Fishing |
Irvin Cobb Resort |
Kentucky Lake Murray, KY |
Kentucky Lake fishing conditions as of 5/3/12
Provided to you by
John Morgan
Angling Adventures--Murray, KY
Low water levels have made Kentucky Lake fish much different from a normal year. With the lack of rain fall this spring we have had no rise in the water since back in March. In the last week we are dropping a tenth of an inch every couple days. Water level as of May 3rd is 356.36. This is about 3 feet lower than our normal summer pool. The lack of rain has also caused the water to clear a lot quicker than normal.
All these things may sound like excuses for not catching fish except for the fishing has been great. We kept normal water levels all through our crappie season and moved into the bluegill, red ear season with almost ideal conditions. The crappie spawn should have been a success with the warm temps and steady water level. Same goes for the bass that spawned early. I believe most all the crappie are finished but there are still some bass that should move in on the upcoming full moon. The bluegill and red ear are on fire now and should continue for a few more days.
A few guys are still trying the crappie with limited success. They are fishing 10 to 15 feet deep with minnows over brush piles and creek channels. This is usually a early morning bite. If I was trying them I would start at daybreak and fish until 9 or 10 o'clock. After that they get hard to catch. The minnows have been out fishing the jigs for the last couple weeks. I think its because of the clear water.
Bass fishing has been easy. Not that fishing is ever easy but they have been doing the same thing for a couple weeks now and the patterns haven't changed much. I am fishing football head jigs around gravel bars and transition banks for the last week or so. There are smallmouth and largemouth on these areas. We have had several fish over the 5 lbs mark and a couple of 7's. Lots of fish in the 15 to 16 inch range on these areas now. This could change some with the warming temps and the lack of current flow. I would expect these fish to slowly work their way out on the river in the next few weeks. Some ledges have a few fish around but some of my favorites have no bait and no bass. The jig I like the best is a 5/16 jewel football head in the peanut butter and jelly color. I am using a Zoom speed craw for a trailer. I thought these fish were probably eating crawfish but have cleaned a few small ones and they only had shad in their bellies.
Shell cracker and bluegill have been good now for a couple weeks. Almost any bait will work when they are on the bed but my favorite is red worms fished under a float or on a small drop shot rig. I have been having some good luck with the channel cats also on the drop shot rig while fishing for shell crackers. Some guys hate it when a catfish gets on their line but not me, if it stretches my string I like it.
Several big tournaments coming up so here is a little advice to these guys not familiar with the lake at this level. Stay in the channel buoys and watch the bars at the mouths of some creeks as its still shallow out there. I have seen the Coast Guard this week resetting the buoys so they should all be in the right areas.
You won't know if you don't go,
John Morgan
Angling Adventures Guide Service
270-436-2810
johndm@wk.net
www.jmorganfishing.com
All these things may sound like excuses for not catching fish except for the fishing has been great. We kept normal water levels all through our crappie season and moved into the bluegill, red ear season with almost ideal conditions. The crappie spawn should have been a success with the warm temps and steady water level. Same goes for the bass that spawned early. I believe most all the crappie are finished but there are still some bass that should move in on the upcoming full moon. The bluegill and red ear are on fire now and should continue for a few more days.
A few guys are still trying the crappie with limited success. They are fishing 10 to 15 feet deep with minnows over brush piles and creek channels. This is usually a early morning bite. If I was trying them I would start at daybreak and fish until 9 or 10 o'clock. After that they get hard to catch. The minnows have been out fishing the jigs for the last couple weeks. I think its because of the clear water.
Bass fishing has been easy. Not that fishing is ever easy but they have been doing the same thing for a couple weeks now and the patterns haven't changed much. I am fishing football head jigs around gravel bars and transition banks for the last week or so. There are smallmouth and largemouth on these areas. We have had several fish over the 5 lbs mark and a couple of 7's. Lots of fish in the 15 to 16 inch range on these areas now. This could change some with the warming temps and the lack of current flow. I would expect these fish to slowly work their way out on the river in the next few weeks. Some ledges have a few fish around but some of my favorites have no bait and no bass. The jig I like the best is a 5/16 jewel football head in the peanut butter and jelly color. I am using a Zoom speed craw for a trailer. I thought these fish were probably eating crawfish but have cleaned a few small ones and they only had shad in their bellies.
Shell cracker and bluegill have been good now for a couple weeks. Almost any bait will work when they are on the bed but my favorite is red worms fished under a float or on a small drop shot rig. I have been having some good luck with the channel cats also on the drop shot rig while fishing for shell crackers. Some guys hate it when a catfish gets on their line but not me, if it stretches my string I like it.
Several big tournaments coming up so here is a little advice to these guys not familiar with the lake at this level. Stay in the channel buoys and watch the bars at the mouths of some creeks as its still shallow out there. I have seen the Coast Guard this week resetting the buoys so they should all be in the right areas.
You won't know if you don't go,
John Morgan
Angling Adventures Guide Service
270-436-2810
johndm@wk.net
www.jmorganfishing.com
John & Susan Dietrich
IRVIN COBB RESORT
48 Resort Road, Murray, KY 42071
Toll Free 1-888-225-2415 or (270) 436-5811