Your Kick'n Bass Fishing Report for June 11, 2019

From the deck of the Kick’n Bass pontoon

Summer is in full swing here at Kentucky Lake! 90-degree highs on some days have been nice with a light breeze. Of course we are also experiencing the occasional gully-washer too. Overall the weather and the fishing are hot and in the summer swing right now. Water temp has been holding at about 80.5 degrees in the morning and heating up a few degrees on the sunny days. Crappies, whitebass, yellowbass, bluegill, catfish of all kinds and largemouth are being caught from the KnB toon. I did get to Seattle for a few days for my two grandsons’ baseball playoffs last weekend. I was in heaven watching them play. My June schedule is pretty full but I do have days open still…Let’s go fishing! Most of my trips have been multi-style trips. If cranking slows we can always try finding active white and yellow bass. Always need options to keep the fish coming over the rail.

Lake conditions

The TVA is keeping the water levels at 359.0 which is summer pool. This last weekend is expected to bring some heavy rains. If that happens we can expect the lake levels to rise because the Mississippi River is above flood stage already and there won’t be anywhere to put it except the lakes. You can see the levels at their website or app. tva.gov/Environment/Lake-Levels/Kentucky

Weather forecast weather.com/weather/tenday/l/42025:4:US

Crappies

We have been pulling crankbaits a lot lately. The Jenko fishing Crappie crankbaits have been our go-to baits. The Crappies have been changing their color preferences daily so starting out with multiple colored cranks is your best bet. Then narrow down their color of choice as you fish. 1.8 mph has been my best speed about 12 feet down in 14 to 18 feet of water. Sometimes the bay you caught them in yesterday is slow so keeping multiple areas to fish is essential. Main lake flats are picking up also. Keep moving and you’ll find them. 

Whitebass and Yellowbass

We have been catching a bunch of whites and yellows on crankbaits and the size has picked up considerably as of late. Throwing SteelShad bladebaits and inline spinners has been a little slow but will pick up very soon. These fish have never heard the words give up, and they fight all the way to the boat. Catching two at a time is awesome! Look on the ledges and in the mouths of the bays to find these tasty fish.

Catfish

We have been catching some very nice blues and channels in the eater sizes. We even had about an 8 lb. Flathead catfish yesterday. On a 14-foot Jenko trolling rod took a while to bring in. Right now catfish are being caught from 2 feet to thirty feet of water. Thread a night crawler on a circle hook and get fishing.

Largemouth

We have been catching quite a few Largemouth mostly in the 12-inch range but we did get a couple keeper sized fish in the 3-pound range also. We have had several heavy fish lately too. Just under 6 pounds being the largest. Had a multi boat corporate trip yesterday and Scott from Shell Diver Guide Service put our clients on some nice bass too.

Bluegills and Redears

Redear and bluegills are about done spawning but some days you can find a good mess of them. We caught quite a few Gills under an ESB bobber with a cricket on a Crappie Hut Jigs Crazy Cricket. 2 feet of line out in 3 to 4 feet of water was the key.

ATTABOY

Cap’n Rich is a great guide and very entertaining! He will make sure that you have a great time. —Charlie Johnson, Owensboro, Ky