Kentucky Lake 2-5-26
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
The last few days brought an end to the long stretch of cold, nasty weather. Temperatures on Sunday climbed out of the cellar and rose to the upper 50-degree range paving the way for several consecutive days of similar readings. The week ahead looks promising. Several days of back-to-back 60-degree readings haven’t been in the forecast for a long spell.
Waking up will be fishermen headed back to area boat ramps as their fishing pox has really been acting up. Anglers are chomping at the bit to wet a hook and just get out there and look around for some fish.
Presently, lake levels are back down to the 354.5 range after some fluctuation late last week. The reservoir rose several inches a few day, a change which was likely due to a little rain and a whole lot of snow melting. Several feeder creeks had current running in that influenced a slight rise but in the last few days TVA has pulled the lake back down to a normal winter pool level.
Watercolor is relatively clear with a little dingy water entering some bays. Surface temps were rising daily from the cold nights and slow cool daytime highs. This coming week should see a significant turnaround for both crappie and bass anglers itching to get out there and cast a line.
Fishing activity pretty much came to a standstill the previous two weeks as inclement weather called the shots. Bays began to ice up, and boat ramps were inaccessible. For most anglers the risk was simply too great to attempt to challenge winter weather. That’s rapidly changing as the weather roller coaster has now turned in favor of outdoor activity and trips back to the lake.
Already underway is a significant turnaround for bass and crappie fishermen headed toward the lake. After a few days back on the water better fishing reports will soon start to emerge.
Feb 6, 2026
Feb 5, 2026
Jan 31, 2026
Jan 25, 2026
NASTY WEATHER KEEPS ANGLERS AT BAY
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| Photo by John Peddy |
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
Everyone outdoors (and indoors too) has been talking about the weather. Frigid temps, ice, sleet, snow and downright cold conditions have kept Kentucky Lake anglers at bay. Maybe one day out of the week, when winds temporarily diminished and temps slipped up to the upper 40’s, a few fishermen have ventured out. However, most everyone knows it has been nasty out there and not worth going out on the lake in this crazy weather.
Hardly any boats have been launching at public ramps across the area, but rest assured there are always a few testing the water and battling the elements regardless of what Mother Nature throws our way. Some shallow bays had ice forming a few days while others were just downright cold as bone chilling northwest winds whipped up whitecaps. Just not worth risking your life and equipment to go out there in these conditions.
Lake levels remain low and are still hanging around the 354.7 range. The reservoir has danced around that elevation---give or take a few inches---for the last several weeks. Watercolor remains clear. Surface temperatures are in the mid-30’s but ice has formed in the upper ends of shallow bays this week. It appears cold weather will hang around as the long-range forecast indicates below average temps will last another week or so as this report was formulated.
A few anglers had found crappie in deeper brush piles and stake beds prior to the arrival of the drastic cold spell. Odds are the fish have moved out a bit and will ride out the cold surface temps in deeper depths as that’s where the shad will go.
Usually, the baitfish merge to deeper water during extreme cold spells. Threadfin shad, which make up the bulk of the forage base, are vulnerable to quick temperatures changes and will go into shock. It’s not unusual to see a massive shad kill in the aftermath of severe cold weather. That usually has a negative impact on the bass and crappie bite for a week or so. The fish suddenly have a massive free buffet out across the lake. Makes for pretty tough competition.
We’ll see what happens. Meanwhile, best to put another log on the fire and ride it out in comfort somewhere. Mild weather and better fishing conditions will return soon.
Jan 18, 2026
COLD TEMPS PUT BRAKES ON FISHING SCENE
Kentucky Lake 1/15/26
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
Falling temperatures and nasty north winds have put the brakes on the winter fishing scene on Kentucky Lake. It’s a sharp contrast to the previous week when above average temperatures had fishermen out in force enjoying unusually mild weather and light winds. Conditions have kept anglers close to the fire for the last few days and the cold is expected to linger for quite a spell. Temps may moderate by last next week, but the long-range forecast indicates a chance of frozen mix down the road. Most anglers are riding it out inside and waiting for better days. January weather has a reputation for drastic changes on short notice.
Meanwhile, lake levels are still hanging out in the low elevation range of 354.9. That’s the winter pool range. Also, the release rates are low through Kentucky Dam as low rainfall continues to deliver diminished runoff. Discharge rates were around 27,000 cubic feet per second last week and increased slightly due to heavy rains that descended across middle Tennessee but dodged west Tennessee.
Watercolor remains clear. Surface temps have dropped due to the very cold nights and are now around the mid to upper 30’s in most areas. By next week anglers can expect minor moderation in temps.
Crappie anglers had been scoring some pretty good stringers prior to the cold fronts. Bass fishermen were catching a few smallmouth and largemouth too.
The bite will resume soon once the weather stabilizes and returns to more tolerable ranges.
By Steve McCadams, Professional Guide/Outdoor Writer (stevemc@charter.net)
Falling temperatures and nasty north winds have put the brakes on the winter fishing scene on Kentucky Lake. It’s a sharp contrast to the previous week when above average temperatures had fishermen out in force enjoying unusually mild weather and light winds. Conditions have kept anglers close to the fire for the last few days and the cold is expected to linger for quite a spell. Temps may moderate by last next week, but the long-range forecast indicates a chance of frozen mix down the road. Most anglers are riding it out inside and waiting for better days. January weather has a reputation for drastic changes on short notice.
Meanwhile, lake levels are still hanging out in the low elevation range of 354.9. That’s the winter pool range. Also, the release rates are low through Kentucky Dam as low rainfall continues to deliver diminished runoff. Discharge rates were around 27,000 cubic feet per second last week and increased slightly due to heavy rains that descended across middle Tennessee but dodged west Tennessee.
Watercolor remains clear. Surface temps have dropped due to the very cold nights and are now around the mid to upper 30’s in most areas. By next week anglers can expect minor moderation in temps.
Crappie anglers had been scoring some pretty good stringers prior to the cold fronts. Bass fishermen were catching a few smallmouth and largemouth too.
The bite will resume soon once the weather stabilizes and returns to more tolerable ranges.
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