Fishing Report

Pickwick Lake
Water temperature: 84 degrees. Elevation: 414 feet.

Bass: Strike King Buzz Baits are accounting for most of the fish caught on top-water baits over the past week. Rocky main lake points have been good starting points for bass fishing in the morning hours.

After the water bite is over, try a crank bait.

Try fishing with Series 3 Strike King crank baits for the first few hours, and then change to a deeper running, larger crank bait in deeper water.

If you like to fish with plastics – try green pumpkin and watermelon seed Rail tail crawfish, which has been productive on a Carolina rig in about 12-feet of water – some as deep as 20-feet.

White Bass: White bass have slowed down a bit over the past week, but you can still catch several on the Strike King Series 3 crank baits. Use white crank baits and throw them near the bank and reel them back in eight-to-15-feet.

Most largemouth and spotted bass are closer to the banks than white bass.

Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley
Water temperature: mid- to upper 80s.Lakes are steady at summer pool.

Bass: “Largemouth bass have been slow on the main lake ledges with a few scattered fish being caught on Carolina rigged creature baits and jigs,” Darrell Van Vactor said. “Best action is early morning and late afternoon in the backs of the bays on top-water baits.”

Darrell, the operations manager for Crappie USA/Cabela’s King Kat Trail in Benton, Kentucky, recommends watching for shad balls, and added you should cast beyond them with spook type baits.

“Clear or silver have done best,” Darrell said. “Work baits back through the shad balls and be ready – some really good-sized fish are hanging out back there right now.”

Darrell said smallmouth bass are being caught on main lake points close to deep water on lipless cranks, creature baits and do nothing worms. Early morning has been the best.

Craw patterns are good as well as black back and silver.

“White Bass are jumping now, but jumps are small and far between,” Darrell said. “Take along a pair of binoculars and watch for the water birds circling. When you approach a jump, cut the big motor way back and get closer on the trolling motor to keep from spooking the fish.”

Darrell said 1/4-inch blade baits in silver or white are doing well in the jumps.

Crappie: “They are slow for the vertical jigging fishermen and spider riggers, but pretty good on some days for the crank bait trollers,” Darrell said. “Main lake flats are the best right now and with the light winds lately, it has been pretty easy to control multiple cranks on short runs to stay in the fish.”

Darrell said bright colored baits work best – other than at daybreak when purples/greens and blacks are best.

Bluegill and Redear: “They have moved out to the main lake flats and are holding close to the channel drops,” Darrell said. “Rig a three-way swivel with a drop shot and a foot of hook leader to a No. 8 long shank hook and bait with nightcrawler for the best action. Some big bulls were taken last week in good numbers.”

David Thomas, Twitter – @DavidThomasWNWS
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