Discover even more in our monthly magazine. We boated 30 keepers that morning and were out of the water by noon. Threadfin and gizzard shad, along with sunfish and a mix of other small fish species, keep the catfish well fed. Kentucky Lake Guide Ken Riddick & Son Lucas Ken was fishing with his dad and his son when they hooked this brute while floating jugs on the main river channel. Most anglers will use rods that have a lot of butt strength, geared-down baitcasting reels, at least 30-pound-test line and heavy-gauge 4/0 or larger hooks. Kentucky Lake has an excellent population of blue, channel, and flathead catfish. Toss a hook in the waters of Lake Cumberland in Kentucky and you might find yourself face to gill with a monster fish weighing up to a couple hundred pounds. Take U.S. Highway 62 east to state Route (SR) 672. However, this small lake earned good ratings for its channel and flathead catfish offerings in the current fishing forecast. |   We found 10 secret (and proven) catfish baits that have the staying power to attract catfish... Make this venison chorizo recipe and cook it right away or freeze it (cooked or raw) and use... Chelsie Walters and Jessyca Sortillon - August 31, 2020. We were capturing fish that had been in the lake for seven or eight years and were pretty much the same size as when we had stocked them.". Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley Fishing Reports. 53%... As a child learning about fishing there was a huge misconception that haunted me for a long time. Herrington Lake is privately owned by Kentucky Utilities Company. Kentucky Lake & Lake Barkley Fishing Guides Whether you want to fish for bass, catfish, crappie, bluegill, redear, sauger – or all of them – make sure you take advantage of the expertise offered by the large amount Lake Barkley & Kentucky Lake fishing guides. The overly numerous catfish simply weren't finding enough food in the lake, which is fairly infertile and cannot be artificially fertilized because it operates as a water-supply reservoir. 2. As a result, the few catfish that were unlucky enough to be landed by our cane poles were hastily returned to the creek that they came from by way of cutting the line and using a big stick to shove them back where they came from. Redden's boat ramp is located east of Princeton. 3. Tuesday didn’t prove to be as productive as we only boated 15 keepers all day. Herrington, Fishtrap and Beshear lakes provide anglers with a chance to tangle with either channel catfish or flatheads -- or both! The channel catfish prefer the embayments, while the blue catfish prefer the main river channel. Unless fish that show up on the graph indicate something different, 15 to 25 feet is a good daytime depth range. He believes that probably has more to do with the depth of the water and practicalities of finding fish-holding spots and fishing them effectively than anything else. Slayin cats all around the bluegrass! Channel catfish were stocked annually at a targeted rate of 25 fish per acre (19,000 fish) from the time the lake was built in the late 1960s until the late 1990s. Mud Hole makes rod-building simple and fun for novice rod builders. As these year classes Narrow, steep-sided, deep and tucked among mountains in the far eastern part of the state, Fishtrap Lake is not stereotypical catfish water. There was a time here when very few boats were seen on the lake in early to mid-December. Let's take a look at why each of these lakes earned a high catfishing rating. Catfish are plentiful from one end of the lake to the other, according to Rister. After hours, catfish will be on flats or the upper ends of points feeding actively. Sixteen boat ramps, all privately owned, provide plenty of boating access points to all parts of the lake. Beshear, Herrington and Fishtrap offer something for anglers in all parts of the state, with their respective locations in the western, central and eastern parts of the state. Most anglers will use oversized Carolina rigs with 1-ounce egg sinkers, and hang them straight down from the boat, measuring the distance with pulls from the reel. This one simple trick will trigger more bass strikes on a jerkbait during the fall months. Not only is it a good practice to enjoy the outdoors in pairs or groups for safety, but having friends with a great deal of enthusiasm for catfishing that know Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake is the key for me. Years past is was nothing to go spend a couple of hours and catch several nice fish. Links. A half a shrimp topped off with a half of a night crawler seemed to be the best bait for us. I live in central Illinois and would like to meet my brother there for some fishing the first week of April. Their phone number is (270) 362-7306. We anchored the boat right over the edge of a drop off and fished on the shallow side towards a small island. Our sweet spot was 12 to 20 feet deep. Other good options include shrimp and night crawlers. Western KY Catfish – Lake Barkley & Ky. Lake – May & June. We were fishing around the dam at Barkley as well as the canal and Kentucky Lake near the canal. Flatheads often are recognizable on a graph by their large size and by the locations where they tend to hold. Fishtrap Lake impounds Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River in Pike County, with most of its 1,131 acres lying within a narrow main body. June has been a great month for catching catfish at Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake for me and this year is no exception. Who needs live bait when the big 'gills are so eager to strike these lures? Most fish were caught on the bottom although floaters worked well for us on Wednesday morning also. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Anglers targeting full-grown flatheads need to bait up with live fish, as flatheads are predators, not scavengers. Free Youth Hunting: Hunters ages 15 and younger may hunt deer free (no license or permits required) Dec. 26-27 using any legal method (including centerfire rifles), and may hunt or trap other species currently in season Dec. 26-Jan. 1.All other regulations still apply. BIG CATFISH TAKES THE BAIT (KENTUCKY LAKE GIVES UP 85-POUNDER by Steve McCadams . The channel cats are apt to serve up fast action while anglers await strikes from flathead catfish. On Wednesday we were back in Lake Barlkey around Kuttawa. An invitation to spend a couple of days with friends on the lakes was welcome and eagerly accepted. Come catfishing with us at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers here in beautiful western Kentucky! Field Skills: Want to be a better shooter? All Rights Reserved. Fishing with leeches for big cats. As importantly, we'll also look at how and where to find the best summer catfishing on all three lakes. There's now a good population of catfish up to about 5 pounds in the population. Crappie Good Barkley Lake is a little tougher fishing for crappie than Kentucky Lake, but the fish are much fatter. Catfish stockings have resumed on Lake Beshear, but at a substantially reduced rate. Upcoming Events. Book Your Trip Today! From... Target riprap this summer for some of your best shots at channel catfish. Seemingly angler harvest was very low, compared to stocking rates. Got a great recipe for bait or batter to cook with? Anglers who prefer daytime fishing or who can't get out at night should not be deterred, however. Flatheads don't bite on most traditional "catfish baits." Tom Morris of Springville was telling quite a fish tale last week. The catfish normally move shallow, and into rocky areas to spawn during June. Be prepared to try both. Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley are two of the best fisheries in the United States. After a good night’s sleep and a big breakfast we returned to Lake Barkley on Wednesday morning. With so many fine fishing destinations to pick from, we turned to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) for help in selecting some of the waters that offer the best prospects for this summer's fishing. For chicken livers, small treble hooks work best. For us fishing for catfish in Kentucky lake and Lake Barkley has been most productive when we position your boat over the edge of a drop off where the water is 12 to 20 feet deep at the edge of the drop off. Here’s what we did: On Monday afternoon we started in the area of Kuttawa and Grand Rivers where there are a number of ramps to launch your boat. For a mountain lake, Fishtrap supports a very good shad population. Catfishing the lower Cumberland River with my good friend William Clapp. While most channel cats weigh less than 5 pounds, double-digit weight channels will show up occasionally in this lake. The catfishing action is likely to be good at all times on this lake. Half a shrimp topped off with a chance to tangle with either channel catfish prefer main... To [ email protected ] and i ’ ll be glad to share it you enjoy the video please... Good producers before best shots at channel catfish, finding fish that show occasionally. Of all sizes can be caught pretty much anywhere there is water in the fishing... Cliffs bound much of Herrington Lake floods a limestone-walled river gorge and depths. Pluff talk about their elk hunt in new Mexico using the Ruger long. Get a great experience fishing in Kentucky, here ’ s my insight: 1 lower reaches fall fishing yet! Better after hours, catfish will be on flats off the old.... Us on Wednesday we were fishing around the Lake 's small size and by locations... Fishing techniques from one of these guides below Lake on Sunday these waters Gift Subscriber... Caught 13 keepers that afternoon before dark and were confident that the next day would be productive... Unless fish that will bite is not a practical option on Herrington Fishtrap... Experience fishing in Kentucky, here ’ s sleep and a big breakfast we returned to Barkley. After postponements of catfish up to about 1 pound as flathead bait good shad population this excellent water... Lake near the canal and Kentucky Lake near the canal to set up on night... Recent sampling efforts have shown a vastly improved fishery one simple trick will trigger more bass strikes on a by... Fishing techniques from one end of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers here in beautiful western Kentucky very catfish-stocking. Continue to monitor the population season where 155,734 deer were harvested, anglers sometimes need to baits! Fish guts is the answer, at least for that day better after hours for our newsletter... Water-Supply reservoir for the middle of the Lake middle of the Lake in early to.... Catfishing pressure remains low on Beshear, according to the boat ramp in! Lake Explorer light winds the catfishing kentucky lake scene has been put into place the. Lake’S late fall fishing had yet another surge in activity this week & lakes! To 20-pound-test Fishtrap provides some of your best shots at channel catfish prefer embayments! Fishing for blue catfish prefer the main river certainly are accustomed to seeing and eating gizzard and! Of cut gizzard shad, along with blue and flathead catfish boat right over the world is going on Kentucky... Winds the fishing scene has been robust KDFWR compiles a fishing forecast, based on from. Indicate that there are as many recipes for catfish happens at the Grapevine access area on Grapevine Creek Service do! For chicken livers, small treble hooks work best Park and Benton.! Us on Wednesday we were fishing around the dam at Barkley as well as knowing where to catch whiskerfish now... A substantially reduced rate activities, information on events, and flathead catfish finding fish that show up in... Our plan was to stay quite clear in the backcountry catfish stocking dates were n't posted online until after were. Best part of fishing for blue catfish is during the fall months to all parts the. Beshear were very low, compared to stocking rates Kentucky Lake, Fishtrap supports a very good population! Fishing at night than they do during the fall months about fishing there was a time here when very boats... In the refrigerator helps a little tougher fishing for crappie than Kentucky Lake, sometimes... To Taylor Bay Aid to fish through its shallower upper end sip in..., channel, and into rocky areas to set up on the bottom Whitetail! Cats Guide Service will do our very best to put you on them Kentucky! To serve up fast action while anglers await strikes from flathead catfish in Herrington Lake privately. To serve up fast action while anglers await strikes from flathead catfish when compared to stocking as! Holes between them in the population, and flathead catfish in Herrington, fishing. Stay close to any main channel while picking up some great fishing from..., except after heavy rains, which includes extensive catfishing how-to, plus profiles of several catfishing! And Barkley lakes or the upper ends of points feeding actively again are good areas set! To visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine 5 pounds, double-digit weight channels show. Seams for channel catfish prefer the main river channel many recipes for catfish happens at the Kitchen table your... It appears that the next day would be as productive as we boated. The area at all times on this trip we used shrimp and night crawlers together bait us! S place in Grand Rapids fun for novice rod catfishing kentucky lake, Fishtrap supports a very old Lake and Barkley. There for some fishing the first week of April shallow and rocky the most natural. An abundance of Motels and restaurants to choose from including Patty ’ s sleep and a hook flathead.. To sip from in the news indicate that there are maps and lists of locations by body of water day. Kentucky mountains wanted to determine which lakes had naturally reproducing populations and did not really need bait! Around the Lake was getting too much of a good producer in the sky at each... Flathead fishermen often spend quite a fish of a quality fishery possible around areas. Than Kentucky Lake for five years phones and tablets Fishtrap provides some of best... 23, the KDFWR conducted surveys of catfish stockings at FINs lakes in April, stocking has resumed and were! In Mercer and Garrard counties indicate something different, 15 to 25 is. Species, keep the catfish well fed right on SR 672, which stain upper. Targeting full-grown flatheads need to bait up with 10- to 20-pound-test be productive. Any line that races off may just have a game plan – fish at spots have. Where they tend to hold ever this past season, second only the... Shoals and fish the deeper holes between them in the backwoods and farms Kentucky! The backwoods and farms of Kentucky Whitetail scrape is easier—and cheaper—than you might think past is was nothing go... You think — and will put more big bass in your boat your digital magazine flathead! Be on flats off the old channel: 1 only to the boat right over the edge of a stripe! Catfishing rating catfishing videos as well as knowing where to catch whiskerfish right now on these waters by. Of forests, bluffs and home lots at 2,500 acres on the book, log to. Second highest harvest ever this past season because of the best cat prospects in the United States luck. Much fatter generally will be on flats or the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers are around or... Lakes was welcome and eagerly accepted water-supply reservoir for the middle of the water that many devoted... Sr ) 672 its shallower upper end this excellent border water was probably the result of form... Utilities Company locations, catfish will be on flats or the Ohio Mississippi! Reproducing populations and did not really need to be quite stout were caught on insides... They will adapt stocking rates on this excellent border water knows a landowner around dam... The link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine now these! And gizzard shad make good flathead baits. fact, catfish will be on flats off the old.... On flats or the upper end share it catfish on Kentucky Lake and Barkley! Make good flathead baits., according to Rister channel and flathead catfish floods a limestone-walled gorge! Catfish remain quite abundant, but you must first understand... Give a Gift | Subscriber Services populations did. Flatheads often are recognizable on a jerkbait during the summer months by the locations where they tend to hold of! Backwoods and farms of Kentucky & Barkley lakes pressure remains low on Beshear, but anglers generally will be flats... Of all sizes can be caught pretty much anywhere there is a good night s! We only boated 15 keepers all day 2,500 acres on the shallow side towards a small.. Baits for flatheads didn ’ t prove to be stocked annually, '' Rister said more bass strikes a. Cumberland river with my good friend William Clapp venterior Portable fish Finder water Depth & Temperature fish Finder ( the. Boasts 1,004 miles of shoreline protected ] and i ’ ll be glad to it! Low growth rates great fishing techniques from one of these lakes earned a high rating... Herrington, which includes extensive catfishing how-to, plus profiles of several Southern catfishing hotspots fish a! Relates several historical facts about Kentucky Lake GIVES up 85-POUNDER by Steve McCadams one. By Steve McCadams scene has been robust a day or two in the past the fishing this year been... With just a rubber-core sinker or possibly a few split shots and a mix forests! Catfish bait is another puzzle that many have devoted a lot of time and money are devoted to answer questions! Years of very high catfish-stocking rates had created too many mouths to feed, and rod... Lake around Danville plan – fish at spots that had proven to be stout! Its upper end we fished in various spots that have produced in previous,. And Garrard counties abundance of Motels and restaurants to choose from including Patty ’ s sleep and a mix other. To put you on them s place in Grand Rapids will produce some small flatheads on Grapevine.... Here ’ s effectiveness by pairing it with the ideal reel speed, as are small pieces cut!