Fishing Report

Lake Levels and Conditions:

• Lake levels on Kentucky Lake are receding and headed back to normal summer pool elevation. This is good news for anglers and pleasure boaters as the Memorial Holiday weekend approaches.
• The reservoir recently crested after rising more than 2 1/2 feet above summer pool due to thunderstorms.
• By the approaching weekend, the lake should be back to its normal summer pool level of 359 feet.
• Water color is clearing in most areas as the lake recedes, and surface temperatures have been in the 73 to 75 degree range.

Species-Specific Fishing Updates:

Bluegill and Shellcracker (Redear Sunfish):

• Anglers have been catching hefty stringers of bluegill by tossing light spinning tackle toward shallow shoreline weedbeds and buck bushes.
• Depths of 2 to 6 feet are holding bedding bluegill and a few redear sunfish.
• Baits of choice include crickets, wax worms, redworms, and nightcrawlers.
• Using slip bobbers helps regulate depth and detect light strikes.
• Dragging the bait presentation across the spawning craters of bluegill is an effective technique.
• Another full moon arrives on May 23rd, which should see a surge in bedding activity by bluegill and shellcracker.

Catfish:

• The catfish bite has held up well during the changing lake levels.
• Fish seemed to move up as the water was rising and have dropped back slightly on rocky banks and rip-rap levees or shorelines as waters receded.
• Nightcrawlers have been effective bait, along with several commercial baits and homemade concoctions.

Crappie:

• Post-spawn crappie are somewhat scattered and finicky, but some anglers have managed to land decent stringers.
• Fishing deeper brushpiles and stakebeds in depths of 11 to 15 feet has yielded results.
• The crappie bite is expected to improve even more in the next few weeks as more fish return to a structure-oriented pattern.

Bass:

• Bass fishermen have had a broad menu of opportunity lately due to the high lake levels inundating shoreline buck brush, weedbeds, and willow trees.

Remember to check local regulations and safety guidelines before heading out on the water. Tight lines! 🎣 For more detailed updates, you can also refer to Steve McCadams’ fishing report for Kentucky Lake. 😊🌊1.