Kentucky Lake:  Water Level at Ky Dam - 355.65  Surface Temperature - 40

Lake Barkley:  Water Level at Barkley Dam - 355.65  Surface Temperature - 40

Both lakes are about one and one half foot over winter pool.  Well, there has not been much to report on the past month as I am sure everyone is aware, we along with most of the midwest was in a deep freeze the past few weeks.  The water temperatures dropped very low for this area earlier this month and we had ice in the creeks and bays extending in many creeks to the main lake areas.  We have been experiencing a warming trend the past few days, which is normal for this time in January and the ice has been melting, although there is still some ice in the back halves of some of the creeks but this is breaking up with the warmer weather and now some rain associated with a warm front over the area.  The weather forecast for the weekend is for highs around 60 on Saturday and highs around the upper 50's on Sunday with southwest winds which signals another frontal passage due to come through the area sometime Sunday night or early Monday.  The forecast for next week is for highs in the 40's with night time lows in the upper 20's to low 30's.  There have been a few reports from a few folks that ventured out the past few days with the warmer weather.  Although the numbers of Largemouth taken were not impressive, the fish that were reported caught were quality fish.  These fish were reported as being taken off ledges with spoons, shaky heads and suspending jerkbaits.  The fishing was reported as slow. 

One of the benefits of the deep freeze we experienced earlier this month was some massive shad kills.  This bodes well for the future fishing as the warmer winters we had over the past few years allowed the shad populations to increase and we needed to get rid of some of the shad.  Reducing the big numbers of shad will provide for some better bass spawns as well as reduce the numbers of the bigger Gizzard Shad that have gotten too big to be forage for the predator fish. 

Last March we had a very good late winter/early spring bite here on the big lakes and I am expecting this year's late winter/early spring bite to be even better now.  Like most of you, I am chomping at the bit to get this new season started.  Now is the time to go over your equipment and get it ready for the up coming season and start planning your fishing trips.  A good way to get back in the swing of things would be to visit the West Kentucky Boat Show to be held in Murray this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Jet-A-Marina will be there to show you the latest in Ranger and Stratos bass boats as well as a number of tackle dealers including Charmer Baits and Slong's Lures to assist you in restocking your tackle.  There will be a number of fishing seminars, including bass fishing seminars by FLW professionals Dan Morehead and Terry Bolton. John Parks from Jet-A-Marina will be providing a seminar on sonar, side scanning and gps...don't miss this one if you want some professional instruction on the new side scanning equipment.  Jack Devor will be there to do some seminars on red ears as well as Jerry Maupin's seminars on Crappie fishing.  Paul Rister, KDFW biologist will be there also to present a seminar of the KDFW efforts to stimulate the Crappie populations on the lakes as well as other KDFW initiatives.  I will be there also to do a couple of seminars on bass fishing the ledges so if you come by the show, stop by and introduce yourself and say hello, I will be happy to answer whatever questions I can for you.  You can find the particulars of the show including seminar schedules at www.westkyboatshow.com .

I would like to thank everyone for the great response to my winter bass fishing class on Eliminating Water.  I have been booked up 7 days a week this winter and have a number of folks on stand by lists in case I have any opening become available.  I have decided that I will extend the dates available for this class to try to accommodate those on my standby list so if you have contacted me and not been able to get a class date, I should be contacting you shortly to offer you some dates at the end of February or early March.  If you are one of those folks and I have not contacted you by this weekend, you should contact me again and we will get you set up for the class if at all possible.  I do start guiding again in March so I am going to try to get you folks in the last few days of February or get you on the March schedule on some days I have yet to get booked.  If you are wanting a guided trip with me in March, April, May and have not yet made your reservation, you need to do so as soon as possible.  I do still have some open dates in this period but if you wait too long, I may not be able to accommodate you.  Of course I am taking reservations for the rest of the season also, so don't hesitate to make your reservations for the summer and fall fishing now also if you can plan that far ahead.

I would like to offer some advice for you folks that are planning to hire a guide to take you out fishing.  All fishing guides on these lakes are required by law to have a Captain's (OUPV) license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, a TWIC (Transportation Workers Identification Card) and a Kentucky Commercial Guide license (if fishing Ky waters).  There have been reports of a number of folks on the lakes this past year taking people out on guided trips that do not have these licenses.  Before you hire a guide here, you should inquire as to whether you guide has these licenses and if you are not sure, ask the guide to show them to you.  Guides that possess the required licenses have all passed FBI background as well as state criminal records checks, undergone drug testing and are subject to random drug testing, have passed federal required physicals, are qualified in First Aid and CPR as well as having passed rigorous written tests.  If you go out with someone on a guide trip that does not have these licenses, they have not undergone these requirements, they are breaking the law, and they definitely will not have liability insurance that will cover them and you in the event of a mishap on the water.  There are a lot of great professional guides here on these lakes available to you but beware of imitations. 

Captain Dave Stewart
Bass Buster Guide Service
270-354-5039
dave@kentucklakeguide.com
www.kentuckylakeguide.com
"Fish With a Professional"