Kickoff To Christmas This Saturday

 

NEAR RECORD HIGHS LINGER FOR ANGLERS

 Kentucky Lake 10-30-24

By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)

Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene has been holding on to near high temperatures as November pushed the pumpkin month off the calendar. Most days have seen above average on daytime highs. Sooner or later cooler days will descend but even next week’s forecast has a mixture of warm days sandwiched between some possible light rain and daytime highs in the low to mid 60’s, which would be more normal for this time of year. The region is in need of some rain.

Lake levels this week have fallen to the lowest elevation this fall. Reading is down to the winter pool level of 354.6, which is a few inches lower than last week at this time. The watercolor remains clear across the reservoir. Surface temperatures have been in the 66-to-68-degree range but should fall slightly next week as cooler conditions enter the picture.

Meanwhile, boaters beware out there as more shallow sandbars and stumps are just barely below the surface so use caution and observe channel markers. The lake has been a beautiful place lately as fall colors have been at their peak. Still, plenty of time to get out there and partake of the parade of trees still showing nice red, orange, yellows and just a mixture from God’s paintbrush.

The overall fishing scene has been fair but had to endure a few windy days at times. Wind is normally not a big factor for fall fishing but lately the hot weather sort of stirred things up at times. Several nice days have been mixed in as well.

The crappie bite has been a bit sluggish for shallow zones of 4 to 6 feet. Warm surface temperatures have lingered later than usual and that has likely influenced the shallow bite somewhat. That can change quickly, however, cloudy days with light rain and cooler conditions descend. Most of the decent stringers have come from anglers fishing jigs and minnows in depths of 14 to 18 feet at times. Some reports of fishermen stalking midrange depths of 9 to 12 feet have managed to find some scattered keeper size fish, but they’ve had to make several stops in their quest.

Falling lake levels the last week or so can also influence the fish to fall back to deeper water for a short period of time. The fish have not been aggressive in the shallow zones this fall like they have in times past but again, that can change quickly as weather conditions change.

Bass fishermen are still staying out on the main lake for the most part and swinging away on ledges and open water sandbars in hopes of finding some schooling fish. Tossing crankbaits and swim baits have been the most popular choices with the reliable Rattle Trap style lures working well as anglers cover a lot of water.

Scattered sightings of white bass have been seen and anglers are catching a few while tossing white Rooster Tails and small spoons.

The catfish bite has diminished somewhat as current has subsided out on the main river channel. TVA had pushed back on discharge rates through Kentucky Dam this week as flows were only 25,000 cfs (cubic feet per second). There’s still some good fall fishing ahead as November has been known to produce some good crappie fishing.

 PLTL joined the Ridgetop Station Park this weekend and mingled with a couple hundred spectators to invite them to "Come To Play With Us."

Bassmaster Team Championship relocates to Tennessee’s Kentucky Lake

 Oct. 25, 2024

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, which will grant the winner the year’s final berth into the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic, was originally scheduled to take place on Louisiana’s Ouachita River. However, due to critical, unforeseen repair work being conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Columbia Lock and Dam just south of Monroe, La., the Team Championship is relocating to Tennessee’s Kentucky Lake.

The emergency work has caused significant disruptions to normal river operations, impacting water levels and navigability which would directly affect both the safety and overall experience of the anglers. As a result, the decision was made to move the championship to an alternate location to ensure the event can proceed without compromising the quality of competition or the experience for participants.

In consideration of the local resources and the challenges created by the dam repairs, B.A.S.S. officials have selected Tennessee’s Kentucky Lake as the new venue for the final B.A.S.S. tournament of 2024. The 160,000-acre reservoir, located on the Tennessee River, has hosted numerous B.A.S.S. events over the years and most recently hosted the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Kentucky Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops in April of this year. The event dates will remain the same beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 4 and concluding Saturday, Dec. 7. The off-limits period and the no-information rule will go into effect on Saturday, Nov. 16.

Registration will remain open to qualified teams until Friday, Nov. 15. Updated information will be relayed to all official Bassmaster Team Trails; please check with your trail director for updated information.

The Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship is being hosted by the Paris, TN-Henry County Tourism Authority.

What's Happening?

 

Blossomway Garden Club has been awarded a $1000 Grant from the Endowment Trust Fund of Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., for a community beautification project on property owned by AMVET Post 45 on Hwy 79N.   Blossomway will be installing a raised bed garden on  a 50’x 22’ concrete pad in front of a building that previously housed a burger joint and is currently used by the AMVETS for storage.

So far, we have installed six 8’ x 4’ raised beds and are in the process of filling them with cardboard, compost, rotting logs, topsoil and mulch. These beds will be planted with evergreens and seasonal flowers and may include some holiday decor. We will also be planting ground covers like ajuga and creeping thyme in the cracks of the concrete; small flowering trees such as crepe myrtle and rose of Sharon around the edges; and bulbs for Spring blooms.  The windows on the front of the building will be decorated in a garden theme.

By August 2025 there will be a total of 9 raised beds.  Some will contain special gardens such as succulents, herbs, and hummingbirds, etc.  We will be using native plants where possible such as cone flowers and daises for color and visibility from the highway.

The garden will serve as a place for our club members to experience the joys and camaraderie of gardening.  A place where people in our community can meet, learn more about plants, have gatherings or just sit and have a peaceful moment.  We also hope it will inspire others in our community to plant more trees, shrubs, and flowers along the highway. 

You can help:

Donations: Monetary or gift cards to places like Lowes, Walmart, Homestead Garden and Gifts, Woffords for plants and supplies.  Mail to: Blossomway Garden Club Special Projects, 139 Winding Way, Paris, TN 38242

Join our club:  We meet the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 2:00 pm at Antioch Methodist Church at 3116 W Antioch Rd, Springville, TN 38256

Follow us on Facebook at: Blossomway Garden Club | Facebook You can follow without joining. 

Volunteer to help: Sometimes we just need some strong backs and stamina to move things around. 

Contact:  Lee Owenby by email at leeowenby39@gmail.com

Fall Market Day This Saturday

 

Lunch & Learn At the Heritage Center

 October 25