LATE FALL SCENE HAS VARIEITY OF WEATHER

 

Kentucky Lake - 11-14-24

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

Kentucky Lake’s fishing scene as of late has seen quite a mixture weather patterns ranging from heavy rains at times to windy days and some fluctuation in temperatures. Lake levels this week have stayed around the 354.8 range after dropping down very low a week or so ago. Recent rains have replaced drought conditions that plagued the region throughout the late summer and fall. Watch for lake levels to rise some in the next few days as heavy rains have fallen recently across the area but no drastic changes are expected. Watercolor remains clear.

Surface temperatures and cooled some since last week and are now down to the 62-to-64-degree range. The long-range forecast indicates mild temps will hang around until Thursday (Nov 28th) of next week when rain will return, and daytime highs will fall to only 42 degrees and dip to 34 degrees at night. Until then anglers should have pretty mild fishing conditions.

Crappie have been taken in some midrange manmade fish attractors this past week around the 9-to-14-foot depth range. However, several fish are still lingering out on main lake cover in the 14-to-18-foot depth range as well. Both jigs and minnows have been producing. Popular colors have ranged from Bobby Garland’s mayfly, monkey’s milk, blue/chartreuse, and purple/chartreuse just name a few. Tipping jigs with either a minnow or Berkley Power Bait crappie nibble has also enhanced the appeal to sluggish crappie. Some boats are vertical tightlining jigs and live minnow rigs while others are relying on the old bottom bumping double hook rig at times.

Bass fishing has been fair for some tossing shad-colored crankbaits around visible structure, but a few boats are backing off the bank and still targeting sloping secondary sandbars out on the main lake or within the mouth of large bays.

Some white bass are chasing shad at times and busting the surface and largemouth and some smallmouth are running with them. Tossing chrome/blue Rattle Trap style lures work great and allow anglers to cover a lot of water while making a series of long fan casting style presentations.

A few bass have been taken along gravel banks and riprap roadbeds as well. Shallow running Bandit and Shad Rap Rapala crankbaits have worked well. Some spinnerbaits have worked too around shallow stake beds, tree laps and logs along shorelines. Additional current has returned to the main Tennessee River channel lately in the aftermath of additional rainfall.

The late fall fishing scene can be productive for both bass and crappie anglers.