Monthly Meeting

The monthly meeting of the Paris Landing Tourism League (PLTL) will be held Tuesday, October 8th, at 6 pm at the Senior Center inside the Paris Landing Emergency Complex.

Hope to see you there!

NICE WEATHER/GOOD FISHING LIFTS SPIRITS OF ANGLERS

 Kentucky Lake - 10-2-24

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

Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene has been the beneficiary of some great weather this week. That scenario has been long overdue. Some cooler days gave way to warmer weather as the weekend arrived but not to worry; cooler fall weather is expected to return early next week. Jacket mornings and shirt sleeve afternoons are now in play for fishermen.

Tennessee Valley Authority has done a great job pushing water through Kentucky Dam the last week or so as they began increasing discharge rates over a week ago in anticipation of the wrath of Hurricane Helene. Lake levels are in good shape as discharge rates have kept the reservoir’s elevation at around 355, which is pretty much normal for this time of year. Currently TVA is pushing around 75,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) through Kentucky Dam.

Fortunately, TVA has been able to release a large volume of water for more than a week now as the Mississippi River has been low and able to absorb high discharge rates from both the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Surface temperatures have been in the 73-to-75-degree range as warm weather lingered last week and earlier this week. Anglers can expect a drop in surface temps as the weekend approaches as cool nights this week were forecast to dip to the upper 50’s and low 60’s.

Next week’s cool spell will further influence the fall to lower surface temps. Fishermen should see surface temps in the upper 60’s next week. Watercolor is clear in the Big Sandy area, but some stain exists along the main Tennessee River channel. Overall, the lake is in good shape.

Decent stringers of crappie have been taken lately, although a few days of north winds that brought the cool snap to our door, caused whitecaps in the open water areas at times. Depths of 16 to 20 feet were giving up crappie the last few days. That’s likely the result of warmer surface temperatures lingering into the start of October. A few crappie were caught in 7-to-12-foot depths by anglers stalking manmade fish attractors such as brush piles and stake beds. Fish were finicky and scattered in the shallow to midrange depths, so it required a lot of stops to accumulate decent numbers of keeper size fish.

When fishing the deeper holes, a lot of credit has gone to the use of live minnows fished on tightline techniques. Some are just tightlining minnows while other are using jigs and tipping them with a shiner minor. Sometimes that live minnow seems to enhance the bite. Other times switching colors and experimenting sizes of jig heads—from 1/32-ounce to 1/16-ounce---has worked best.

Anglers should see an increase in the shallow bite by next week since surface temps will be cooler down to their normal early October range. Shad will increase in numbers swimming around the shallow flats and backs of bays which will lure the fish to their shallow locales. The overall attitude of shallow to midrange crappie should improve in the days ahead. Some cloudy days will also help the bite from light sensitive fish.

Bass fishing has been fair with most tossing shad-colored variations of Rattle Traps, shallow running crankbaits and swimbaits. A few have attempted tossing a spinnerbait and shallow running crankbaits around shallow stickups. Some surface activity has been seen out on the main lake from white bass and a few largemouth busting into schools of shad meandering out over shallow sandbars at times.

Catfishing has taken a backseat, at least to a degree, out on the main Tennessee River channel due to the increased current. And catfish are beginning to move up a bit to midrange depths as crappie anglers are tying into one on a regular basis when fishing the 9-to-12-foot depth zones.

It looks like fall conditions have finally arrived and it’s nice to be on the lake these days. Some warm days will return now and then but overall nice, pleasant weather will hang around for the next several weeks. Don’t miss out on this autumn angling!

 

Let's Get Kooky Spooky

 

FISHING SCENE WATCHES WEATHER FROM HURRICANE HELENE…COOLER DAYS NEXT WEEK

Kentucky Lake 9-26-24

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

Fishermen have an eye in the sky across the Kentucky Lake region as the weekend approaches. The backside of Hurricane Helene is expected to come inland and head up the Tennessee Valley as the weekend approaches, threatening rainy days through Sunday. Anglers will be watching out for not only heavy rains, but wind associated with the storm which will be rated a Tropical Depression by the time it reaches our area. Lots of rain is expected to dump several inches on what an extremely dry late summer and early fall has been.

Just how much rain remains to be seen as forecasters are changing predictions by the hour. No doubt inclement weather will disrupt the fishing scene for a few days but in the aftermath, it appears fall weather is on the horizon. By Monday cooler days will begin to arrive, and next week’s forecast looks good with cool days and chilly nights. Finally, a nice fall forecast is on the way.

Presently Kentucky Lake’s elevation is around the 355.5 range as TVA pushed a lot of water through Kentucky Dam the last few days in anticipation of the forthcoming wet weather. The storm surge is expected to dump a lot of water before it starts departing Sunday. Lake levels will likely rise a few inches in the days ahead, but no severe flooding is expected in our region at this time.

Surface temperatures have reflected the week of hot weather. Readings have been in the 75-to-78-degree range. Watch for surface temps for fall beginning early next week once cool weather enters the picture. Watercolor has been clear. Increased current in the main Tennessee River channel the last few days has improved the catfish bite. Flows had increased to 45,000 cfs (cubic feet per second). That could increase throughout the weekend.

Some nice stringers of catfish have been taken from the 30 to 40-foot depth range. If lake levels rise a bit these next few days watch for catfish to move up to as they follow the rising water.

Crappie fishermen have been tying into a catfish now and then as they work midrange depths of 14 to 17 feet. Some crappie are lingering around the 9-to-13-foot depth range and more will move up by next week when rising lake levels and cooler temperatures coincide. When lake levels were falling earlier this week it pulled some crappie back out to slightly deeper water. Plus, the hot weather and rising surface temperatures were factors as well. That’s about to change.

Anglers should see a blitz by schools of shad and crappie this next week. The fall-like weather should stimulate activity and enhance the overall bite. Anglers have been catching a lot of small crappie in-between the keepers while stalking the deeper structures out on the main lake areas. Mixed in with the crappie have been a catfish or two and some bluegill that are also taking up residence in manmade fish attractors.

Looks like a few days of nasty weather will be followed by a few days of stability.

Bass fishermen have been finding the bite sluggish lately. The shallow bite backed off during the hot spell but hopefully that will return next week as more shad schools move shallow and start relating to sloping gravel banks and structure.

It’s time for an aggressive fall bite to kick in. Best keep the raingear handy these next few days. Be observant and cautious as inclement weather is in the cards as the unstable weather pattern passes through.

Fishing Report

 Kentucky Lake 9-18-24

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

HOT WEATHER HANGS ON AS FALL OFFICIALLY BEGINS

Fishermen around the Kentucky Lake area dodged a bullet last week as the forecasted flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine never materialized for us. Some much needed rain did fall but the region is back to wanting another drink along with it cooler temps. Fall officially arrives Sunday on the calendar. Right now, it’s being a bit stubborn as to its arrival. Doesn’t look like that’s going to happen until late next week according to the long-range forecast.

September is living up to its reputation as a month with both summer and fall mixed in. Right now, warm weather has descended as daytime highs are forecast to be in the upper 80’s for the next week or so. Lake levels have dropped to the low elevation of 355.5 this week at Kentucky Dam. That’s down a few inches from last week and the reading means caution should be used by anglers and pleasure boaters. All lakers should observe channel markers this time of year and resist the urge to take shortcuts out over open water. You can sure damage a boat hull or lower unit of an outboard this time of year.

Surface temps are down to the 76 degrees range this week. Watercolor has cleared.

Catfishing has been decent whenever TVA is pulling water. Some mornings are starting out stagnant, but the current has picked up at midday and that enhances the lethargic catfish to get up and get going. Decent stringers have been taken lately as anglers target schools of shad in the 35-to-45-foot depth ranges. Some catches have been reported in the 25-foot depth range. Baits of choice continue to be nightcrawlers, cut bait, chicken liver and several commercial ones from local bait and tackle shops.

Crappie have been fair as decent numbers have been taken on cloudy days in 8-to-12-foot depths. Some fish have moved up but on bright sunny days the bite slows down in shallow areas. No doubt the crappie are sensitive to the bright sunny calm or stagnant days. The bite has been best in the early morning and late afternoon hours for most in shallow zones while some anglers fishing depths of 16 to 20 feet have done okay. Not unusual to see fish back off to deeper main lake spots when hot sunny days team up with falling lake levels.

Watch for crappie to make a blitz back toward shallow venues whenever cloud cover or perhaps rainy days return. Add a little chop to the water from a light wind and that helps too. Some anglers are casting jigs out over shallow submerged structure or using a slip-bobber rig armed with live minnows or jigs. Retrieving the bait slowly over cover will stimulate bites when the fish are displaying a sluggish mood. Slow movement seem to get their attention. Letting the bait just sit still usually won’t pay as many dividends when the lake is dead calm.

Bass fishermen are tossing shad-colored crankbaits and pearl to shad variations of swim baits and finding some fish playing their game. Rattle traps cast in the backs of big bays where meandering schools of shad are staging has produced several largemouth and a few white bass too. Out on main lake areas and around some rip-rap rock banks fishermen have found an occasional smallmouth as well.

It’s that time of the year when early morning and late afternoon surface activity should be showing up on sloping gravel shorelines. Shad move up in the lowlight conditions for brief feeding sprees as they partake of midges, a small insect that hatches out in lowlight periods and really attracts the shad and ultimately the bass.

As October rests on the threshold anglers can expect some cooler weather patterns to enter the picture. Lower surface temperatures will follow the next cool spell and help the attitude of the fish and fishermen.

Piney Campers Fair Starts Today

 September 20 and 21

Annual Piney Campers Fair Open House at LBL

621 Fort Henry Rd., Dover, TN 37058

The Campers’ Fair offers the newest in RVs, camping equipment, golf carts and boats. The event is free and open to everyone. Campers and visitors can enjoy a variety of entertainment including games and music. The flea market will include arts, crafts, and other items for sale. Piney Campground campers will have access to the event, all week, including live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

Silent Auction with Titan sports memorabilia.  

Drawing for a Kayak and Fish Cleaning/Garden folding table.

PLTL will be vending chili, chili pies, hot dogs, chili dogs, and soft drinks.

Fishing Report

 Kentucky Lake 9-12-24

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

ANGLERS/BOATERS AWAIT BACKSIDE OF HURRICANE FRANCINE

All across the region outdoorsmen of all sorts---anglers, pleasure boaters, hunters, hikers, etc. ---are waiting to see what the aftermath of Hurricane Francine will bring to the area. Weathermen across the board are talking high winds, thunderstorms and potential for flooding rains. Seems odd to be talking about flooding as the whole region has been under a drought for quite some time. From one extreme to the other it appears.

Kentucky Lake’s elevation in the Kentucky Dam sector has been around 355.9 and not changing much lately due to a lack of rain. Surface temperatures have cooled a bit and are now around 79 degrees. Watercolor remains clear. Anglers are anticipating a big change these next few days. Heavy rains could see lake levels rise. Thunderstorms and gale winds are reason for concern. Not a good time to be out there on the big lake during potential storm conditions. Meanwhile, the area needs water. Low flows in the Tennessee River lately have greatly diminished current and that’s had a negative impact on the catfish bite to some degree.

The flow in the main channel could change dramatically by early next week if heavy rains drop downpours which is what’s predicted. If that happens the catfish bite may rebound quickly by early next week.

Crappie fishing has been improving. Numbers of fish have increased lately for anglers fishing midrange depths of 8 to 13 feet. Some deeper brush piles in the 16-to-20-foot depth range have produced as well at times. Most anglers credit their catches to vertical fishing jigs, but some are always tipping with minnows to enhance the bite. Now that shad have moved up the crappie have too. Some credit their catches to casting jigs. Others are tossing jigs and minnows beneath slip bobbers as the presentation allows easy depth regulation over shallow structure. The crappie bite should hold up well throughout the fall as long as light winds and stable weather allow anglers for move about on the big lake. Look for stability to return soon.

Bass fishing has been fair for a few attempting to locate smallmouth and some schooling largemouth out on main lake ledges. At times a few bass have been found schooling in the backs of large bays on the eastern side of the lake. Finding big schools of shad is the key. Both white bass and largemouth have been busting the surface at times when they tear holes in the water on a feeding frenzy. Tossing chrome colored Rattle Traps and similar shad-colored crankbaits has been productive. Watch for the presence of gull activity to help you locate the baitfish. Those working the main lake ledges are tossing Carolina rigs, Texas rigged worms, big crankbaits and finesse swim baits trying to trigger strikes from sluggish bass.

Right now, many fishermen are in a “wait and see” mode due to the approaching weather patterns as it could indeed be a game changer for the Kentucky Lake fishing scene. Once Francine has passed through there could be some nice temps and fall fishing conditions ahead.

Fall officially arrives Sunday, September 22nd.