The hook is the connection between you and the fish so you can understand the importance of matching up the right size hook or style for the lure you are fishing. Like many things in fishing you must match the size of the bait to the hook you are using. A number two size hook doesnt work will with a seven inch plastic simply because you will miss alot of fish were they dont get the hook in their mouth. If the hook is too big for the plastic will not allow it to opperate properly. You also have many options when it comes to way you fish the plastic. Everything ranges from a weighted hook to just fishing a hook and worm (dead weight). This will all depend on what type of plastic you will be fishing with.
The texas rig style has been the most common for many years now. It is simply a slide bullet stlye sinker and a wide gap hook. This style is great cause the fish dont feel the weight of the sinker. When the fish bites the worm or any other plastic lure you feel it hit the bait better simply because the line sides threw the sinker allowing you to feel everything. This is great way for begginers to fish as well as people who dont usually fish plastic lures. The weight of the sinker will depend on the wind, depth and the rate the bait will fall. People starting out will need to start with a heavier weight to get the feel of the bottom. When fishing this style it is important feel the difference between the bottom and a fish striking the lure.
Another common style of plastic fishing with a pegged weight. This is either buying a weighted hook that is in front of the plastic or simply pegging the slide sinker in front worm where it doesn't move. The great thing about this style is some brans of weight hooks will cause the plastic lure to stand vertical off the bottom. This helps get the attraction of the fish and can cause high pressured fish to strike from insent. A six inch finesse worm on a flat head weighted hook looks a lot like a bait fish digging on the bottom with its ass sticking up and bass eat it up.
Carolina rig is another common style of plastic fishing. This is similar to Texas rig but you peg the weight 12-24 inches in front of the hook. This will actually cause the bait to float off the bottom. This is great for bass fishing during spawning season or fishing on big muddy flats where you can make long cast and just drag the lure back to you. You can use a slide sinker and a swivel then add the 12-24 inch lead line with the hook on it.
Dead weight is good for shallow water and active fish. You simply just place a non-weighted hook on the worm and cast it out. It is great for bass spawning or sight fishing. This bait doesn't work well if the bass are in deep water and are not coming up to get the lure. Shallow creeks and fish on spawning beds are when dead weight plastic fishing is best. It is impossible to fish dead weight when is is windy but on a calm spring day this can be the lure that does all the work.
So keep you hook style and size in mind when plastic fishing. Also keep the weather conditions in mind when choosing you weight. If its a five mile per hour wind then you wont be able to throw anything lighter than 3/16 oz simply because you wont be able to fill the bit nor be able to get the bait to the bottom. Also consider the size of the hook with the size of the plastic. Three to five inch lures need hooks that are number 3-4 sizes, if you are fishing a plastic lure between five and ten inches stick to hooks that are number 5-7 sizes. Plastic lure are one of the best baits for common fishing. If you match the size and weight of the hook to the plastic bait you are fishing it will make hook up rate increase and after all that is the point of fishing.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Plastic worm fishing for bass
Today in bass fishing their are over a hundred different lure to fish with. These baits have went in and out of style threw the years but one has stood strong; the plastic worm. The plastic worm itself comes in many different sizes, colors and shapes. The most common among this worm variety is a curly tail worm in the seven inch range. Still if you take the most common worm you still must decide which color to go with.
Color is a very important aspect of worm fishing. Colors will depend on the clarity of the water mostly but sometimes fish can be so picky that you have to match the flacks in the worm with the color. If you take all the colors offered in the plastic worm industry and the different color flakes offered on these colors their would be over five hundred different options. Pick your colors according to the water you will be fishing in. If you fishing clear water fish a green pumpkin color or something that look more natural to the color of a live worm. Take in mind that sunlight also plays a role in the color selection. If you are night fishing you will throw colors that are dark or have some black or motor oil color to them. This is very important because even the slightest light from the moon can allow black to show up were red or green wouldn't. The general rule is clear water natural colors and in murky water dark colors.
Size is also very important in worm fish simply because the size of the worm will cause certain fish to strike. A four inch worm is great for small bass but bluegill will attempt to eat it as well so it is a good choice when you just want to catch fish or you are targeting small mouth bass. A seven inch worm is great for stepping up the size of the catch. Although I still have caught small bass and bluegill on a seven inch worm it can also catch some six and seven pound bass. If you are tried of the bluegill and you are looking for some big bass the ten inch worm is the way to go. This size goes for the big ones but at time this can make the difference between a good day and an unforgettable one.
Finally the style is very important and today they make over twenty different kinds. The curl tail worm has been around for over forty years. It is usually fished Texas rig style, this is just a slide sinker on your line and then tie a wide gap hook on. Most people fish the curly tail Texas rig worm weedless meaning that the hook tip is hiding in the body of the worm. This allow you to catch more fish and not get hung up as much. The curly tail worm is great for fishing in all season and are the main lure for night fishing. The curl in the tail allows the worm to have some action as it falls and while you drag it back on the bottom. Another common plastic worm is the finesse worm. It great for clear water and high pressured fish. They look very natural to the actual worm and depending on the size and color the can also imitate a bait fish. The finesse worm can be fished a variety of ways. The most common is a hook with the lead sinker attached in front of the hook. Unlike Texas rig the sinker doesn't slide on line and the shape of the weighted hook makes the tail of the worm stick up off the bottom of the lake. This seems to get the attention of bass and if you present it properly they wont resist it. The plastic stick worm is also very common. It is very similar to the finesse worm but thicker. This lure is best used as a dead weight. This mean you simply hook it in the center and don't put a sinker on it. You let gravity make it flutter to the bottom. This is good during spawning season when fish are close to the bank.
Apply the plastic worm arsenal to your tackle box and if your just starting out keep it simple. Get some green pumpkin, motor oil, black and blue colors in the curly tail style worm. Let the size depend on how big or much fish you want to catch. For the finesse and stick worm start with jun bug, green pumpkin and red shad then go from their. Worm fishing is a great way to catch fish but also understand the bottom of the lake. The weight allows you to feel how steep the bank is and you can usually figure out where the fish are sitting at. Try the plastic worm and fish slow and be patient but when you feel the thunk of the bass hitting the lure SET THE HOOK!
Color is a very important aspect of worm fishing. Colors will depend on the clarity of the water mostly but sometimes fish can be so picky that you have to match the flacks in the worm with the color. If you take all the colors offered in the plastic worm industry and the different color flakes offered on these colors their would be over five hundred different options. Pick your colors according to the water you will be fishing in. If you fishing clear water fish a green pumpkin color or something that look more natural to the color of a live worm. Take in mind that sunlight also plays a role in the color selection. If you are night fishing you will throw colors that are dark or have some black or motor oil color to them. This is very important because even the slightest light from the moon can allow black to show up were red or green wouldn't. The general rule is clear water natural colors and in murky water dark colors.
Size is also very important in worm fish simply because the size of the worm will cause certain fish to strike. A four inch worm is great for small bass but bluegill will attempt to eat it as well so it is a good choice when you just want to catch fish or you are targeting small mouth bass. A seven inch worm is great for stepping up the size of the catch. Although I still have caught small bass and bluegill on a seven inch worm it can also catch some six and seven pound bass. If you are tried of the bluegill and you are looking for some big bass the ten inch worm is the way to go. This size goes for the big ones but at time this can make the difference between a good day and an unforgettable one.
Finally the style is very important and today they make over twenty different kinds. The curl tail worm has been around for over forty years. It is usually fished Texas rig style, this is just a slide sinker on your line and then tie a wide gap hook on. Most people fish the curly tail Texas rig worm weedless meaning that the hook tip is hiding in the body of the worm. This allow you to catch more fish and not get hung up as much. The curly tail worm is great for fishing in all season and are the main lure for night fishing. The curl in the tail allows the worm to have some action as it falls and while you drag it back on the bottom. Another common plastic worm is the finesse worm. It great for clear water and high pressured fish. They look very natural to the actual worm and depending on the size and color the can also imitate a bait fish. The finesse worm can be fished a variety of ways. The most common is a hook with the lead sinker attached in front of the hook. Unlike Texas rig the sinker doesn't slide on line and the shape of the weighted hook makes the tail of the worm stick up off the bottom of the lake. This seems to get the attention of bass and if you present it properly they wont resist it. The plastic stick worm is also very common. It is very similar to the finesse worm but thicker. This lure is best used as a dead weight. This mean you simply hook it in the center and don't put a sinker on it. You let gravity make it flutter to the bottom. This is good during spawning season when fish are close to the bank.
Apply the plastic worm arsenal to your tackle box and if your just starting out keep it simple. Get some green pumpkin, motor oil, black and blue colors in the curly tail style worm. Let the size depend on how big or much fish you want to catch. For the finesse and stick worm start with jun bug, green pumpkin and red shad then go from their. Worm fishing is a great way to catch fish but also understand the bottom of the lake. The weight allows you to feel how steep the bank is and you can usually figure out where the fish are sitting at. Try the plastic worm and fish slow and be patient but when you feel the thunk of the bass hitting the lure SET THE HOOK!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Zoom Thumper tail Fluke
Zoom lure company has relizied the swimbait craze is here to stay. In 2010 they have just released the new Zoom Super Fluke Thumper tail. This bait is quite like the originall Zoom Fluke but with a twist. Instead of just having a split tail at the end of this five inch bait it has a thumper tail that allows it to swim rather than dart. This swimbait is unlike any other on the market. Most swimbaits are hollow belly meaning that their is not any plastic in the middle like most soft plastic baits. This bait takes the advantages of a swimbait and a fluke and produces one heart thumping, aggrisive bait. The fluke is sight fishing lure that is great for spring fishing but you must be able to see it in order to know when the fish strikes. The fluke is best fished when it is twiched to make it dart back and forth as you real it in. The swimbaits is fished a lot easier. You simply cast them out and real them in. The bait produces a swimming action that looks very realistic. Both are fished with a single wide gap hook that be pulled into a hook set. The Zoom Thumper tail fluke takes the best of both worlds and make something unique.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Fishing Lake Cumberland Shamino Tournament
On April 17 2010 i fished the shimino tournament. This tournament was free for anyone who had purchased a shamino rod or real from a local dealer. The day started off great, we left the house at 5:00AM and were headed to get the boat. Unfortunately the key to my parents lake house was left in Lexington so we had to turn around and get it. So finally getting the boat and heading to the tournament it was looking good. The fishing started out good with a small keeper Kentucky spotted bass but i decided to head up a creek where i new the water would be warmer. I caught a walleye and some small bass but none that would keep. Only two hours left in the tournament and we decided to head toward the main lake and fish the points near the mouth of the creeks. That was the ticket i caught a nice three pound fish but time ran out. The big thing was the fish weren't as far back in the creeks as i was told. The fish were right in the mouth of the creeks feeding up for spawning.
I learned a lot during the trip and now realize that the best thing to do when fishing a new area is run and gun. This means start at the mouth of a creek fish a hour. Then go up the creek fish a hour. Then go to the main part of the lake and fish for a hour. Record what you catch and use your best judgment to decide where to fish. I feel like if we return to Lake Cumberland I will have a better idea of where to fish are and what to catch them on.
I learned a lot during the trip and now realize that the best thing to do when fishing a new area is run and gun. This means start at the mouth of a creek fish a hour. Then go up the creek fish a hour. Then go to the main part of the lake and fish for a hour. Record what you catch and use your best judgment to decide where to fish. I feel like if we return to Lake Cumberland I will have a better idea of where to fish are and what to catch them on.
Hydropower
Only 7% of the electricity in the United States is hydroelectric power according to the United States Government Service www.usgs.gov/. The problem with this is in 1995 about 10% of the United States electricity was hydroelectric power so were decreasing in this renewable source. Today, most of our electricity comes from burning coal, a process that emits air pollution. Coal is not a renewable source so when we mine all of it out, it’s gone. This means it will be another million years for coal deposits to develop again. Water is a renewable source; the sun plays a big role in the water cycle. We need to face the fact that burning coal is not the way go get our electricity. The pollution that is emitted from these coal plants will change the earth forever. If you drive more than twenty miles you will more than likely go over a creek, river or reservoir. We have the source for hydroelectric power and now we need to harness it. I realize coal is a major export for eastern Kentucky and if coal was not used for electricity the demand would plummet putting a lot of people out of business. We need to start utilizing our water to produce the electricity. Other countries have begun to dam up rivers to make hydroelectric power for major cities but they are not necessarily doing the right thing. Countries like Russia and China have created massive hydroelectric power plants by damming up major rivers but they do not realize the ecological effect they are causing. Small hydroelectric power plants like the Ann Mary power plant on the Kentucky River is the way to get our electricity. It has a low impact on the watershed and allows fish to migrate during the rainy season. Although it doesn’t produce like the Harrington lake power plant, we have enough streams and rivers to duplicate the Mother Ann Lee power plant. Hydroelectric power plants are the way to get a clean, renewable source of energy but we must not change our watersheds anymore than we already have.
Monday, April 12, 2010
How to rig a Swimbait
In the last ten years the swimbait has became a big deal in the fishing industry. These swimbaits range from three inches to ten but the right hook or jig head will help you catch some fish. Swimbaits are used for all preditoral fish and with that in mind these different species range in different water depths and react to different retrieves.
Take fishing in Elkhorn creek for small and large mouth bass. A three inch swimbait is perfect for this creek because its the smallest swimbait and a larger swimbait will be to big for the bass to attempt to eat it. So with a three inch swimbait their still is different colors and hook sizes to decide on. Depending on where your fishing you will either want to throw a swimbait on a jig head or Texas rig it with the weight being on the hook. The jig head is great for rapidly changing depth and it leaves the hook exposed allowing easier hook ups and better swimming action. You will still need to decide on the weight of the jig either 1/8 ounce or 3/16 depending on deep you want it to run. With the Texas rig style you will also need to decide on the weight but it may take a 1/4 ounce if you want it to get down ten feet or more. Although you don't get the good swimming action like a jig head you do have the ability add a treble hook trailer allowing for the greatest hook up rate.
I personally like a jig head on the three inch swimbait because of the action it creates but most people still rig it Texas style. The great thing about swimbaits is there action and realistic of a true forage of a predatoral fish.
Now when you get to the four and five inch swimbaits its better to hook them Texas style, because they are longer the hook going threw the bait doesn't effect their swimming action like the three inch. These sizes are great for lakes that have shad or shiners due to the fact that they are around this size. When I fish Harrington lake I use a five inch swimbait with a 3/16 or a 1/4 ounce weight on the hook.
The only problem with swimbaits is their durability. They are made of a silcone and when you catch some fish on them they begin to rip and tear where the hook is places but I have found a solution for that. If you will take some super glue with you on your trip you can extend the life of our bait. If your using a jig head put the swimbait on like you normally would and then super glue the jig head to the head of the swimbait. The swimbait will actually mold to the jig head allowing you to use it longer.
Give the swimbaits a try and you will see that they are the most realistic bait fish imitator ever invented. Stick to the common colors just like you would with crankbaits. If your fishing where bluegill or shad are use a five inch green shad. If your fishing in creek where the forage is minnows and suckers use a blue back with a white belly. The slightest size and color and change a great day and a hard day on the water.
Take fishing in Elkhorn creek for small and large mouth bass. A three inch swimbait is perfect for this creek because its the smallest swimbait and a larger swimbait will be to big for the bass to attempt to eat it. So with a three inch swimbait their still is different colors and hook sizes to decide on. Depending on where your fishing you will either want to throw a swimbait on a jig head or Texas rig it with the weight being on the hook. The jig head is great for rapidly changing depth and it leaves the hook exposed allowing easier hook ups and better swimming action. You will still need to decide on the weight of the jig either 1/8 ounce or 3/16 depending on deep you want it to run. With the Texas rig style you will also need to decide on the weight but it may take a 1/4 ounce if you want it to get down ten feet or more. Although you don't get the good swimming action like a jig head you do have the ability add a treble hook trailer allowing for the greatest hook up rate.
I personally like a jig head on the three inch swimbait because of the action it creates but most people still rig it Texas style. The great thing about swimbaits is there action and realistic of a true forage of a predatoral fish.
Now when you get to the four and five inch swimbaits its better to hook them Texas style, because they are longer the hook going threw the bait doesn't effect their swimming action like the three inch. These sizes are great for lakes that have shad or shiners due to the fact that they are around this size. When I fish Harrington lake I use a five inch swimbait with a 3/16 or a 1/4 ounce weight on the hook.
The only problem with swimbaits is their durability. They are made of a silcone and when you catch some fish on them they begin to rip and tear where the hook is places but I have found a solution for that. If you will take some super glue with you on your trip you can extend the life of our bait. If your using a jig head put the swimbait on like you normally would and then super glue the jig head to the head of the swimbait. The swimbait will actually mold to the jig head allowing you to use it longer.
Give the swimbaits a try and you will see that they are the most realistic bait fish imitator ever invented. Stick to the common colors just like you would with crankbaits. If your fishing where bluegill or shad are use a five inch green shad. If your fishing in creek where the forage is minnows and suckers use a blue back with a white belly. The slightest size and color and change a great day and a hard day on the water.
The Swimbait
As a kid I always threw a banjo minnow. Now this bait was basically a soft plastic lure with a thump er style tail. Back then they were about 4 inches and were a solid cream color bait that you put a jig head on. This bait imitated a small fish swimming and was great for creeks and small rivers. I caught both Large and Small mouth bass as well as bluegill and redeye. It was a great bait to throw when I waded the creeks or rivers around my family's house. The fish their didn't see much pressure from other fishermen due to private property. I can remember the bass would eventually get used to seeing this bait and would stop striking it so I eventually lost it and never replaced it.
Ten years later I began fishing crankbaits. This lure is the same concept as the banjo minnow except it floats because its made of wood and has a bill that allows it to dive to certain depths depending on the size of the bill. These baits work and you have a better chance of hooking a fish due to the two treble hooks located underneath body and at the rear end. When you real it in it vibraites and creates a swimming action but doesnt look like a baitfish like a swimbait. In the last 10 years swimbaits have been created to catch really big bass. They started on the West coast and were about ten inches long. These big shad or bluegill immitators would catch bass 3 pounds and up. The realistic look of these swimbaits makes it had for a large bass to pass up.
The last few years swimbaits have made their way to the west coast and now are used for all preditoral fish. Pike, Musky and other toothy fish have started a crease for their ability to fool a fish into striking. Bass Fisherman have now took it to the professional side showing its ability to catch big fish and alot of them. The lure industry has jumped all over the swimbait crease and now there are over a thousand different types,brands and colors of swimbaits. They now range from three inches for smallers waters or fish like the small mouth bass. To the big ten inch swimbaits for pike, musky and big large mouth bass. I still throw crankbaits and they will always be in my tackel box but by adding the swimbait to my collection I now have options of what bait fish i want to immatate. Kentucky fisherman are still slow to use these swimbaits but that means the ones who do have a greater chance of sucess.
Ten years later I began fishing crankbaits. This lure is the same concept as the banjo minnow except it floats because its made of wood and has a bill that allows it to dive to certain depths depending on the size of the bill. These baits work and you have a better chance of hooking a fish due to the two treble hooks located underneath body and at the rear end. When you real it in it vibraites and creates a swimming action but doesnt look like a baitfish like a swimbait. In the last 10 years swimbaits have been created to catch really big bass. They started on the West coast and were about ten inches long. These big shad or bluegill immitators would catch bass 3 pounds and up. The realistic look of these swimbaits makes it had for a large bass to pass up.
The last few years swimbaits have made their way to the west coast and now are used for all preditoral fish. Pike, Musky and other toothy fish have started a crease for their ability to fool a fish into striking. Bass Fisherman have now took it to the professional side showing its ability to catch big fish and alot of them. The lure industry has jumped all over the swimbait crease and now there are over a thousand different types,brands and colors of swimbaits. They now range from three inches for smallers waters or fish like the small mouth bass. To the big ten inch swimbaits for pike, musky and big large mouth bass. I still throw crankbaits and they will always be in my tackel box but by adding the swimbait to my collection I now have options of what bait fish i want to immatate. Kentucky fisherman are still slow to use these swimbaits but that means the ones who do have a greater chance of sucess.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Putting Your new Fishing Licence to use
Kentucky has many outdoor opportunities ranging from hiking at the gorge, to fishing at Kentucky Lake. Today Kentucky Lake is one of the most productive bass fishery in the United States. It has been a primary lake for the Bassmaster tournament for many years. Also the show "Ultimate Match Fishing" is shot on Kentucky Lake every year. But if you are like me Kentucky Lake is too far for a one day trip and cost allot to just get their. Kentucky has many lakes and streams running threw it, so their is no reason for you to drive to the other side of Kentucky just to fish. I'm going to recommend places to fish with in fifty miles of Lexington.
My first place to recommend is Elkhorn Creek. Elkhorn Creek is the watershed of Lexington. It flows into the Kentucky River just north of Frankfort and is unlike any creek in Kentucky. It is a swift moving creek with a flat rock bottom that can get range from one to fifteen feet. Their has been many articles written about Elkhorn Creek and all rate it in the top ten small mouth fisheries in the east. It also has good size large mouth bass in it as well. From Frankfort the creek breaks down into two arms North Elkhorn and South Elkhorn. North runs from Georgetown and has several dams on it for Georgetown to get their water from. Great Crossing is a good place to fish. Their are picnic area and a boat ramp and a trail that follows the creek. South Elkhorn runs south toward Nicholasville. This is where Lexington's waste treatment plant is but don't let that discharge you from fishing it. Their are not a lot of places for people to fish but if you ask permission you can fish some place that have never seen a artificially bait. This is my personal favorite part of the creek to fish. I start at I-64 and float down six miles to the Midway Road Bridge.
Next I would recommend Harrington Lake. Although you need a boat to fish it, you will not regret it. It lays in the Dix River basin and is the deepest lake in Kentucky. Only thirty minutes from Lexington Harrington Lake is close to home. The big thing about Harrington is the selection of fish to pursue. Large mouth bass are fished more than any other but Harrington has Hybrid Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Crappie. Their is a size limit on the Large mouth of 12in. and this encourages local fishing tournaments on Harrington. Hybrid Bass are stocked by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and can be found in the lower region of Harrington. This fish can get up to 30 pounds and are stocked in the hundreds of thousands. Flatheads where originally in Harrington and have a great population. Bluegill and Crappie are great to fish for in the summer but gets tougher as winter comes due to the depth of the water.
My first place to recommend is Elkhorn Creek. Elkhorn Creek is the watershed of Lexington. It flows into the Kentucky River just north of Frankfort and is unlike any creek in Kentucky. It is a swift moving creek with a flat rock bottom that can get range from one to fifteen feet. Their has been many articles written about Elkhorn Creek and all rate it in the top ten small mouth fisheries in the east. It also has good size large mouth bass in it as well. From Frankfort the creek breaks down into two arms North Elkhorn and South Elkhorn. North runs from Georgetown and has several dams on it for Georgetown to get their water from. Great Crossing is a good place to fish. Their are picnic area and a boat ramp and a trail that follows the creek. South Elkhorn runs south toward Nicholasville. This is where Lexington's waste treatment plant is but don't let that discharge you from fishing it. Their are not a lot of places for people to fish but if you ask permission you can fish some place that have never seen a artificially bait. This is my personal favorite part of the creek to fish. I start at I-64 and float down six miles to the Midway Road Bridge.
Next I would recommend Harrington Lake. Although you need a boat to fish it, you will not regret it. It lays in the Dix River basin and is the deepest lake in Kentucky. Only thirty minutes from Lexington Harrington Lake is close to home. The big thing about Harrington is the selection of fish to pursue. Large mouth bass are fished more than any other but Harrington has Hybrid Striped Bass, Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Crappie. Their is a size limit on the Large mouth of 12in. and this encourages local fishing tournaments on Harrington. Hybrid Bass are stocked by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and can be found in the lower region of Harrington. This fish can get up to 30 pounds and are stocked in the hundreds of thousands. Flatheads where originally in Harrington and have a great population. Bluegill and Crappie are great to fish for in the summer but gets tougher as winter comes due to the depth of the water.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Fish getting ready for spawning
Its now mid February and I'm itching to go fishing in some warmer weather. Not only will this warmer weather make it more pleasurable for me, but fish in Kentucky begin to feed heavily to get ready to spawn. Now I would gladly fish in cold weather rather than not fishing at all but the upcoming warmer weather will change the water temperature. Bass, Walleye, and Bluegill prefer water temperature 45 to 75 degrees. Now that don't mean that these fish will not eat when the water temperature is colder that 45 degrees, but they do not eat as much and cannot exert the energy to chase down their prey.
When the water temperature starts to increase these fish detect it and begin to feed for preparation of spawning. Large mouth Bass usually spawn around the 68-72 degree range, they will feed heavy on shad or crayfish. Once feeding and these bass get their energy back they begin to find a spot to spawn. The males make the spawning bed, fertilize the eggs after the females lay anywhere from 2,000 to 20,000 eggs. The Large mouth Bass use their Caudal Fin (Tail Fin) to clear the eggs of debrie. The bigger female Large mouth Bass spawn first and when you catch them during spawning season you will see that their tail is destroyed from keeping debrie from getting on their eggs. Now once the females lay their eggs and tend to them for a short time, the males will come in to protect the eggs from debrie or predators. About six days later the eggs will hatch and the males will protect them until they are ready to leave the nest. The Bluegill spawn the same way in but really shallow water. They spawn in the 74 degree range and the male and female bluegill play the same roll but with more predators to watch out for. Carp and Catfish can suck up a whole nest of Bluegill in a matter of seconds. Bluegill spawn close to one another making a colony of spawn beds. It takes about a week for the eggs to hatch and out of the Bluegill eggs that hatch only one out of five will make it threw the first year. Luckily the bluegill lay about 40,000 eggs each year.
The Walleye spawn quite similar to the Large mouth Bass and Bluegill. The difference is they begin to migrate from deep winter pools up stream to shallow water to lay their eggs. The males and females do their part just like the previous fish. Once the water temperature begins to warm up Walleye begin to move up stream to where they were hatched. They spawn in 45 degree water but a cold front can cause the spawning of Walleye to be throw off postponing the spawning. Walleye like to feed at night and that seems to be the best time to catch them during this period.
Pre-spawn, Spawn, and Post-Spawn are great times to fish. Depending on the fish this spawning season runs from early March to the end of June. Fish do this every year and this process is what allows fish to be caught year after year. I usually try to release the fish I catch this time of year so they can complete their spawning. I want my kids to enjoy fishing in Kentucky as much as I do.
When the water temperature starts to increase these fish detect it and begin to feed for preparation of spawning. Large mouth Bass usually spawn around the 68-72 degree range, they will feed heavy on shad or crayfish. Once feeding and these bass get their energy back they begin to find a spot to spawn. The males make the spawning bed, fertilize the eggs after the females lay anywhere from 2,000 to 20,000 eggs. The Large mouth Bass use their Caudal Fin (Tail Fin) to clear the eggs of debrie. The bigger female Large mouth Bass spawn first and when you catch them during spawning season you will see that their tail is destroyed from keeping debrie from getting on their eggs. Now once the females lay their eggs and tend to them for a short time, the males will come in to protect the eggs from debrie or predators. About six days later the eggs will hatch and the males will protect them until they are ready to leave the nest. The Bluegill spawn the same way in but really shallow water. They spawn in the 74 degree range and the male and female bluegill play the same roll but with more predators to watch out for. Carp and Catfish can suck up a whole nest of Bluegill in a matter of seconds. Bluegill spawn close to one another making a colony of spawn beds. It takes about a week for the eggs to hatch and out of the Bluegill eggs that hatch only one out of five will make it threw the first year. Luckily the bluegill lay about 40,000 eggs each year.
The Walleye spawn quite similar to the Large mouth Bass and Bluegill. The difference is they begin to migrate from deep winter pools up stream to shallow water to lay their eggs. The males and females do their part just like the previous fish. Once the water temperature begins to warm up Walleye begin to move up stream to where they were hatched. They spawn in 45 degree water but a cold front can cause the spawning of Walleye to be throw off postponing the spawning. Walleye like to feed at night and that seems to be the best time to catch them during this period.
Pre-spawn, Spawn, and Post-Spawn are great times to fish. Depending on the fish this spawning season runs from early March to the end of June. Fish do this every year and this process is what allows fish to be caught year after year. I usually try to release the fish I catch this time of year so they can complete their spawning. I want my kids to enjoy fishing in Kentucky as much as I do.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Going fishing at Big South Fork Cumberland
Last Sunday My sister, girlfriend and I set out for an adventure at Big South Fork of Lake Cumberland. Now I had spent about four hours planning this trip due to never being their before. We headed out about 11:00AM from Lexington and it took about 2 hours to get their. We had originally planned to put the boat in at Burnside State Park Boat Ramp only to find out that timber and debree made it impossible. Luckily, I had brought a map of the boat ramps on Big South Fork so we decided to head up river to the next boat ramp. It didn't take long to realize we where in the middle of nowhere which was our original plan. Lost and getting upset we turned around because we thought we've have had to pass this small road off HWY27 that the next boat ramp was on. Once we found this road it was if we had entered the movie Deliverance. This road went from straight and two lines to one line up and down very steep hills.
Finally after stopping someone and asking them for directions to get to the boat ramp we had arrived. Now putting to boat in is always interesting to say the least. I have to back the boat in while my sister holds a rope tied to the boat. Once all the fun of moving the truck and climbing back down the hill we were ready to take off. I had did some spring tuning to the boat to get ready for the upcoming season, so my primary goal was to run the boat and make sure it was operating correctly. In pass fishing adventures my sister and I have found ourselves stranded in the boat many miles from the boat ramp. So to play it safe we decided to only head up steam a mile or so but no more than two.
Now it was time to fish! I have plans to catch some walleye, small mouth bass, and what ever was biting. But unfortunately I didn't catch a single fish. Now I was disappointed about not catching any fish but I had a great time. We discovered a place we had never seen before. We enjoyed the sound of ice sekel breaking away from the rock and free falling a hundred or so feet and hitting the bank. Now when this ice hit the bank it would sound like a shotgun going off. About every five minuets we would hear them breaking on the bank. We also found that this will be a great place to fish when the water warms up.
Although we didn't catch any fish we had a great time. We plan on going again to the same place but my next adventure will be about twenty miles up steam were the water is not as deep and a boat is not as good as a canoe. We plan to get into the Big South Fork Recreational Area were motorized boats are not allowed and the only way to get their is by wading, walking or canoe.
Finally after stopping someone and asking them for directions to get to the boat ramp we had arrived. Now putting to boat in is always interesting to say the least. I have to back the boat in while my sister holds a rope tied to the boat. Once all the fun of moving the truck and climbing back down the hill we were ready to take off. I had did some spring tuning to the boat to get ready for the upcoming season, so my primary goal was to run the boat and make sure it was operating correctly. In pass fishing adventures my sister and I have found ourselves stranded in the boat many miles from the boat ramp. So to play it safe we decided to only head up steam a mile or so but no more than two.
Now it was time to fish! I have plans to catch some walleye, small mouth bass, and what ever was biting. But unfortunately I didn't catch a single fish. Now I was disappointed about not catching any fish but I had a great time. We discovered a place we had never seen before. We enjoyed the sound of ice sekel breaking away from the rock and free falling a hundred or so feet and hitting the bank. Now when this ice hit the bank it would sound like a shotgun going off. About every five minuets we would hear them breaking on the bank. We also found that this will be a great place to fish when the water warms up.
Although we didn't catch any fish we had a great time. We plan on going again to the same place but my next adventure will be about twenty miles up steam were the water is not as deep and a boat is not as good as a canoe. We plan to get into the Big South Fork Recreational Area were motorized boats are not allowed and the only way to get their is by wading, walking or canoe.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Smallmouth Fishing in Winter on Elkhorn Creek
For me its about two weeks in winter before I have cabin fever. Any day I'm not working and the temperature get into the 40's or higher I'm going fishing. November threw February can be some of the slowest months to me. I still try to go fishing at least 2 times a month just to help motivate me threw the cold, bone chilling winter. Now I realize fishing will not always be successful in the winter as the spring or fall but it helps me enjoy life and not mope threw this depressing season. Creeks and small rivers have been the most productive in the winter for me. Smallmouth bass are usually what i target in the winter due to them being less lethargic than other fish species.
Smallmouth Bass or (Bronzebacks) are a great fish to target in the winter. They prefer water temperature in the 50 to 65 degree range but they still eat thoughout the winter. With me living in Lexington, Kentucky I have numerous places to get my arm tugged by a smallmouth. The most popular and productive is Elkhorn creek. This creek is about 90 miles lone and has two major arm that branch out from the main that is 12 miles long. Back in the yearly 2000 it was rated the top 10 smallmouth streams in southeast. This creek is considered a senic creek and is protected by the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Jeff Crosby, central region fisheries biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) says. "This creek has good habitat and water quality, decent water flow through all seasons, and active management from the KDFWR." These things combine to make the Elkhorn a thriving fishery.
I love to fish Elkhorn creek in the winter. Although its colder and the fish are more lathargic It makes it nice when you have your own spot to yourself. During the hot summer days you can get on Elkhorn before the sun comes up and you still will not be the only one their. This creek has all kinds of fish species in it. Smallmouth are the most common but their is also alot of Largemouth, crappie, bluegill, pearch, and during the spring walleye and saguer. This creek is great to wade and float with a small boat. Their are several dams on this creek but almost all of them are designed to let you float down the spillway. These spillways on these dams also allow fish to more up or down the creek where as most other dams in kentucky do not have spillways that fish can travel up or down.
When I fish Elkhorn creek in the winter I usually throw all kinds of baits. Some of the most productive and consistant are hair jigs, tubes, and crawdead imatatiors. Hair jigs and tubes inatate dieing minnow or small bait fish. The key to fishing these baits in the winter is SLOW PRESENTION!
Smallmouth Bass or (Bronzebacks) are a great fish to target in the winter. They prefer water temperature in the 50 to 65 degree range but they still eat thoughout the winter. With me living in Lexington, Kentucky I have numerous places to get my arm tugged by a smallmouth. The most popular and productive is Elkhorn creek. This creek is about 90 miles lone and has two major arm that branch out from the main that is 12 miles long. Back in the yearly 2000 it was rated the top 10 smallmouth streams in southeast. This creek is considered a senic creek and is protected by the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Jeff Crosby, central region fisheries biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) says. "This creek has good habitat and water quality, decent water flow through all seasons, and active management from the KDFWR." These things combine to make the Elkhorn a thriving fishery.
I love to fish Elkhorn creek in the winter. Although its colder and the fish are more lathargic It makes it nice when you have your own spot to yourself. During the hot summer days you can get on Elkhorn before the sun comes up and you still will not be the only one their. This creek has all kinds of fish species in it. Smallmouth are the most common but their is also alot of Largemouth, crappie, bluegill, pearch, and during the spring walleye and saguer. This creek is great to wade and float with a small boat. Their are several dams on this creek but almost all of them are designed to let you float down the spillway. These spillways on these dams also allow fish to more up or down the creek where as most other dams in kentucky do not have spillways that fish can travel up or down.
When I fish Elkhorn creek in the winter I usually throw all kinds of baits. Some of the most productive and consistant are hair jigs, tubes, and crawdead imatatiors. Hair jigs and tubes inatate dieing minnow or small bait fish. The key to fishing these baits in the winter is SLOW PRESENTION!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Cold Water Fishing in Tailwaters
Tailwaters are the discharge from dams that hold back water for flood control, hydro electric power, or just for recreation. In Kentucky, many tailwaters are stocked with trout, mostly rainbow trout but some with brown trout too. When the dam discharges water, it is pulled from the bottom of the water column. This means the water is about 50 degrees (behind lakes that are larger than 2,500 acres or deeper 200ft) and their is also high oxygen level in these waters. This means that some tailwaters will not be affected by the outside are temperature as much as you will be. The good thing about tailwaters in Kentucky is the winter doesn't effect the water temperature as much. Harrington Lake tailwaters (Dix River) and Lake Cumberland's tailwaters can offer good opportunities to catch some trophy size trout (20-23 inches).
Trout can be caught on a variety of baits including cheese and corn. The lure that I use the most is a crank bait (small fish interrupter's). They usually float and have a bill at the head of the bait. This bill is clear and helps the bait dive toward the bottom of the lake as you reel it in. I like these baits because you can catch trout even in high pressure tailwaters(tailwaters that get a lot of fishing). These lures also work so well in tailwaters is because they catches all kinds of aggressive fish ranging from the bass family to the trout family and even walleye and musky.
Their is some risks of fishing in tailwaters. For one their not the best place to bank fish unless you stay by the dam. The rocks are usually covered in algae and slick as shit. Also, most of the dam's around here have a automatic discharge when their is no precipitation. This means that until you know the tailwaters discharge schedule you don't want to wade and not get close to the dam. When the dam opens say after a rainfall of 1 inch. The discharge level will increase fast, the closer you are to the dam the faster and greater of the effect. This can make it extremely dangerous and you could drown in just a few minutes. Know if your in a boat its a little different. Boat don't get close enough to the dam to see high levels extremely fast. When i went up Laurel lake tailwaters in a boat i notices that the water went up 3 to 4 ft from when i started to when i finished. Now I was in slack water(water with no current because its deeper) so I'm sure current could make it harder to keep your boat out of the rocks. But rocks are the reason that tailwater fishing in a boat is dangerous. Their has been several death's in Kentucky due to people driving to fast and not watching for big rocks. So don't be scared of tailwater fishing but just aware and call the dam people for information about the discharge. I reside to tailwater fishing in the winter because they offer the most aggressive fish. Get online and read about Kentucky's tailwater opportunities.
Trout can be caught on a variety of baits including cheese and corn. The lure that I use the most is a crank bait (small fish interrupter's). They usually float and have a bill at the head of the bait. This bill is clear and helps the bait dive toward the bottom of the lake as you reel it in. I like these baits because you can catch trout even in high pressure tailwaters(tailwaters that get a lot of fishing). These lures also work so well in tailwaters is because they catches all kinds of aggressive fish ranging from the bass family to the trout family and even walleye and musky.
Their is some risks of fishing in tailwaters. For one their not the best place to bank fish unless you stay by the dam. The rocks are usually covered in algae and slick as shit. Also, most of the dam's around here have a automatic discharge when their is no precipitation. This means that until you know the tailwaters discharge schedule you don't want to wade and not get close to the dam. When the dam opens say after a rainfall of 1 inch. The discharge level will increase fast, the closer you are to the dam the faster and greater of the effect. This can make it extremely dangerous and you could drown in just a few minutes. Know if your in a boat its a little different. Boat don't get close enough to the dam to see high levels extremely fast. When i went up Laurel lake tailwaters in a boat i notices that the water went up 3 to 4 ft from when i started to when i finished. Now I was in slack water(water with no current because its deeper) so I'm sure current could make it harder to keep your boat out of the rocks. But rocks are the reason that tailwater fishing in a boat is dangerous. Their has been several death's in Kentucky due to people driving to fast and not watching for big rocks. So don't be scared of tailwater fishing but just aware and call the dam people for information about the discharge. I reside to tailwater fishing in the winter because they offer the most aggressive fish. Get online and read about Kentucky's tailwater opportunities.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Cold Water Bass Fishing
In Kentucky, the winter can make it tough for fishing for bass. Both large mouth and small mouth bass move deep in the winter. Also their metabolism has slowed down to where they choose their prey by a good meal that takes the least amount of energy to catch and eat. When they do find and eat their prey say a shad or a crawdad, it takes almost three times longer for them to digest the prey then in the summer, so they eat less and stay close to prey. Fish points that drop off in deep cover. Bass are found as deep as 60 ft deep and follow the bait fish.
From my fishing experences, I prefure to fish swift moving water in the winter like creeks and rivers. When farm ponds are frozen, water with current tends to keep from freezing due the the water moving. Current also plays a big role in when fish feed and where they position their self in the current rather than on the bank. I fish crank baits(hard baits that dive 2'-10ft and look like a minnow), jigs that inmate crawdads, and tubes that inmate dying bait fish. I fish all these baits slow and the hits are half as aggressive as the other seasons. Regardless of the hit these fish still fight and the small mouth seem to fight just as hard in the winter as in the other three seasons. I fish Elkhorn Creek, Kentucky River, and Cumberland River(above Lake Cumberland). I found fish schooled together very tightly. At Elkhorn, I caught five fish within a six foot area. Three large mouth and two small mouth and all in the 12"-16" range. This was in the middle of December and the high temp. for the day was 38 degrees. Try some of these bait and techniques when you get cabin fever and hopefully you will have some luck just like I did.
From my fishing experences, I prefure to fish swift moving water in the winter like creeks and rivers. When farm ponds are frozen, water with current tends to keep from freezing due the the water moving. Current also plays a big role in when fish feed and where they position their self in the current rather than on the bank. I fish crank baits(hard baits that dive 2'-10ft and look like a minnow), jigs that inmate crawdads, and tubes that inmate dying bait fish. I fish all these baits slow and the hits are half as aggressive as the other seasons. Regardless of the hit these fish still fight and the small mouth seem to fight just as hard in the winter as in the other three seasons. I fish Elkhorn Creek, Kentucky River, and Cumberland River(above Lake Cumberland). I found fish schooled together very tightly. At Elkhorn, I caught five fish within a six foot area. Three large mouth and two small mouth and all in the 12"-16" range. This was in the middle of December and the high temp. for the day was 38 degrees. Try some of these bait and techniques when you get cabin fever and hopefully you will have some luck just like I did.
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