Kentucky Lake (TN side)--crash course

plawren53202 · June 2, 2020

So my dad got this wild hair the last few weeks and now has a camper on a pad in the Paris TN area, and for the first time in many years, a bass boat. Headed down there this weekend. I only have a couple of days for this first trip, and he's going to want to do some crappie fishing also, so I have to make the most of my time there. So hoping to get some pointers on where to fish (types of areas, obviously not anyone's honey holes) for some bass.

My game plan at this point: they should have just finished the last of the spawn; may be some up shallow guarding fry; also may be some targeting early morning shad spawn. Otherwise I would guess many of the fish are beginning their transition to deeper summer areas.

So I was planning on locating likely spawning areas in the backs of pockets and focus on structure between those and the main river channel. Secondary points and humps between the spawning areas and channels. Also going to look for some gravel banks in these types of areas where they may be hitting the shad spawn. Let me know if I'm way off base or if you have any other ideas. Again, I'm totally comfortable reading Navionics and identifying types of areas and then using his electronics to find them, I just want to make sure I'm looking for the right types of areas.

plawren53202 · June 2, 2020

PS*****Just noticed that I posted this in Central! Oops! Mods please feel free to move this to the Southeast forum appropriate for TN!

Tennessee Boy · June 3, 2020

I guess it’s too late to tell you that Kentucky Lake has been a disaster the last two years. Most people blame the invasion of the Asian carp. Others say it’s just several bad spawning years. I don’t know the cause but fishing has been tough. I’ve heard good things about the crappie fishing. As for bass, you should be able to catch them shallow or deep right now. Throwing a sinko around the water willow in the creeks should produce a few fish. You’re best bet for a bigger fish will be on the ledges. Be prepared for an 8 lb silver carp to jump in the boat at any time.

plawren53202 · June 3, 2020

3 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I guess it’s too late to tell you that Kentucky Lake has been a disaster the last two years. Most people blame the invasion of the Asian carp. Others say it’s just several bad spawning years.

Yeah, I've heard that. My dad's family all had places in the Paris area, and some of them still live there. So for him, as a retirement getaway it was a no brainer notwithstanding the current state of fishing there.

Thanks for the fishing intel. My plan for bass was to try shallow early and late, and try some deeper transition type areas like deeper on secondary points when the sun is higher.