2009 Fishing Forecast for KY Lake

[CatFan]

"The population has good numbers of 11-13 inch fish and low numbers of sub-legal size crappie"

The forecast for this year is good, but that part about low numbers of sub-legal size crappie seems like something to be concerned about. Those sub-legal fish are next years legal fish.

Have there been spawn issues the last few years? I know last spring had a lot of water going through the lake.

[High Tide]

Where did you get a crappie forecast? Wouldn't mind reading it... This is just a guess, but 10" crappie at Kentucky Lake has to be at least 4 years old, so last year's flood wouldn't effect this years fishing. I have been fishing KY Lake for about 6 years now during the spawn, and the water has been pretty consistant except for last year... it will be interesting to see what happens, because of it down the road.

[TeqSheriff]

Hey Cat Fan,

Thanks for mentioning the report was out. I found it at

State releases Kentucky fishing forecasts and reports | Kentucky Fishing

I took a quick look at my favorite lakes, and it doesn't seem to have changed much from last year. I wish I knew more about how they do the sampling to inform the report.

[CrappiePappy]

And I found some interesting tidbits, that may shed some light on some questions recently asked.

If Taylorsville Lake is experiencing a Black Crappie domination .... it could be the reason why people are seeming to have such a hard time catching Crappie like they used to. We may have to change our tactics & timing to match the habits of the Black Crappie.

On Herrington - it states that fising is best around brush in upper half of lake. While I have experienced both halves ... I always caught numbers in the upper half, but larger fish in the lower half. It will be interesting to see if that still holds true.

For those asking about Lake Linville : "Crappie Fair Most fish are 7-10 inches in length with a limited number of larger fish available." That's a better report than I would have expected :p

.................................................. ..............

CatFan - I think the KY/Barkley fish grow a little faster than those of the rest of the state's waters. Low numbers of sub-legals will affect one or two years fishing, down the road, as will water levels during the spawn. This may or may not be offset by the reduction in creel, from 30fish/day to 20fish/day.

HighTide - I think the normal growth rate, in this state, is ~ 9" in three years ... but, KY/Barkley Lake fish may grow a bit faster. Even so, a 3yo fish is a mature spawner, regardless of length (at Cedar Creek Lake, I've caught spawning fish off their beds, that weren't even 9" in length).

TeqSheriff - the "forecasts" are guesstimates based on trap sampling, angler surveys, creel checks, and shocking runs ... different methods are done on different bodies of water, and one or more of them may be done on any one body of water. The previous years reports are also used, probably as a baseline ... then, given "normal" conditions in the upcoming year, projections are made.

.... cp

[High Tide]

Thanks all, for the information... That early crappie bite is right around the corner, and I can't wait. Good luck out there. HT

[MinnerDipper2]

"On Herrington - it states that fising is best around brush in upper half of lake. While I have experienced both halves ... I always caught numbers in the upper half, but larger fish in the lower half. It will be interesting to see if that still holds true." crappiepappy

Greetings crappiepappy,
I'm going to reveal how ignorant I am with this question, but it has been bugging me for the longest time. In these lake reports, is the lower lake where the creek or river comes into the lake, with the upper lake being the dam end, or vice versa? Minnerdipper2

[Wiskers]

"The population has good numbers of 11-13 inch fish and low numbers of sub-legal size crappie"

The forecast for this year is good, but that part about low numbers of sub-legal size crappie seems like something to be concerned about. Those sub-legal fish are next years legal fish.

Have there been spawn issues the last few years? I know last spring had a lot of water going through the lake.

They keep saying that there are low numbers of sub-legal sized fish here on Ky. & Barkley. Heck I'd hate to see it if they were plentiful! For the last year and a half I have had to weed thru countless small fish to get a mess. I made a post last year about catching close to 200 dinks one day. Even now its that way. I went Thursday & Friday and I bet in the 2 days I caught 200 fish & only 34 of them were legal size. Heck you can't hardly fish for the darn things. It's like fish'n in a school of yellow bellies! No kidding! Every brush pile I go to, it's nothing at all or full of dinks! It's not just me either. All my buddies and others I've talked to are having the same problem. I hear what they're say'n but you'll never make me believe it!

I'm go'n to that meetig Tues. night. I gotta hear what these guys have to say.

[CrappiePappy]

"On Herrington - it states that fising is best around brush in upper half of lake. While I have experienced both halves ... I always caught numbers in the upper half, but larger fish in the lower half. It will be interesting to see if that still holds true." crappiepappy

Greetings crappiepappy,
I'm going to reveal how ignorant I am with this question, but it has been bugging me for the longest time. In these lake reports, is the lower lake where the creek or river comes into the lake, with the upper lake being the dam end, or vice versa? Minnerdipper2

The "lower lake" refers to the dam end of a lake. Water flows "downhill" ... so you'd be going uphill, if you go towards the source (upper lake)
Don't feel ignorant ... I was long confused on this, as well :D ... until I realized that the water comes from the "upper" land (higher elevation) and flows to the "lower" land (lower elev.) and that's how they designated the lake sections. You will still see me refer to sections of a lake as "river end" or "dam end" ... not only from habit, but to insure the reader isn't confused about the "upper/lower lake" designation. :D

... cp

[ifish]

Hey Whiskers,
Ask them that knows about the maps they are putting out with GPS cords . I heard they were making maps to attract tourists to the KY. Lake area. Might be some of our stuff !! Good luck at the meeting. I believe its geared to persuade the Christian County Sportsman League that closing some bays for the spawn is not good science . I think KDFW is proposing to start a crappie stocking program if they can figure out how to pay for it, wink wink ! Take care .

[klight1122]

Hey Cat Fan,

Thanks for mentioning the report was out. I found it at

State releases Kentucky fishing forecasts and reports | Kentucky Fishing

I took a quick look at my favorite lakes, and it doesn't seem to have changed much from last year. I wish I knew more about how they do the sampling to inform the report.

TS thanks for the link.