02-14-2002, 01:43 AM
The very pretty weather we have had this week has brought out the fishermen. Activity really picked up on both lakes. A lot of us have been dropping brush piles for the crappie. Some work is necessary before the fishing begins. The crappie fishermen have been catching scattered crappie along the drop offs at the mouths of the major lakes. The secondary channels along the main lake also has been producing crappie. Most of the fish are being caught on minnows in 20' to 22' of water. There have been some smallmouths being caught in Kentucky Lake. Most are caught on jig/pork combinations. The water temperature today was 47 to 48 degrees. We still need a couple more degrees in the water temp to start the crappiue moving toward the bays. The smallmouth will also pick up when the water reaches 50 degrees. There has been little catfish activity. A few catfishermen are catching below Barkley dam on cut bait. Largemouth are slow.<br><br>TIP: Water temp in late winter is very important to start the fish moving for spring.<br><br>BIT AND PIECES: Once burned, twice removed.<br><br><br>www.kentuckylakebarkley.com