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.
