Feb 14, 2025
RISING LAKE LEVELS AHEAD FOR ANGLERS
Kentucky Lake 2/12/25
Report Contributor, Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer stevemc@charter.net
Inclement weather continues to dominate the Kentucky Lake fishing scene this week. Nasty winds and several days of downpours have dampened the spirits of most of the winter crappie fishermen this past week. According to the long range forecast it appears cold weather will linger into next week as below average temperatures are the story for next week’s weather too. Fishermen haven’t gotten much cooperation from the weatherman lately, but they really can’t complain as they’ve had several nice days mixed in this winter that allowed some nice stringers of crappie to be taken.
No doubt scores of fishermen are now suffering from cabin fever as a week or two of bad weather has kept most at bay, dodging the rain or huddled around the fire waiting on the return of favorable conditions. Not to worry; pleasant weather is on the horizon.
Meanwhile, prior to the recent weather dilemma a few winter crappie fishermen were scoring decent stringers while fishing both minnows and jigs around manmade fish attractors located in the 9-to-14-foot depth range. Some credited their catches to even deeper structure located out on the main lake area in 16 to 20 feet.
Kentucky Lake is rising slowly and a lot of runoff has entered the system this past week. TVA has done a good job of keeping lake levels normal as of late but watch for an increase in elevation to occur in the days ahead. Lake levels as of this posting were in the 354.7 range. Upstream at Pickwick TVA was discharging a large volume of water so Kentucky Lake will be rising some in the days ahead.
Current is now a factor in the main river channel as TVA has increased discharge rates at Kentucky Dam the last few days to 248,000 cfs (cubic feet per second). That’s pushing a large volume of water through the system at the present time.
Anglers will be addressing rising lake stages for the next week or so. It will be interesting to see how much the crappie scatter during the rising lake situation. The fishing scene will rebound quickly once nice weather returns and stability returns to the lake’s elevation.
Feb 9, 2025
Monthly Meeting
The monthly meeting of the Paris Landing Tourism League (PLTL) will be held Tuesday, February 11th, at 6 pm at the Senior Center inside the Paris Landing Emergency Complex.
Feb 7, 2025
How's The Fishing?
Kentucky Lake 2-6-25
Report Contributor, Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer stevemc@charter.net
Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene had some unusually warm weather recently that had anglers out and about. Several days with above average temperatures had anglers testing the water for crappie. A few days the daytime highs climbed to the lower 70’s and upper 60’s, stirring fishing pox among the ranks of winter anglers.
Some nice stringers of crappie were taken too. Most successful anglers credited their catch to depths of 9 to 14 feet, which has been the norm lately. There were some reports of fish coming from deeper depths of 16 to 20 feet as well around the Paris Landing sector.
Lake levels have remained relatively stable lately despite some heavy rains across the region at times. Currently the reservoir is resting around the 354.8 range, which is near the winter pool mark. Watercolor has been clear.
It appears things are about to change, however. A cold front is in the forecast for later this weekend and will influence the fishing scene well into next week. Daytime highs are expected to be cold with highs only making it to the upper 40’s in the long-range forecast. February is always a month full of surprises. Looks like cold days are returning for the Kentucky Lake fishing scene at least until late next week.
Jan 31, 2025
WINTER FISHING SCENE REBOUNDS WITH WARM-UP
Report Contributor, Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer stevemc@charter.net
Riding the weather roller coaster lately have been both winter fishermen and weary waterfowlers. The last couple of weeks have seen ice take over a lot of shallow water areas and send the duck hunters back to the fireplace only to see spring weather slip in the door and really turn things around.
Winter fishermen are on the rebound and hit the lake last week once above average temperatures descended and chased away the ice and cold northwest winds. Anglers wasted no time returning to the boat ramps and open waters of Kentucky, Barkley and Reelfoot Lakes. To say fishermen had been suffering from cabin fever the last half of January would be a gross understatement. They’ve had to yield to the winter weather quite a bit these last few weeks so once the weatherman changed sides and started forecasting nice weather and rising temperatures they hit the ground running.
Last week fishermen were out testing the waters of Kentucky Lake throughout the Paris Landing sector and up into West Sandy as well. Several boats were seen stalking crappie out on main lake areas once a heavy rain passed through for a day or two. Water levels have been at the low ebb elevation of 354.2 recently across Kentucky Lake. However, watch for that lake level to rise as a heavy rain last Friday across the region sent a lot of runoff into the Tennessee River. No doubt TVA was prepared for the drenching as having the reservoir down to its low ebb of winter pool created huge storage capacity, so the lake was able to absorb the lion’s share of the flooding that entered the picture locally.
Odds are by the time you read this column and report the lake will be rising a bit. Both bass and crappie anglers may have to address a little current in the near future, especially those fishing near the main Tennessee River channel areas. Back in the bays rising lake levels may send crappie and bass up to meet the fresh rising water where all sorts of baitfish will be roaming the newly inundated territory. Keep an eye on the TVA website to monitor the changes in lake levels on a daily basis for Kentucky reservoir. You can access the various lake by going to www.TVA.com.
Meanwhile, crappie anglers have scored some decent stringers the last week or so by stalking deep structure out on main lake ledges and humps. Depths of 9 to 14 feet have given up fish around submerged structure such as brush piles and stake beds. There’re always a few angles testing out the deep sides of ledges and testing the 16-to-20-foot depth range. With jigs and live minnows, they often find some deep fish out there too. And there’s always seems to be a few fishermen targeting shallow areas too hoping a few winter crappie are roaming there.
A few bass fishermen have come alive since the rising temperatures lured them out of their comfort zones this week. Watch for a few bass to be taken around some shallow banks the longer this warming trend holds on. Others will pursue some smallmouth out in places where the current will put them on deep submerged sandbars and points on the down current side of deep-water hideouts. They’re out there waiting for the current to deliver shad right to their doorstep.
With the recent warm spell, it has teased anglers a bit. Wise are the ones who take advantage of it as they know this time of the year weather can change quickly and fall right back into a frigid forecast. Enjoy the honeymoon with warm weather here in early February. Just don’t expect it to linger too long!
Jan 17, 2025
WINTER FISHING WOES
Kentucky Lake 1/15/25
Contributor - Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
Mean winter weather has not cooperated with Kentucky Lake’s winter fishing scene lately. It hasn’t exactly cooperated with duck hunters either! However, seems there’s always a few people testing the waters of Kentucky Lake regardless of the weather! Frigid temps have curtailed activity lately. That’s kept most anglers off the water and close to the fire.
There were a few days when the weatherman allows a short reprieve from north winds and falling temps but very few. Lake levels have stayed pretty close to the low level of winter pool lately. Readings this week were in the 354.9 range. Watercolor has been clear. Surface temps are in the low to mid 30’s. The lion’s share of winter fishermen are waiting it out indoors and hoping there’s a break in the weather soon.
Some crappie anglers ventured out a day or two when the weather moderated but it was a short honeymoon as bitter temps quickly replaced a day or two of warm up. Crappie were taken in the 9-to-15-foot depth range by anglers fishing jigs and minnows around manmade fish attractors. Some tested deep main lake ledges at times and found a few scattered fish holding in the 17-to-20-foot depth range. Some reports indicated a few fish were even deeper than that!
Meanwhile, fishing pox is starting to affect local anglers yearning to get out and about. Hang in there. Sooner or later mild days will rebound, and you can get out on the water and scratch that itch!
Jan 13, 2025
Monthly Meeting
The monthly meeting of the Paris Landing Tourism League (PLTL) will be held Tuesday, January 14th, at 6 pm at the Senior Center inside the Paris Landing Emergency Complex.