The trees along the shoreline are in full fall color. We're seeing more eagles every day. We're catching more smallmouth bass than usual, and the crappie we're catching are getting larger and more numerous. This all tells me that winter is just around the corner. How I wish time could slow down: This fall has been a particularly good fish-catching season! (For pictures, go to www.captainkirksguideservice.com.)
Crappie
Most of this past month's fishing has been crappie fishing. When I look back on my sixteen years as a guide, I see this year's catch as above average in both size and quality. These crappie sure are pretty fish, and I don't think you could find better table fare. When caught on light spinning tackle and 4-pound test line, a 2-pound crappie can give a pretty good tussle.
In the past couple weeks, we've caught crappie both shallow and deep---from 2 feet all the way to 26 feet beneath the surface. We've caught them on a bobber-and-jig, on hair jigs, on curly tails, on tubes, and on a split shot and minnow rig. On a two-hook Kentucky Lake rig we caught 'em two at a time! But we caught them best on a jig and minnow's cast on 4-pound line with light spinning tackle. We've been catching our fish off wood cover, be it a stump, a lay-down log, or a planted brush pile. We've caught them well back in bays and out on the main lake, but recently our best spots have been in deep water next to shallow water (common wintering spots). One thing to keep in mind while crappie fishing is that you've got to put your bait very close to the fish; fifty feet off the fish might as well be a mile off.
The already-thriving crappie-catching should only get better for the next couple of months, so if you want to give it a try, please give me a call. I'll do my best to get you on some KY Lake slabs!!
Black Bass
Though I haven't done much bass fishing in the past month, I have done enough to keep up on the fish's activity. I have many more smallmouth trips booked for next month, so you'll hear more on them later.
Here's what I do know: the smallmouths are on secondary points in the bays, on main lake points, and around wood cover on ledges. We've been catching quite a few every day while crappie fishing. Some are right on the bank shallow, some are on flats, and some are on ledges. One thing is for sure: They are feeding! Small cranks, small jigs, and small soft plastics will catch 'em.
The largemouth bass are on the last points back in the bays, on flats in the back of bays, and on shallower ridges on the main lake. Crank baits, rattle traps, spinner baits, jigs, and soft plastics are all productive this time of year.
November is one of the better months for catching smallmouth bass on KY Lake, and I still have dates available. If you'd like to give it a try, give me a call.
Bluegill
Much of the crappie brush I've been fishing lately is just full of bluegills. If you fish docks, brush, or stumps from 3 to 15 feet deep with wax worms, night crawlers, crickets, or small minnows, you should get some good action.
Catfish
We've caught more channel cats this fall than any other in my memory. This lake must be full of 8-pound to 10-pound channel catfish. Your best bet is to fish from 4 to 20 feet deep in the bays with minnows, night crawlers, or shad for good results on channel cat. Blue cats, on the other hand, are more easily found from 20 to 35 feet deep at the mouths of bays while using large shiners, shrimp, night crawlers, or shad.
Sauger
The sauger action gets good in November on main lake creek channel points. Fish a 1/4-ounce jig and minnow from 28 to 40 feet deep on bottom for good action.
White Bass
Look for the seagulls in the bays, and you will find shad with white bass feeding on them. Cast inline spinners, spoons, rattle traps, and crank baits for the best action.
Remember: Fish bite year-round on KY Lake. If you're tough enough to go, I'm tough enough to take ya!!! Give me a call at (877) 354-6017!
See ya on the water.
Capt. Kirk out!
