Eastern Kentucky Fishing Report

This fishing report was compiled for Jan. 2 to Jan 9, 2012

Editor’s note: With dipping temperatures and heavy rains this past week, many lakes are reporting slow fishing but as we head into the New Year, the fishing should start to pick up.

Cave Run Lake: The water level has been rising this past week. The lake is tree feet above winter pool. The main lake temperature is 45 to 47 degrees. However, the river is only about 44 degrees and has been stained. Musky: slow. Musky have been reported active on brightly colored spinnerbaits, slow rolling No. 6 Indiana blades with orange skirts, on the flats of the main lake. There have also been a few reports of musky caught this week in the heads of creeks using Bulldawgs. Bass: The smallmouth in the dam area has been improving. Hot baits this week have been ¼ oz. ball-head jigs with white twister tails. This is the second week that we have got reports of smallmouth catches. Largemouth bass: Slow, fishing a shaky head jig with a white twister tail grub in 20 ft. of water. As the bass move to their winter patterns, jigs are still taking some fish. Crappie: slow. However, we had a few reports this week of catches drifting in standing trees, with live minnows in 8 to 15 feet of water.

Grayson Lake: The water level is at summer pool. The lake is stained to muddy with water rising this week. Water surface temperature is stable at 44 degrees. Bass: reported slow. Use ¼ oz. ball jigs rigged with two inch watermelon color grubs, fishing the secondary points. Use a lift and drop action. Strikes have been coming as the grub falls back to the bottom. Crappie: Unchanged, reported slow. Use live bait.

Greenbo Lake: The lake is mostly clear and the water surface temperature is 44 degrees and falling. Bass: slow. Fish hair jigs with black grub in 15 to 20 feet of water at the dam area. On days when the sun is out and bright, bass have been active on points. Use suspending jerk baits. Trout: fair. Fish inline spinners, blade baits, and red worms. Below the dam has been getting some action. Crappie: slow. Fish secondary points with live bait.

Ohio River: The Ohio River Greenup pool is reported to be rising. However, some of the back water areas have been improving. While the fishing has been slow this week as water conditions improve the fishing should also improve. Below the Dam: Hybrids have been reported to be improving as the water begins to return to normal. Sauger: good. Use white, lime-green or chartreuse grubs, rigged on a lead-head jig.

Yatesville Lake: The water level is above summer pool and rising. The water surface temperature is 43 to 45 degrees. Headwater areas are reported muddy. The main lake is reported as stained. Bass: slow. Use jigs, swimbaits and crankbaits, fishing points and creek headwaters. Crappie: slow. Fish the edges of flats in channel bends, using 32 oz. white crappie jigs tipped with live minnows.

Local area fishing reports can be submitted to trimmer308@windstream.net