Eastern Kentucky Fishing Report

This fishing report was compiled for Jan. 23 to Jan. 29, 2012

Editor’s note; While our area has had limited opportunities for good fishing due to high water this winter, many lake across the state are still reporting good fishing.  Dale Hollow, Cumberland, Laurel and Paintsville Lake are all reporting good fishing for smallmouth and trout. All eastern lakes remain open with little or no ice.

Cave Run Lake: The water level has been rising this past week. The lake is 1.5 feet above winter pool. The main lake temperature is 37 to 40 degrees. However, the river is 36 degrees and has been stained. Musky: Slow, unchanged, with only a handful reports in this week. The  activity musky have been showing has come fishing in old weed beds using Bulldawgs and ¾ oz. jigs dressed with 6” Twister tails. Bass: The bass are in their winter patterns, but jigs are still taking some fish.  For smallmouth, fish in the dam area with ¼ oz. ball-head jigs with white twister tails. For largemouth use a shaky head jig with a white twister tail grub, fishing in 20 ft. of water. Crappie: Reported slow, with little activity.

Grayson Lake: The water level is one foot over winter pool. The lake is stained to muddy with water rising this week. Water surface temperature is stable at 36 to 40 degrees. Bass: Reported slow, use ¼ oz. ball jig rigged with two inch watermelon color grubs. Fish the secondary points using a lift and drop action. Strikes have been 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 37 degrees and stable. Bass: slow. Fish hair jigs with black grubs in 15 to 20 feet of water in the dam area. On days when the sun is out and bright, bass have been active on points, using suspending jerk baits. Trout: Fair, fishing inline spinners, blade baits, and red worms. Below the dam has been getting some action. Crappie: Slow and unchanged.

Ohio River: The Ohio River Greenup pool is reported as 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 Sauger is reported fair. Use white, lime-green or a chartreuse grub, rigged on a lead-head jig.  As the river returns to normal, this fishing will pick up.

Yatesville Lake: The water level reported at winter pool with rising water. The water surface temperature is 36-38 degrees. Head water areas are reported muddy, and the main lake is reported to be stained. Bass: slow. Use jigs, swimbaits and crankbaits, fishing points and creek headwaters. Crappie: reported slow. Fish the edges of flats in channel bends, using 32 oz. white crappie jigs tipped with live minnows.

This fishing report was compiled for Jan. 17 to Jan. 23, 2012

Editor’s note: With dipping temperatures and heavy rains this past week, many lakes have been rising once again.

Cave Run Lake: The water level has been rising this week. The lake is .5 feet above winter pool and the main lake temperature is 39 to 43 degrees. However, the river is only about 38 degrees and has been stained. Musky: slow. With only a few reports in this week the musky have been showing some activity use Bulldawgs and ¾ oz. jigs dressed with 6” Twister tails. Bass: The smallmouth fishing in the dam area has been improving; productive baits this week have been ¼ oz. ball-head jigs with white twister tails. The largemouth fishing is reported slow. Use shaky head jigs with a white twister tail grubs fishing in 20 ft. of water. The bass are in their winter patterns, and jigs are still taking some fish. Crappie: slow. However, we had a few reports this week of catches that came while drifting in standing trees from 8 to 15 feet on live minnows.

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 38 to 40 degrees. Bass: Slow, use ¼ oz. ball jig rigged with two inch grubs in watermelon color. Fish the secondary points using 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 38 degrees and falling. Bass: Slow. Fishing in the dam area in 15 to 20 feet of water using hair jigs with black grubs. On days when the sun is out and bright, bass have been active on points. Use suspending jerk baits. Trout: Fair, fishing inline spinners, blade baits, and red worms. Below the dam has been getting some action. Crappie: Slow. Reports this week that crappie have been slow fishing secondary points with live baits.

Ohio River: The Ohio River Greenup pool is reported as 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: Sauger reported fair. Use white, lime-green or chartreuse grubs rigged on a lead-head jig.

Yatesville Lake: The water level is reported at winter pool with rising water. The water surface temperature is 38 to 40 degrees. Headwater areas are reported muddy while the main lake is reported as stained. Bass: slow. Use jigs, swimbaits and crankbaits, fishing points and creek headwaters. Crappie: Slow, fishing the edges of flats in channel bends, use 32 oz. white crappie jigs tipped with live minnows.

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