Lake levels have been on a ‘yo-yo’ cycle over the last few weeks, with lake levels reaching winter pool levels mid-week, in the mid 354ft range, but rebounding on Friday, back to the mid to low 355ft mark. Water temps have been hanging in the mid 40’s on Kentucky lake most of this past week, with the Duck River providing a few degrees warmer water near the mouth of the Duck. Flow rates have dropped off from a week ago, with an average flow, according to TVA, of around 70,000cfs moving through our area.
It’s almost spring, and the frogs will start singing soon, which if you are like me, beckons me to head towards the water in search of our finned friends. This time of year, the most often sought after quarry are sauger and white bass, but crappie, bass and catfish can also be found. Sauger are most often fished for this time of year, near the mouths of major rivers and creeks, as the sauger begin to stage in these areas before they spawn. Spawning occurs when water temps warm into the low to mid 40’s and are getting there now. When the sauger do begin to spawn, they become very difficult to catch, as the fish are more interested in procreation than feeding. Sauger spawn in the evening over gravel bottoms in shallow water where there is constant water flow, as the eggs need constant flow, for upwards of 30 day to keep oxygenated before hatching. White bass also begin their spawning migration this time of year, and head upstream in search of spawning habitat. In our area, the Duck River has traditionally has been the area they spawn. White bass (stripe) will spawn when water temps warm to between 54 and 68 degrees, which usually occurs on the Duck River around early march, but the migration will occur weeks before the spawn. Look for shallow shoals upstream from the mouth of Blue Creek on the Duck; use jigs and spoons as well as crankbait presentations to target white bass.
Turkey season is just over a month out, with the juvenile turkey hunt starting the weekend before the regular spring turkey season. The juvenile hunt will be on March 26-27th, and the regular turkey season beginning on April 2nd. and continue until May 15th. More information about the turkey hunts can be found in the hunting guide on page 38 of this past years hunting guide, also hunters can visit TWRA’s website TnWildlife.org