Thread: Ky Lake in May

That should be a good time for gills redears and bass .If you can find the gills and readears you will do good ,bass on tubes and big twisters on rock ledges ./we went down there week before Memorial day couple years ago water temps was low 70s and the bass on the rock banks were crazy,

Some years it's a little late....others you will be right on time for the bluegill and redear. There will probably be some black crappie on beds. Memorial weekends a couple years was some of the best fishing I have ever experienced on Kentucky Lake,others it was a little too way late. Have caught more crappie than you would expect,killed some real nice bass,caught 200 or so redear and bluegill in a weekend.

Part of the problem is finding a bed that has not been fished to death.....or you get lucky and fish move in late when a lot of people figured it's over and quit fishing . Then you hit it just right.

Catching fish this time of year can mean running around from spot to spot. One spot may be fished out, then another,then you find one missed or overlooked. Or a bed fished hard early than forgotten and another wave of fish come in. And you are catching fish on beds now...not prespawn fish...the fish are not just in the area swimming around and feeding...they are guarding a bed. You have to put it right on them.

I learned where a lot of the best banks where over the years (many years) and specific beds. I didn't fish randomly, just go from spot to spot. Some bays only fish like three places then off again. Would cover miles in a day. Some beds on main lake bank not even in bays or creek arms.

The best part is the water is now warm enough you're not waiting on that. Weather has stabilized,less cold fronts rolling in and cold rain. Now you just have to watch for thunderstorms mainly. Generally less windy days. Fishing in the rain can be good this time of year and it's not so cold out. Have caught them good on beautiful sunny days too though.

I probably would have never fished that late if not for my wife. She never like to go early. And always like to go in May and like to go holiday weekends. She pushed me to go...so while there I set my mind to finding any fish I could still spawning so I wasn't bored. Learned a lot by doing that.

Crappiemax pm about time and area you are staying I might be able to help you.
Bassky

Originally Posted by Bassky

Crappiemax pm about time and area you are staying I might be able to help you.
Bassky

If we make it I will.
Pulled something in my knee on Saturday so MRI this morning. My wife came home last night with her ankle all swollen from playing tennis.
This staying active when you get older is going to kill us.
If I do get down there my wife wants to go to Kenlake.

Definitely pm me I can put you in some areas close by. We stayed at kenlake area and did real well about 5 years ago. Let me know if you go.

We have had and weird weather this year 4/7/18 we had snow just a bit today is cold so the water temps will be lower in May I'm wanting to get out in my newer boat 2015- 1648 SS Xtreme ShellCracker fishing and hand size BlueGills next years I am going south not coming back home till May 1 .
i live in Clarksville,Tn

Crappiemax. Was at KY last year in May for only Bluegill fishing. Only advise is find the small coves with what they call buck bushes in the back of the coves. We were in Blood River, but I think it should will work anywhere. The Bluegill were bedding just a few feet outside of these bushes, we anchored about 50-100 feet away and cast bobbers, or small gigs with waxworms. We kept only about 50 per day, but caught over 200 each day. We used wax worms, but I think red worms would have worked anywhere if you find them. Only caught a few Shellcrakers, probably since we were not using night crawlers or red worms. Now, not simple, but just go into each small bay and check it out for these bushes. We ONLY found them in 1 of 5 bays we checked, but if they are there, they are easy to catch. It's a Little work, but when you find them, it's a lot of fun. We left several spots just to not wipe out the fish that were still there. Hope his helps.

Later, Jim

Excellent post Perchjerker.