Eastern Kentucky Fishing Report

This fishing report was compiled for the week of June 3, 2014

Editor’s note: Our eastern lakes, rivers and streams at the writing of this report were clear and within normal limits. The bass are beginning to get active as they recover from the spawn. The action this week has been in shallow water and that should continue until the bass begin to turn their attention to shad once again. If you read my column this week, you will get a good idea of what the bass are doing. If you get a chance to catch some fish send your picture to: trimmer308@windstream.net. We will try to use as many as we can in print and online.

Cave Run Lake: The lake is stable at summer pool. The water temperature is 70-74 degrees and the bass have finished spawning. The river is very clear in both Northfork and the Licking River. Musky: fair. Tubs, gliders, lipless crankbaits along with inline spinnerbaits have been seeing action this week. We believe the recent bluegill spawn has drawn in both muskie and catfish looking for an easy meal. Largemouth Bass: fair. The bass are starting to cruise nesting sites and some bass have been spotted chasing bait fish into shallow water. Topwater, crankbaits and spinnerbaits have been successful this past week. Smallmouth: Slow to fair. The smallmouth should be finished nesting but reports have remained slow. Crappie: Good to excellent. These fish continue to hit small 1/32 oz. jigs dressed with a char/white twister tail. The fish are still positioned at the end of laydown trees on flats where the water is about eight to 10 feet deep. Most were black crappie, with two to four on each tree. Catfish: Good, fishing near spawning beds and creek heads with live bait. Bluegill: fair. Success was reported using worms, crickets and topwater poppers in shaded areas of the shoreline.

Grayson Lake: The lake has been stable at summer pool. The water is 68-74 degrees with good color. Bass: fair. The bass has been active around laydown timber, roadbeds and other structure as they feed in the low light periods. Use topwater, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Plastic worms continue to catch fish this week. Crappie: Good, fishing down timber and brush in eight to 10 feet of water. Jigs, live bait and small crankbaits have been successful this week. Catfish: Good, fishing live bait from the heads of coves near discharge areas. Bluegill: Fair to good. The bluegills have finished nesting. However, some late spawners are still in shallow water and reports suggest crickets, worms and small jigs have all caught fish this past week.

Greenbo Lake: The water temperature is 76-78 degrees and the water level has been stable. Bass: Fair, reports are that the fish have been recovering from their annual nesting cycle. We expect to see the fishing improve quickly as these they begin to feed. Minnow-type baits should become productive as these fish become active. Trout: Fair to good using Berkley Powerbait and small spinners or blade baits like the Sliver Buddy. Catfish: good. They have moved to the shallows to feed on nesting bluegill. Bluegill: Fair, as the spawn is mostly over until the next full moon. Bluegill will spawn every month, unlike bass, until the water begins to cool in the fall.

Ohio River: The Ohio River has been good shape but as I write this weather forecast for the area suggests the river is going to get an influx of water. Largemouth Bass: Fair and improving. Crankbaits, jigs and blade baits are beginning to produce fishing backwater areas.

Below the dam: Twin tail grubs on ¼ oz. ball jigs are the best producers of Sauger and Walleye using slow bump-the-bottom retrieves. Running a two-jig setup produces better strikes. One of the two baits needs to be a little off of the bottom. White Bass: Slow with few reported catches. Bass: We are looking for some new reports on the bass fishing above the dam. If you get on the water help us out! Catfish: Good. Fishing has been good using live bait near nesting sites. Minnows, cut-bait and worms fishing on the bottom have all been successful.

Yatesville Lake: Yatesville water temperature has been in the 68-74 degree range and the fishing has been slow as the bass recover from spawning. Bass: Fair to good fishing creek heads, timbered coves and roadbeds. Baits that saw action this week were crankbaits, jigs with watermelon-colored skirts and black creature-bait kickers. Crappie: Good, fish the edges of flats in channel bends and old fish attractors using 1/32 oz. white crappie jigs or live bait. We have seen some anglers improving their odds drifting across fish attractors using both live bait and jigs. Catfish: Good, fishing spawning beds and creek heads using live bait and worms. Bluegill: Good, bluegill continue to be active fishing deeper humps and roadbeds. Worms, crickets, and small hair jigs have all been producing good results.