September 23rd, 2010

The lake level is about three feet below summer pool and the water temps are in the low 80’s to high 70’s depending on which part of the lake you are on.  The Lake is slightly stained in the main river channel but clear in the bays.
 
Blade Baits are HOT for September Bass!

In part, last weeks fishing report focused on the effectiveness of Blade Baits for bass.  Since then my clients and I have had a blast throwing these baits … evidently so have a lot of other fishermen. Football shaped bass, like the one in the photo, have been annihilating these baits.  These fish are literally as long as they are around.  A 17 inch fish weighs nearly 4 pounds and hooking into one of them is like being tied to a runaway pickup truck.  These fish are schooled up and when you catch one you can usually catch others.  Several times we had multiple hookups and the scene inside the boat was pretty crazy.  Bass are gorging themselves on shad and Blade Baits closely resemble the shad both in size and shape.  The action and weight of the baits (1/2 -3/4 oz.) and the ability to fish them consistently in the strike zone, has made them a very productive lure right now.   To find likely fish holding areas, scan an area with your graph and when you find a school of bass feeding on baitfish (See the Sonar Tip of the Week below for an example), cast the Blade Bait thru the school and hang on.  It can be a pretty wild ride.

Over the weekend, Fisherman’s Headquarters in Draffenville, KY had sold out of these baits.  The good news now is, they’re re-stocked.  So if you’re visiting the Lakes area and are in need of any Silver Buddy or Vibra Maxx baits stop by and see John at Fisherman’s Headquarters, he’ll get you squared away on these baits and anything else you might need. 
 
Sonar Tip of the Week

After last weeks fishing report I had several emails asking me to post a screen shot that would identify an opportunity to use a Blade Bait to catch bass. This screen shot shows bass in a typical early fall pattern; feeding on baitfish on mid-bay flats.  As the screen shows Bass are feeding on shad where the flat slowly drops from 16 to 18 feet.  Note that the baitfish and bass are somewhat suspended off the bottom.  To catch them we marked the spot and cast a Silver Buddy blade bait thru the school using a slow retrieve, occasionally bumping the bottom.  If your screen looks like this, mark the spot and go to work on them!

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
 
Fishing Patterns
 
Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass: No doubt bass fishing is improving daily.  The bass are following schools of baitfish and you’ve got to be moving with them.  Our best success for both species has come along chunk rock banks along secondary points (6-10 feet deep) and on mid-bay shell beds 10 to 13 feet deep.  Crankbaits fished slowly are catching a few bass but the best catches have come on Shakey Heads and blade baits.  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.  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 Shakey Head.  Ledge Fishing has been either feast or famine but best AT NIGHT during a Southerly wind and current generation.  Most fish were caught 8-12 feet deep where the ledge transitioned into deeper water.  Best baits; 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 not been as good this week as it was last. Your best bet is evening hours along chuck rock banks. The best surface baits have been the Pop R in chrome & black and a Lucky Craft Sammy 65 in Shad.  Also buzz baits are catching a few fish too.  I’m not ready to commit to the top water bite just yet but it’s obvious that it will become more of a factor very soon as more fish move up.

To sum it up, bass fishing is still unpredictable and changing but improving.  My advice is, 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.  Going slightly deeper has its advantages too. One bright spot was NIGHT FISHING See Below …
 
Experience the Thrill of Bass Fishing at Night …
 
They say a picture is worth a thousand words … well the smile says it all! 
 
Bobby Stevens of Livermore, KY (Photo-L) caught these nice bass on back to back casts fishing a Shakey Head on main lake ledges. 
 
The same lures you use during the day are very productive at night and the best spots during the day can be even better at night.  Basically you just about have the whole lake to yourself!  There’s something about catching a really big bass at night that really gets a fisherman all tore up!
 
For more information on putting together a night fishing trip send an email rk@kicknbass.net or call 270-703-6133.  Book your trip Today !

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, especially Blue’s, are good to excellent on main lake flats and on the first drop off on pea gravel banks. 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. 
 
White Bass: This has proven to be another good week for us.  The White Bass have really cooperated.  Casting blade baits and trolling have both produced good catches but no doubt the nod has to go to casting blade baits.  While at times we caught two at a time trolling with the Ken’s rig, the larger fish came on the blade baits.  Actually it’s hard to decide which way to fish and perhaps doing a little of both wouldn’t hurt. Concentrate on the mouths of the bays and the deeper flats and you should do okay.  The best depths seem to be 12-15 feet. 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.

Kick’n Bass Fish of the Week …
Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks! Congratulations to Gary Holtswarth of Illinois (Photo-L) who caught his largest Kentucky Lake bass ever, on his first cast with a Shakey Head.  Way to go Gary!
 
Guide Bookings …
Fishing is very good on both lakes right now and I still have a day or two available in Sept. and October. 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 … September & October 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 …
Sunset on Jonathan Creek.  FLW Tour angler Brandon Hunter slow rolls a spinner bait ledge fishing for Largemouth Bass.   

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Tight Lines,