22-25 ft.) on main lake flats and salvaged the day.  Mostly these bass were unmolested and willing to bite. 

Deep Water Pattern? … Find the schools of baitfish and the bass won’t be far behind, right?  Something I’ve come to realize the hard way, is just because we think that all baitfish are going shallow doesn’t mean that they all are.  I’m finding out that there are schools of bass living among and feeding on baitfish and both are very deep.  I guess it makes sense that if bass finds a school of baitfish to feed on in deeper water and they’re not being molested, they don’t have any reason to leave.  But they can be caught!  If you use a lure that resembles their food source and you stick it in their face sometimes good things can happen. (Photo Robert Lowe with two 3 pounders caught on the same Blade Bait). A technique that has worked for us when throwing the Blade Baits is the yoyo retrieve on a tight line.  Bringing the lure off the bottom and letting it fall on a-tight line, allows the lure to flutter downward giving the bass a real good look at it.  The sheer weight (1/2 to ¾ oz.) of the lure on a freefall drops to fast and the fish can’t catch up to it, especially if the bite is waning.  Also ripping it off the bottom is not necessarily the right thing to do.  More strikes come on a gentle lift.
 
Other Patterns … Although not a prolific as before, these patterns are still somewhat productive and I look for these patterns to really get going again by this weekend as the base water temp warms.   Bass are still being caught along rock banks along secondary points (6-10 feet deep) and on mid-bay shell beds 10 to 13 feet deep. When they’re in the mood bass have been caught on a mid sized shad colored crankbait, especially the Lucky Craft Fat CB DR series. Other times some of our best fish have come on Shakey Heads.  A Shakey Head with a 4” or 7” Pumpkin / Green Flake trike King Finnesse worm fished on a 3/16 oz PJ’s Bass Extractor jig has been a pretty hot bait.  A very slow presentation has worked best.  Also Casting blade baits over the shell beds has located willing schools of bass and we’ve alternated between catching them on the blade bait and the Crank Bait.  When the aggressive biters slowed we switched to the Shakey Head to clean things up.  So basically it’s a three pronged approach.  Fish a crankbait to find the aggressive biters, then switch off to the blade bait to prolong the bite and then pick off the remaining fish using a Jig, Shakey Head or soft plastics.  

Ledge Fishing has been either feast or famine but best during the Solunar prime feeding times and current generation.  Most fish were caught 8-12 feet deep where the ledge transitioned into deeper water.  Best baits; during the day a Strike King series 6 crankbait, a Shakey Head and a ½ oz. jig.  For us the ledge bite has been the most inconsistent of all the patterns.   No current no bass!  The Top Water Bite has been very inconsistent.  Your best bet is along chuck rock banks and on the shallow flats in the bays. The best surface baits have been the Pop R in chrome & black and a Rapala Skitter prop in any kind of shad pattern.  As the water temps re-warm during the day I feel this bite will become more of a factor.  I’ve observed bass busting shad in the middle of the day and seen schools of bass on the sonar suspending below schools of shad on the surface.  Deep water, main lake points at the mouths of the bays and coves very close to the mouths are a pretty good place to see this type of activity.  I would be willing to bet by this weekend you will see surface activity all the way back in the bays.
 
To sum it up, bass fishing is still unpredictable and no one pattern seems to be a sure thing.  However, as stable warm weather returns the fishing will get more consistent.  If you get on a school of fish stay on them even if the majority of the fish are under 15 inches.  The smaller more aggressive fish are going to bite first and often but sooner or later the big ones will bite too. 
 
If you’re visiting the Lakes area and are in need of any Silver Buddy or Vibra Maxx Blade Baits stop by Fisherman’s Headquarters in Draffenville, KY and see John, he’ll get you squared away on these baits and anything else you might need.  By the way John has a few of the hard to find Jerry Rago swim baits back in stock too.
 
Bluegill, Redear and Crappie ….  Bluegill are being caught on main lake shorelines and gravel bars at the mouths of the bays and creeks.  A Shelton’s Bluegill Bug tipped with a cricket or a meal worm or nightcrawler is a killer bait right now.  Some Redear are mixed in with the bluegill. 

Crappie fishing has improved considerably this week and should continue to get better as the water cools.  Most fish are being taken on secondary channels in 8-18 feet of water over stake beds or brush.  The best lure has been a 1/8 oz. leadhead with a Kentucky Green curly tail (Green w/silver flake). 
 
Catfish are good to excellent on main lake flats. The preferred method we used to catch the cats was a ½ oz Carolina rig baited with live shad.  A cast net was used to net the baitfish schooling in the main lake and the coves.  Also some cats are active along chunk rock points on shrimp.   No doubt, the main-bay flat pattern was by far the most successful.  Be sure to keep the bait in your live well and continuously recirculate the water to keep them lively. (Kick’n Bass with an “ole Monster” cat caught this week on a main lake flat)
 
White Bass:  Although not as prolific as last week, the White bass bite is still pretty darn good casting Blade Baits and trolling a Ken’s rig.  Both methods produced good catches but the Blade Baits seemed to catch the larger fish.  The big whites were feeding on schools of shad.  Actually it’s hard to decide which way to fish, troll for numbers or cast for quality, the choice is yours.  Concentrate on the mouths of the bays and the deeper flats and you should do okay.  The best depths seem to be 18-23 feet with the fish suspending off the bottom in the deeper water. The Ken’s rig 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 or chartreuse rooster tail spinner is tied to the top leader and a deep diving crank bait on the bottom.  The middle hook on the front treble is removed to reduce hang ups.  This rig gets down deep where the fish are less susceptible to the heat. The Ken’s rig has been a killer and at times we have caught a fish on both baits.  In the lakes area you can get the Ken’s rig at the Fisherman’s Friend in Lake City, Ky. (270)362-4323.
 
Sonar Tip of the Week

What does a school of bass look like chasing shad on a main lake flat?  We found this school of fish and threw out a marker to mark their position.  The boat was situated to take advantage of the wind direction and we would cast a blade bait and yoyo it back.  Mostly fish schooled up deep like this are basically unmolested and are willing biters.  We caught a lot of fish from this school and more than once we doubled up! Note the shell bed bottom.
 
Do your electronics have you baffled?  Do you know what your electronics are telling you?  Kick’n Bass can help you get more out of your electronics and become a better fisherman.  To schedule an on the water tutorial and fishing trip, email Kick’n Bass today! rk@kicknbass.net
 
Guide Bookings … I still have a day or two available in October and early November. So, if you wish to book a trip email Kick’n Bass at rk@kicknbass.net  If you feel the need to speak to someone concerning your booking make sure you include your phone number in the email.

Tournament Prep Packages Available … October & November are Big Tournament months here on the twin lakes.  Be sure to ask about our Tournament Prep Packages.    
 
Kick’n Bass Photo of the Week …
 
A blue heron awaits his next meal along a fog shrouded point on Malcolm Creek.   

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Tight Lines,