FRANKFORT, Ky. – When someone finds a deer fawn curled up in high grass or hiding beneath the shrubbery of a home at the edge of the woods, it’s often assumed that the fawn is abandoned.

But David Yancy, a deer biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, explained that mother deer don’t abandon their newborns.

Deer fawns in early summer often appear abandoned in high weeds by their mother. This is normal behavior for deer and the mother is often close by the fawn. Do not try to help the fawn by taking possession of it. Leaving the fawn alone is the best plan.

“The mother leaves the fawn often for hours at a time, between morning and evening nursing,” said Yancy. “The doe stays away from the fawn because she doesn’t want to attract attention to it. While she’s away from her fawn she feeds and rests.”

Fawns are scentless at birth, and hide in grass and weeds, their spots helping to camouflage them.
If the mother deer feels threatened by the approach of a human or a predator, she moves off, so the threatening presence will follow her and not endanger her fawn.

Newborn deer remain bedded for the first few weeks of life until they are strong enough to run at their mother’s side to escape predators.

The doe is never far from her fawn. “The mother is likely in some nearby woods. She’s definitely within earshot and will usually come running if the fawn bleats,” said Yancy.

Landowners are asked to leave deer fawns alone if they encounter one. “If you find one while mowing your hay field, pick it up and put it somewhere nearby where you won’t be mowing. The mother will return and find it in the evening,” said Yancy.

The gestation period for white-tailed deer is about 200 days. Female deer bred in November drop their fawns in the period from late May to early July. The peak of births occurs in mid-June, prompting an increase in calls to the information center at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

“Callers don’t know what to do with the seemingly abandoned young deer. They don’t realize the fawn has not been abandoned at all,” said Yancy. “Some people who don’t know better will pick them up.”
The worst thing you can do is to pick up the fawn and try to raise it on your own. Humans are poor substitutes for the fawn’s natural mother.

“It always ends badly for either the human or the deer,” Yancy said. “It is also illegal. The only people who can have deer in captivity are rehabilitators or someone with a captive cervid permit.”
The cute baby deer that weighs 6 to 8 pounds in June will grow to 65 to 75 pounds by that fall and 125 pounds by the following summer. “By the next fall, the male deer are sexually mature,” Yancy said. “They can hurt you. They start tearing up things, eating gardens and exhibiting other destructive behavior. They can seriously injure a person with their antlers and hooves. They are going to try to show you that they are dominant.”

The best thing a person can do if they encounter a baby deer on their property is to leave the fawn alone. Mother Nature will take care of young deer much better than humans can.

Media Contact: Art Lander Jr 1-800-858-1549, ext. 4414

Are you wondering what green water strategies are all about?

I know. The first time I heard about green water, I thought someone was talking about some clear lake or something.

In fact, the term is an old tournament reference that describes a way to approach a flood or a muddy influx of rain.

I wanted to cover this subject because this is the time of the year when we usually see spring rains that can change a body of water very quickly. One day the water is clear and where you expected it to be, and the next day the sky drops two or three inches of rain leaving your favorite fishing hole high and muddy.

When this happens, you have a few choices. You can fish the mud by going to bait that usually works in dirty water, or you can see if the green water strategy is going to work in your favor.

When you’re fishing a body of water with a dam that is controlling the influx of water a few things can happen. The dam will either be closed and the lake will start to rise, or the dam will be open enough to let the water pass through it.

When the dam is holding water, trash will collect in depressions or float down the edges of the bank. When the dam is open, that trash will get pulled into the middle where the current will take it toward the dam.

This is important to notice, because it lets you know what is going on at the dam. Along with what stage the lake is in.

Scott Doan, of Morehead holding a 4.5 pound Smallmouth Bass taken from a green water pocket on Cave Run Lake. (Submitted)

When the lake is holding water, green water will usually be somewhere on the lake. Let me explain. The influx of water will muddy up creek fed coves, along with whatever happens to be the main source of water coming into the lake.

These areas will slowly begin to get muddy to the point that even the main channel may become muddy. However, the coves that have very little water coming into them will remain green and fish will naturally be drawn into these areas. There is a window where these areas will pay off big… it could be hours or days depending on what happen at the dam and how much water in coming into the lake.

My experience in this kind of situation is one that I never over look. I usually know where there are a few short coves that have little water running into them. I check these first. If I find green water, I hop from one to another fishing lures like AC-Shiners, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. This has paid big dividends more than once. I have even seen Bass cruising the bank as they move out of the dirty water and stack up in these little pockets of green water.

When they open the dam, and the trash starts moving toward the channel, the green water will begin to disappear. It will begin to mix with dirty water as it gets pulled out toward the channel, and muddy water will start to fill these little protected pockets.

The next time you find yourself in this situation, try out the green water strategy. You may find that while everyone else is fishing the muddy water you find a bonanza just waiting for you to get your line stretched.

Till Next time

Good Fishing!

(This article is the fourteenth in the periodic Blue Water Trails series highlighting the floating, fishing and tourism opportunities on Kentucky’s streams and rivers).

FRANKFORT, Ky. – In 1780, several pioneers from Bryan Station camped on a gravel bar in a double bend in the Kentucky River, about a mile upstream from where a large buffalo trail crossed the river at Leestown. The pioneers were bound for Mann’s Lick in Jefferson County to make salt.

These hybrid striped bass came from Pool 4 of the Kentucky River. Pool 4 flows through the heart of Kentucky’s capital city of Frankfort and offers relaxing flat water paddling, fantastic scenery, rich history and productive fishing.

The infamy of Frank’s murder resonated with the early settlers and they began to call this crossing “Frank’s Ford.” The name stuck and the city that grew up around Frank’s Ford is now the capital of the state of Kentucky.

Those who want to see the capital city from a unique perspective and enjoy the sights of the Kentucky River should plan to float Pool 4. This section of the river attracted some of the earliest settlers in Kentucky and holds the last of the soaring Kentucky River Palisades.

Pool 4 also offers some of the more overlooked and productive fishing in central Kentucky for black bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish, white and hybrid striped bass and even huge muskellunge.

Pool 4 offers two floats: the first is a 10.5 mile day-long float, while the second is a relaxing 4 mile paddle through the heart of Frankfort. The put-in for the first float is at Clifton Marina and Boat Ramp in Woodford County. From Versailles, take Clifton Road (KY 1964) to a left on Buck Run Road. The boat ramp lies before the marina (there is a membership fee to use this ramp).

Paddle upstream (left from the ramp) to reach the tailwaters of Lock and Dam 5. This adds about 2 miles to the float, but the fishing is worth it. The rocky banks and bars below Lock and Dam 5 hold surprisingly large smallmouth bass. A black or pumpkinseed 3/16-ounce skirted grub worked along the rocky banks with current draws strikes from smallmouth. Some large hybrid-striped bass also live here. A 5-inch white curly-tailed grub rigged on a ¼-ounce leadhead worked in the foamy water draws strikes. A chicken liver suspended under a bobber and drifted in the current also works well for hybrids.

Just downstream of the ramp after the river turns left, a rocky outcrop at the mouth of Ross Run protrudes from the north bank on the right. A medium-running crawfish crankbait worked on this bar draws strikes from largemouth, spotted and occasionally smallmouth bass.

As you float downstream, the river takes a hard left into Reindeer Lodge Bend. Soon, the rocky outcrop known as Lover’s Leap comes into view on the left, towering above the mouth of Turkey Run.

A little over a mile later, Little Benson Creek joins the Kentucky River on the left. The lower section of this creek makes a productive spot to throw a weightless white soft plastic jerkbait, rigged weedless on a wide gap worm hook. This lure is an excellent summer largemouth bass lure. Cast this presentation into fallen tree limbs and shoreline brush, then let it slowly flutter down into the cover. A slight jerk of the rod tip brings this lure back near surface to slowly fall again, driving any largemouth bass nearby to crush it.

The mouth of Little Benson Creek holds crappie in spring as do the other smaller tributaries in Pool 4. These creek mouths also hold an occasional muskellunge. They also make good places to drift dead minnows or night crawlers for catfish.

Just downstream of Little Benson Creek past the wiggle in the river known as Mulholland Bend are two rocky outcrops. One is on the right at the mouth of Bear Branch, while the other is just downstream on the left. Both of these would be good places to work the medium-running crankbait for bass.
Glenn’s Creek joins the Kentucky River on the right about two miles downstream of Mulholland Bend. Glenn’s Creek is another great spot to work the soft-plastic jerkbait. Anglers may encounter smallmouth bass if they fish upstream of the slack water.

The noise from the I-64 Bridge greets the ears of boaters by the time they reach Glenn’s Creek, resonating in the deep gorge carved by the river in this area. The bridge lies just downstream of a left-hand bend.
Just after the bridge, the Kentucky River makes a hard “S” shaped curve, beginning with a sharp bend to the left known as Big Eddy Bend. Big Eddy Bend created problems for loggers riding flatboats made of timber cut from the headwaters of the river. The nose of land jutting out into the river from the south bank created what loggers called a “whirl” and required skill to negotiate.

The river turns gently to the right and the sound of traffic emanates from the KY 676 (East/West Connector) Bridge. The take-out is at Lee’s Ramp on the left just downstream of the bridge. The south bank in the bend before the bridge has numerous rock slides that hold bass in summer.

The put-in for the second 4-mile half-day float begins at Lee’s Ramp and concludes at the Benson Creek Boat Ramp, taking the paddler through the heart of the state capital. The Kentucky State Capitol Building lies on the left early in this float. The Frankfort Cemetery sits atop the tall hill on the right, holding the bones of Daniel Boone. The houses of the South Frankfort neighborhood come into view as the river makes the sharp turn to the left, as well as the medieval castle architecture of the Kentucky Military History Museum.

The U.S. 60 Bridge in downtown Frankfort meets the paddler, quickly followed by the St. Clair Street Bridge, known to locals as the “Singing Bridge.” The Frankfort Boat Ramp lies directly downstream of this bridge on the right, but has extremely limited parking.

A large rocky bluff comes into view on the left. The old stage coach road to Shelbyville and Louisville passed under this bluff. This is the general area of the old Frank’s Ford at the mouth of Devil’s Hollow.
Benson Creek lies on the left at the railroad bridge over the river. The State Office Tower comes into view on the right. Benson Creek Boat Ramp lies just upstream on the left with a mild carry and ample parking, making for a great take-out spot. If you float under the twin bridges for U.S. 127, you’ve floated too far. The extremely dangerous low-head dam for Lock and Dam 4 lies just downstream.

The right bank of the river was the end of a long arduous journey for the loggers who floated logs from the headwaters of the Kentucky River in east Kentucky to sawmills in Frankfort. The State Office Tower and Capital Plaza Hotel lie in what was once known as Crawfish Bottom, or simply the Craw to Frankfort residents. The loggers would blow off steam at the bars in the Craw for a few days of revelry and then walk back home.

Benson Creek is a productive fishing creek for largemouth and spotted bass. The soft-plastic jerkbait produces bass if worked in shoreline root wads. The bridge abutments for the railroad bridge hold spotted and largemouth bass in summer.

Enjoy a day of history, scenery and paddling through the heart of Kentucky’s capital city. Frankfort offers ample accommodations for paddlers. The city offers interesting side trips including the Salato Wildlife Education Center at the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Headquarters off U.S. 60 west, the Kentucky History Center in downtown Frankfort as well as the Old State Capitol building a few blocks away. Downtown Frankfort offers excellent restaurants and shops within easy walking distance.

The Blue Water Trails series supports Gov. Steve Beshear’s Adventure Tourism Initiative. Log on to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s Blue Water Trails webpage at fw.ky.gov for a detailed map.

Author Lee McClellan is an award-winning associate editor for Kentucky Afield magazine, the official publication of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. He is a life-long hunter and angler, with a passion for smallmouth bass fishing.

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The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources manages, regulates, enforces and promotes responsible use of all fish and wildlife species, their habitats, public wildlife areas and waterways for the benefit of those resources and for public enjoyment. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. For more information on the department, visit our website at fw.ky.gov.

Editor’s note: The rain may be a welcome sight to some farmers, but it blew out many streams this past week and lakes are now getting the water. Conditions will change from day to day as rivers, lakes, and streams begin to turn to normal unless rains continue. Keep sending your pictures to trimmer308@windstream.net.

Cave Run Lake: The water level was a foot above summer pool at press time. Surface temperature is 66 to 69 degrees. While temperatures haven’t changed that much, the influx of water has changed all eastern lakes. Musky: good to excellent. The musky fishing has remained good, even as the water has jumped about two feet the last week. Musky have been reported in shallow areas, flats, creek heads. Use any shallow water bait including: topwater, gliders and inline spinners. Bass: Smallmouth fishing is reported to be good. Fish shaky head jigs in deep water areas close to the bank. Largemouth are reported fair. Fish have been taken off secondary points, as they are still in a staging mode. The dirty water has blown out the upper river section but the main lake is still reporting some good catches. Crappie: slow. We believe this is due to the rains, once found the fish will still take your bait.

Grayson Lake: The water level is rising and was a foot over summer pool at press time. The lake is 65 to 68 degrees. Bass: fair. In the dam area, fish weightless worm rigs on points. The upper river is muddy and the bass fishing is reported slow. Crappie: fair. Use live bait fishing down trees near the channel. We also got a few reports that crappie were caught along roadbeds and sunken trees in channel areas.

Greenbo Lake: The lake is mostly clear and the water surface temperature is 68 degrees and stable. Bass: good. As this lake goes into a post spawn pattern, fish have been taken on live bait, crankbaits and AC Shiners. Trout: fair to good. Fish inline spinners, Berkley Power Bait, blade baits, and red worms. Most of the action has been in the ramp area from the bank. Crappie: Improving, fish jigs and inline spinners. Bluegill: improving. As these fish move to spawning areas, look for shell-crackers in water up to 12 feet on points and  at the heads of creeks.

Sam Morris releases this nice striper back in the Ohio River near Shout Shore. (Submitted)

Ohio River: The Ohio River has taken a lot of water in the last few weeks and much of the really good fishing is on hold waiting from the water level to return to normal. White bass: slow. Largemouth Bass: slow. However, some fish have been reported active in feeder creeks. Below the Dam: Sauger and Walleye are reported fair. Use crankbaits and live bait. Bass: fair. The bass have been active this week. Use spinnerbaits and crankbaits. The bass are getting ready to nest and some backwater areas have produced some good fish this week. Catfish: good. Fish spawning beds and creek heads. Stripers have slowed some this past week, as water has risen but we expect this to improve as water levels return to normal.

Yatesville Lake: The water level reported rising and was one foot over summer pool at press time. The water surface temperature is 66 to 69 degrees. Headwater areas are reported muddy and the main lake is reported as stained but fishable. Bass have been slow this week. The quick water rise has scattered some fish and it is unclear if the spawning fish have stayed on beds or moved off in deeper water.  Crappie: good. Fish the edges of flats in channel bends and old fish attractors using 32 oz. white crappie jigs tipped with live minnows. We have also had some reports of catches using small in-line spinners casting the shallow water flats as the black crappie start visiting these areas when the sun begins to warm the surface. Bluegill have been hard to find this week due to the two foot jump in water levels. However, some reports of bedding fish are still coming in. The trick is to find them. Our reports put them in about 8 feet of water.

This fishing report was compiled for May 7 to May 13, 2012

Editor’s note: This is the week to take a advantage of the bluegill spawn. We had a full moon May 6. For the next two weeks the bluegill should be in shallow water around road beds, sandy flats, and creek heads. Keep sending your pictures to trimmer308@windstream.net.

Cave Run Lake: The water level is stable about a foot below summer pool. Surface temperature is 66 to 69 degrees. Fish are reported spawning in some areas of the lake. Musky: good to excellent. The PMTT reported plenty of fish caught and released. Fish were taken on a long list of lures, including: topwater, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and just about everything else you can think of. Get out there and make some casts, your chances are good! Bass: Smallmouth are improving and are about done spawning. The largemouth were reported fair. As largemouth bass spawn, many parts of the lake have slowed down. Fish spawning areas with tube jigs, and other creature baits. Crappie: Good, some excellent size crappie were caught this past week. Fish small in-line spinners on mud flats near feeder creeks and live bait around brush-piles on flats. The white crappie are finding cover near spawning beds.

Grayson Lake: The water level is stable one foot below summer pool. The lake is 65 to 68 degrees. Bass: slow. Some bass are reported to be spawning. Fish spawning areas and creek heads. Crappie: Fair, use live bait fishing down trees near the channel. We also got a few reports that crappie were caught along roadbeds and sunken trees in channel areas.

Greenbo Lake: The lake is mostly clear and the water surface temperature is 68 degrees and stable. Bass: good. As this lake goes into a post spawn pattern, fish have been taken on live bait, crankbaits and AC Shinners. Trout: Fair to good, fishing inline spinners, Berkley Power Bait, blade baits, and red worms. Most of the action has been in the ramp area from the bank. Crappie: Improving. Fish jigs and inline spinners. Bluegill: improving. As these fish move to spawning areas, look for shell-crackers in water up to 12 feet deep on points and the heads of creeks.

Ohio River: The Ohio River Greenup pool has slowed some this past week due to water levels coming up from rains up river. White Bass are reported to be jumping early in the day in the mouths of creeks. Largemouth Bass: improving. Use crankbaits, jerkbaits and small spinnerbaits, fishing the mouth of coves and shallow water coves. The river bass are staging but the water needs to become a little warmer for the bass to start the spawn. Below the Dam: Sauger/Walleye: reported fair. Use crankbaits and live bait. Bass: fair. The bass have been active this week. Use spinnerbaits and crankbaits. The bass are getting ready to nest and some backwater areas have produced some good fish this week. Catfish: good, fishing spawning beds and creek heads. Stripers have slowed some this past week, as water levels have risen. We expect this to improve as water levels return to normal.

Chad Grayson from Wheelersburg, Ohio, caught this beautiful fish below the Greenup Dam last week. (Submitted)

Yatesville Lake: The water level is reported to be rising and was one foot under summer pool at press time. The water surface temperature is 66 to 69 degrees. Headwater areas are clearing. The main lake is reported to be slightly stained. Bass: fair to slow. This week we have reports that some bass are spawning in all parts of the lake. Use tub jigs and flukes to work these areas.   Crappie: Good, fishing the edges of flats in channel bends and old fish attractors. Use 32 oz. white crappie jigs tipped with live minnows. We have also had some reports of catches using small in-line spinners casting the shallow water flats as the black crappie start visiting these areas when the sun warms the surface. Bluegill: good. Bluegilll are being located in spawning areas. Nice bluegill have already be taken from this lake.

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

As the Secretary of the Kentucky Outdoor Press Association, I had the pleasure to visit Conley Bottoms Resort this past weekend for a writer’s conference. While some business is always the focal point of any get-together, I managed to get on the water for some fishing.

Conley Bottoms is located on the south side of Lake Cumberland near Monticello. Cumberland Lake is one of the largest lakes in Kentucky spanning 101 miles with 1,255 miles of shoreline and some 66,000 surface acres. The lake has good populations of largemouth and smallmouth bass, along with Kentucky bass, bluegill, white bass, catfish, crappie, walleye and striped bass. Under normal circumstances, the lake has an average water depth of 90 feet. However, the water has been down for some time as repairs to the Wolf Creek Dam continue.

KOPA members were lodged on a 75-foot houseboat with all the accommodations of a luxury suite in a good hotel, with the addition of a full kitchen. I can vouch for the fact this is not roughing it.

All the staff working at the resort was friendly and helpful as we got settled in. Then it was time for a snack – it was only steps away. We walked over to the Lighthouse Café where you have the pleasure to dine inside or out on the floating dock.

Our first day was a good time to catch up with the long-distance friendships that all the members share. The next day would be our chance to get on the water and test the fishing.

Tom Clay and I would be fishing together, the fishing reports we had received before we made the trip indicated that the smallmouth were in shallow water. Our task would be to see if we could establish a pattern. I always start a new body of water throwing the two baits I have told you about in other articles: crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Tom would start with spinnerbait and a Wacky worm rig.

Tom Clay holding a 19-inch smallmouth caught on Lake Cumberland. (Chris Erwin / Kentucky Angling News)

For any of you who don’t know what a Wacky worm rig is, let me explain. You start off with a seven-inch plastic worm. In this case, Tom started with a bubblegum color. The worm is hooked right through the middle of the worm so that the worm just dangles off both sides of the hook. Out of the water, this is a stupid looking rig. But in the water, it comes to life. The whole idea is to cast the worm to the bank or structure and as its starts to sink, twitch the worm with no weight except for the hook. This worm looks alive as it wiggles down through the water column.

While I managed to get a few strikes on the spinnerbait, it was Tom and his Wacky worm rig that would catch the first good smallmouth that just topped 18 inches.

Before long, the pattern was starting to take shape. Most of the fish were coming from some type of wood in the water. Stumps two or three feet deep were the most productive. It didn’t take but a fish or two and I was tying on the Wacky worm, and we were jumping spots that didn’t have wood on them. After a bite of lunch, I was back out on the water. The pattern held up for us the entire time we were there.

I fished a little Sunday to round off our total of 30 smallmouth, five largemouth, and three really nice Kentucky Bass.

The monster striped bass did come up and jumped for a minute or two in one of the coves we were in, but they went down before we had a chance to cast to them.

Good fishing!

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Population models help biologists manage deer herds.
“Models enable deer managers to input information to track population trends,” said Tina Brunjes, deer and elk program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “The two basic questions are: how many deer were born and how many died.”

Deer biologists use sophisticated models to follow population trends and properly manage deer herds. It takes many years of data collection to detect changes in these herds.

Models are objective, mathematical indicators of populations. They provide herd managers with a better understanding of the factors that cause a population to increase or decrease.

“When you boil it down, you have to know what’s driving the population,” said Brunjes. “You need to factor in the birth rate, weather, quality of habitat and mortality; be it from hunting, or compensatory mortality such as accidents, disease, coyote predation of fawns, or vehicle/deer collisions.”

Before computers, deer managers used pens, paper and calculators to compute statistics on deer herds. Today, they use spreadsheets.

Kentucky’s deer herd is managed on a county level, so there are 120 sets of data to be analyzed each year after the close of hunting in January.

“Population models need a large data set to be effective,” said Brunjes. “They are used for large, landscape level monitoring, but are not suited for 1,000-acre deer leases.”

A good model detects population trends quickly, after factoring in all the intangibles, which includes crop damage complaints, deer/vehicle collisions and the number of landowners or hunters expressing concerns about deer numbers.

“Our population model gives us an estimate of deer per square mile,” said Brunjes. “From that number, we have a pretty good idea if the population density is over, under or on target, based on the county’s zone status.”

An understanding of the impact of many factors is needed to recommend season lengths and bag limits.
In 1986, after evaluating several computerized deer population simulation programs, Kentucky deer managers selected the program Deer Camp, which used harvest data from previous seasons to generate estimates of the number of deer that would be present in a county when the next season opened.
Deer Camp is one of several deer population models that have been used in recent decades by deer managers across the country. Wisconsin, for example, has used the SAK (Sex-Age-Kill) deer population model since the 1960s.

In 2002, Kentucky deer managers adopted the Downing Reconstruction model. Brunjes said this model is used in nearly all the southeastern states. Harvest data enables managers to determine the age and sex composition of the herd and also tracks recruitment, or the number of fawns per doe.
Deer herds don’t go through boom or bust cycles. “It takes years for management changes to be detectable,” said Brunjes. “Managing deer herds by regulated sport hunting is a long term commitment.”
These management models provide a long term benefit to Kentucky hunters.

Author Art Lander Jr. has been writing about the outdoors since the 1970s. He is a staff writer for Kentucky Afield Magazine.

Media Contact: Art Lander Jr 1-800-858-1549, ext. 4414

On Feb. 22, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association announced bass fishing could be offered as a varsity sport in high schools in Kentucky. But now, a couple of months later, there seems to be as many questions as they are answers.

Kentucky becomes the third state nationally to offer bass fishing as a varsity sport, following Illinois and Tennessee. It will be offered in the spring with a regular season scheduled from late February through mid-April. The postseason and state competition will take place in late April.

More than 60 schools across the state have expressed an interest in fielding fishing teams, according to KHSAA. Kentucky has approximately 220 public high schools.

“We are definitely interested,” said Ken Cox, athletic director for the Jessamine County Public Schools. “KHSAA has not come out with a lot of details yet, but once we learn more. It would give us an idea of which direction we might go.”

I have researched a dozen more comments from different Kentucky school officials about the idea of fielding a bass fishing team and becoming part of the Student Angler Federation.

Any school board that has an interest in getting involved needs to know some of the facts, as well as the cost of implementing the program. They are some other players who have helped in making this whole thing work, the Bass Federation and the FLW Outdoors of Benton. They have partnered with KHSAA to stage tournaments.

With the help of these organizations, the cost to other state schools has been very low, according to Mark Gintert, national youth director for The Bass Federation. He predicts similar results in Kentucky.

Gintert, who says his organization is “involved in high school fishing all over the country,” insisted that finding volunteers willing to loan their boats to local school teams or provide other assistance won’t be a problem. 

Local school boards would have to get on board and approve local school districts to become part of the program. I know that before they do, some questions need to be answered.

Here are a few of them:

Q: How do we address the student liability question?

A: Each student would join the Student Angler Federation and pay membership dues of $25.00. This money pays for a million-dollar insurance policy on each student. In addition, the policy will cover whatever boat that student fishes from. In other words, if I volunteer my boat to be use in one of these events, the boat is also insured while being used.

Q: Who will be operating the boats?

A: Each boat will have an adult captain that will run the combustion engine (big motor) while the students will be permitted to use the electric trolling motor. Students will not run the main engine. Mr. Gintert told me that 90% of the captains are the boat owners, which also offer to be adult advisors and boat captains.

Mr. Gintert has also offered to come to any high school to help organize and build a plan for any high school that wants to become part of the high school anglers’ competitive program.

The one question I was still unable to answer was what the qualifications of a high school coach in Kentucky high schools will be. I did call the Kentucky High School Athletic Association office to see if I could get an answer to this question, but I was unable to get a statement from Commissioner Julian Tackett.  It is not necessary for a coach to be a state-certified teacher for teams to compete, but each state sets the rules as far as who is qualified to become a high school coach.

For an example, we can look to Illinois. They require coaches to have a state teaching certificate, but they are not required to teach any other subject in the high school.

For more information go to: http://www.highschoolfishing.org

Editor’s Note: Would you like to see that big catch displayed here? If you catch a big fish send us the picture. We will be publishing some selected photos in the fishing report over the next few weeks. Please tell us your name, the size, weight and body of water that you caught them from. Send your pictures to trimmer308@windstream.net

Cave Run Lake: The water level is stable at a 1.5 feet below summer pool. Surface temperature is 63 to 68 degrees. Fish have started spawning in some parts of the lake while other parts of the lake have regressed somewhat as temperatures fell some this past week. Musky: Good to excellent. The musky have completed going through the motions of spawning, all of the guides reported catching fish this week. The PMTT tournament is coming up and it looks to be a really good one this year. Use, topwater buzzers, jerkbaits, bulldawgs, gliders rattle lipless crankbaits and inline spinners. Bass: Smallmouth fishing is fair. These fish are starting the spawn. Largemouth fishing is reported good. Use crankbaits, swim baits, tube jigs and rattletrap types baits. As the fish start to spawn, we look for the fishing to slow down until the spawn is completed. Crappie:good. Some excellent size crappie were caught this past week, fishing small in-line spinners on mud flats near feeder creeks. Also try live bait around brush-piles on flats. The white crappie are finding cover near spawning beds.

Chris Leffer holding the 38 inch Musky caught on Cave Run Lake on April 20, 2012. (Submitted)

Grayson Lake: The water level is stable at 1.5 feet below summer pool. The lake is stained but clearing in the dam area, with water temperatures warming to 62 to 66 degrees. Bass: Slow, some fish have been spotted cruising spawning locations. Jigs, plastic worms and flukes have been the most productive baits this week. Crappie: fair. Use live bait, fishing down trees near the channel. We also got a few reports that crappie were caught along roadbeds and sunken trees in channel areas.

Greenbo Lake: The lake is mostly clear and the water surface temperature is 68 degrees and stable. Bass: good. As this lake goes into a post spawn pattern, fish have been taken on live bait, crankbaits and AC Shiners. Trout: Fair to good, fishing inline spinners, Berkley Power Bait, blade baits, and red worms. Most of the action has been in the ramp area from the bank. Crappie: Improving, fish jigs and inline spinners.

Ohio River: The Ohio River Greenup pool is in good shape this week. The water is clear in most areas and the fishing was reported good. White Bass: We had some reports of white bass catches this week. Fish with crankbaits and lipless crankbaits. Fish were reported in creeks. Largemouth Bass: Improving, use crankbaits, jerkbaits and small spinner baits, fishing the mouth of coves and shallow water coves. The river bass are staging, but the water needs to become a little warmer for the bass to start the spawn. Below the Dam: Sauger/Walleye were reported fair. Use crankbaits and live bait. Bass: fair to good. The bass have been active this week. Use spinner baits and crankbaits. The bass are getting ready to nest and some backwater areas have produced some good fish this week. Catfish: Good, fishing spawning beds and creek heads. Strippers: Hot this past week! Use live bait and topwater stick baits.

Yatesville Lake: The water level is reported rising and was 4 foot over winter pool at press time. The water surface temperature is 63 to 67 degrees. Headwater areas were reported clearing. The main lake is reported as slightly stained. Bass: fair. Some fish were reported to be in the spawn at the upper end of the lake. However, the dam area is still has active fish. Use early morning top-water crankbaits. In the afternoon, jigs have been the go to bait.  Crappie: good, fishing the edges of flats in channel bends and old fish attractors using 32 oz. white crappie jigs tipped with live minnows. We have also had some reports of catches using small in-line spinners casting the shallow flats as the black crappie start visiting these areas when the sun begins to warm the water surface. Bluegill: We had some reports this week that the bluegill are starting to show up in spawn areas. Look for the best bluegill fishing to start five days before the full moon beginning May 6.

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

This fishing report was compiled for April 23-30, 2012

Cave Run Lake: The water level is about 1.5 below summer pool. Surface temperature is 63 to 68 degrees. Fish could start going on the nest anytime, the cool snaps have stalled the bass a few times now, but they are ready. Musky: good to excellent. The musky have completed going through the motions of spawning. All of the guides report catching fish this week. Use topwater buzzers jerkbaits, bulldawgs, gliders rattle lipless crankbaits and inline spinners. Bass: Smallmouth fishing is fair. We didn’t get any reports on the smallmouth this week but this could be because these fish are starting the spawn. Largemouth fishing is good. Use crankbait, swimbaits, tube jigs and rattle-trap types baits. As the fish start to spawn, we look for the fishing to slow down until the spawn is completed. Crappie: good. Some excellent size crappie were caught this past week fishing small in-line spinners on mud flats near feeder creeks and live bait around brush-piles on flats. The white crappie are finding cover near spawning beds.

Grayson Lake: The water level is stable at 1.5 feet below summer pool. The lake is stained but clearing in the dam area, with water temperatures warming to 62 to 66 degrees. Bass: reported good and improving. Fish points using crankbaits and jerkbaits. Some fish are also reported active in shallow water spawning areas, use tube jigs and swimbaits here. Crappie: fair. Use live bait fishing down trees near the channel. We also got a few reports that crappie were caught along roadbeds and sunken trees in channel areas.

Greenbo Lake: The lake is mostly clear and the water surface temperature is 68 degrees and stable. Bass: good. Fish jerkbaits, jigs and plastic worms. As the bass finish the spawn on this lake, a few very large bass have been reported caught. Trout: Fair to good, fishing inline spinners, Berkley Power Bait, blade baits, and red worms. Most of the action has been in the ramp area from the bank. Crappie: Improving, fish jigs and inline spinners.

Jason Smith holding a 24"inch 9lb. 8oz. Largemouth bass caught at Greenbo Lake photo. (Submitted).

Ohio River: The Ohio River Greenup pool is in good shape this week. The water is clear in most areas and the fishing was reported good. Bass: We have some report of white bass catches this week. Fish crankbaits and lipless crankbaits. Fish were reported in creeks. Largemouth Bass are reported improving. Use crankbaits, jerkbaits and small spinnerbaits fishing the mouth of coves and shallow water coves. The river bass are staging but the water needs to become a little warmer for the bass to start the spawn. Below the Dam: Sauger/Walleye: fair. Use crankbaits and live bait. Bass: fair to good. The bass have been active this week. Use spinnerbaits and crankbaits. The bass are getting ready to nest and some backwater areas have produced some good fish this week. Catfish: good. Fish spawning beds and creek heads. Strippers: Hot this past week! We have got a few reports that the Strippers have been active on live bait and topwater stick baits. Some good fish have been caught this week.

Yatesville Lake: The water level is reported rising at four foot over winter pool. The water surface temperature is 63 to 67 degrees. Headwater areas are reported clearing and the main lake is slightly stained. Bass: good. Use flippin jigs, swimbaits, crankbaits, and jerkbaits fishing points and creek headwaters. We also have had a few reports of bass moving into shallow water spawning areas. This shallow water activity should improve as bass begin spawning.   Crappie: good. Fish the edges of flats in channel bends and old fish attractors using 32 oz. white crappie jigs tipped with live minnows. We have also had some reports of catches using small in-line spinners, casting the shallow water flats as the black crappie start visiting these areas when the sun begins to warm the surface. Bluegill: We had some reports this week that the bluegill are starting to show up in spawn areas.

Are you scratching your head about now and saying to yourself, what is he going to write about this time? Hey guys, I know many of you think that fishing for bluegill is for kids. I can tell you this, for about two weeks of the year I turn into a big kid, and I just love it!

My good friend, the late Larry Besant, described me in a newsletter as a multi-fish angler. At the time, I wasn’t sure it was a compliment since the readers were hardcore muskie anglers. I have since worn that badge with honor. As we approach the next full moon phase, I’ll be ready to pick up the ultra-light gear to have some fun with one of the first types of fishing I fell in love with.

When the water temperature reaches about 70 degrees, the next full moon phase will be when the largest bluegill and redear sunfish commonly known in the south as “shellcrackers” will begin their spawn. Unlike many fish, the bluegill will take your offering while they are in their nesting cycle. The next full moon phase will be May 6 to 12.

While there are many differences between these two fish, there are also many similarities. Both go about nesting in the same way. They nest in colonies. The male fans a dish bowl looking spot and herds the female into the prepared area for nesting. After the female lays the eggs, the male guards the nest until they hatch. Finding a nesting area usually means finding many pairs, and the fishing can be fast and furious.

The shellcracker is not a fish that likes to be right against the bank. Instead this is a fish that likes to be in deeper water. They will spawn in eight to 15 feet of water depending on how clear the water is. Shellcrackers look much like a bluegill on steroids, and of course, they have an opercular flap with an orange-red edge ahead of a dark splotch.

Redear sunfish (left) and bluegill (right). Photo courtesy of Professor Peter B. Moyle.

Most bluegill are considered large if they approach the eight-inch mark. However, shellcrackers are known to reach 11 inches and weigh over a pound. The shellcracker gets its name from molar-like teeth that can crush shells, allowing inedible parts to be ejected and soft parts digested. They feed on the bottom, more often than bluegill, on small hard-shelled invertebrates, which make up the majority of the redear sunfish diet.

When you locate a spawning bed, it’s important not to let your boat drift too close to the beds. Everyone has his or her own method and gear to take advantage of this window of fishing opportunity, so I’ll share with you mine.

I use a 12 ft. light-action crappie rod with a spin-cast reel setup like a spinning reel. It is spooled with 6-pound line and a few baits, according to the mood of the fish. My No. 1 bait is a live red worm. My second choice is a 64 to 32 ounce hair jig tipped with a wax worm.

Many people use a slip bobber, I don’t. I like to watch the line and I want it to make it to the bottom. When you find active fish, the line rarely makes it to the bottom, but the largest fish tend to be in deep water and this rig doesn’t need to be adjusted for different depths.

If you have kids, this is one of the best ways to introduce them to fishing. The action is fast, and the fun is non-stop.

Yatesville Lake will get a stocking of shellcrackers this year, making an already good bluegill lake even better as the years go by.

This is a perfect time to take a kid fishing and have a ball while you’re doing it!

Till next time

Good Fishing!

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A group of old friends of mine gets together every spring for a fishing trip in March or April, usually to Kentucky Lake. After our first day of fishing on our recent trip, one of the friends asked for help with a balky spinning reel.

The handle was “loosey-goosey,” along with a floppy rotor that holds the reel bail assembly. He considered retiring this reel for a new one, but a few minutes of work made the reel sing like new.
Spinning reel handles loosen with use, especially if you catch a lot of fish. The screw holding the handle in place backed off a little over time and made the handle wobbly. The screw lies opposite the side of the handle, under a threaded cap that keeps water and grime out of the handle assembly and reel. On some reels, especially Shimanos, the screw holding the handle in place is embedded in the threaded cap. Periodically tighten this screw or the threaded cap.

A little time and some knowledge will make a worn, balky spinning reel sing like new. All you need is an old toothbrush, a wrench or pliers, a Phillips and a flathead screwdriver along with some reel oil and grease.

The loose rotor that holds the reel bail assembly took a few minutes to fix. The culprit was a loose nut on the bottom of the spool shaft. Loosen the drag on the front of the reel spool continually until the drag assembly comes off the spool shaft. Then, pull the spool off the shaft. The nut at the bottom of the spool shaft keeps the rotor tight. This nut often loosens, especially when playing large fish.
Use an open-end or crescent wrench to tighten this nut, although pliers will suffice in a pinch.

Some reel models have a screw in the rotor to keep this nut in place, but the screw can loosen over time along with the nut. Make sure to lightly oil the spool shaft before replacing the spool.

Problems such as these often arise after the first couple fishing trips of the year. After a long winter, a spinning reel can sometimes feel like the Sandman used the reel last fall. It feels gritty and sluggish when you turn the reel handle. A catch can develop that ruins a rhythmic retrieve.
Reel grease and reel oil applied in the correct places will fix these problems. An old egg carton makes a great holder for reel parts removed for maintenance. Nothing is as frustrating as trying to find a tiny screw in berber carpet.

In the last decade or so, some new reel oils and greases entered the market that form a molecular bond with the metals they contact. I highly recommend these new high tech lubricants as they make on old reel feel like it just came from the box. However, they cost twice as much as traditional reel oil and grease. Don’t use cheap household oil as it thickens and hardens much quicker than reel oil.

The first thing to do is remove the spool. Clean the spool shaft and the inside bottom of the spool with a cotton rag or oiled ear swab. Apply a light coat of reel oil to the spool shaft. Some reels have a small bearing assembly on the bottom of the spool that goes around the spool shaft. Apply oil to this bearing.

Don’t forget to apply a few drops of oil to the roller bearing on the bail that lays line on the spool. Also lubricate where the bail arm meets the rotor housing.

Remove the handle to access the screws on the slide plate of the reel. Remove these small screws with gentle pressure as they easily strip. Make sure to note if the screws are of different length. Arrange them so you put the correct length screw in the correct hole when you reassemble the reel.
After I fixed the one reel for my friend recently, he asked me to oil another reel for him. I didn’t pay attention to the length of screws and put the longest screw in the wrong hole in the reel. The screw nearly poked out of the opposite side plate of the reel.

Some reels also have a decorative plate that covers part of the back of the reel. This plate is usually held in place with a tiny screw and usually covers one of the side plate screws. Be careful not to lose it. .

After removing the screws, gently pry the side plate from the reel and remove it. You will see the large main gear with a bearing assembly on top it. Remove this bearing and drop it in lighter fluid or rubbing alcohol to dissolve sludgy oil, grease and other gunk. Clean the main gear, the worm gear in the bottom of the reel and the drive gear in the front with an old tooth brush and hot soapy water. Allow to dry.

After drying, replace the bearing on top of the main gear and apply several drops of reel oil. Lightly grease the main gear, worm gear and drive gear. Don’t over grease these parts. Too much grease makes a reel sluggish and attracts sand, dirt and other particles. Remember to always oil bearings and grease gears.

Put the reel back together and place a few drops of oil on the handle shaft before replacing it.
Some people try to see how long they can use fishing line before they respool the reel. This isn’t a smart idea. Worn, sun-damaged, crinkly line will fail you when you need it most. Respool with fresh line several times a year and you’ll land the big fish when it strikes instead of breaking it off. This goes for monofilament and fluorocarbon lines. Braided lines last a long time.

Do these simple procedures and keep your old trusty reel working fine for many years.

Author Lee McClellan is an award-winning associate editor for Kentucky Afield magazine, the official publication of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. He is a life-long hunter and angler, with a passion for smallmouth bass fishing.

Media Contact: Art Lander Jr 1-800-858-1549, ext. 4414