For those who are fishing when the Solar Eclipse occurs Monday, odds are, since it is going to be short-lived, it should have little affect on the behavior of the fish.
Smallmouth bass might lay low for a while, but as soon as the sun appears again, they should get busy, again.
Playing it safe, the eclipse could be confusing for the fish, which means they may think it’s time to eat and they head for the surface.
If you are fishing with a deep-diving crankbait before the eclipse, you might want to try a top-water bait when it turns dark.
Should that not work, don’t worry, once the eclipse ends, you can get back to the business at hand and use deep-diving crankbaits.
Fishing Report
Gibson County Lake
Water temperature: low to mid 80s. Water color: stained
Bass: “Bass seem to have completely changed from their summer school pattern in just one week,” Trenton’s Brent Smith said. “Small plastics around timber in four-to-eight-feet of water are working best.”
Crappie: Nothing doing.
Shellcrackers: “They were on fire this past week,” Brent said. “Good numbers and good size fish are being caught on red worms.”
Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley
Water temperature: mid 80s.
“The weather this week will be a little challenging, it appear,s but water conditions are going to be pretty good,” Darrell Van Vactor said. “Levels are just over 358 feet and the current draw is above 48,000 CFS (Cubic Feet per Secont). The added current flow to bring lakes back down to their normal drawdown schedule has perked up the bite a little with most species.”
Darrell Van Vactor is the Operations Manager Crappie USA/Cabela’s King Kat Trail in Benton, Kentucky.
Bass: “Largemouth bass are biting on main lake ledges on Creature Baits fished on a Shaky Head, large green/pumpkin worms and deep running cranks,” Darrell said. “A few good size fish are being taken while trolling crank baits for crappie as well.”
Darrell said white bass and yellow bass are still hitting on the main lake creek junctions on heavy spoons fished vertically and 3/8- ounce inline spinners with a silver blade.
“The bite has been better early and late by trolling inline spinners,” Darrell said. “The jumps have disappeared for the season it seems, so use those electronics to find the fish around bait balls.”
Catfish: “They are doing well with good numbers of two-to-four-pound fish being caught around cover on the main lake ledges and channel drops on cut bait, Amish chicken and leeches,” Darrell said.
Crappie: “They are showing signs of improvement with the added current and some decent numbers of 10-to-12-inch fish are being caught on crankbaits in 12-to-16 feet of water on Jenko Firetiger and Orange Glow colors,” Darrell said. “Lots of yellow bass and a few sauger are being caught while trolling for the crappie.
“Remember, if you are planning to be on the lake to view the eclipse next week … plan ahead, the lakes promise to be extremely crowded.”
Bass Tournament
The Henderson County Bass Anglers Thursday Night Bass Tournament at Beech Lake will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., today. Visitors are welcome to participate. For more information, call (731) 695-1654.
(PHOTO: Pickwick Lake)
David Thomas, Twitter– @DavidThomasWNWS
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