Where is the best bass fishing in Kentucky?


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A few of the best lakes for catching trophy bass in spring are Lake Barkley, Kentucky Lake, and Lake Malone in western Kentucky along with Cedar Creek, Kincaid, and Guist Creek lakes in central Kentucky.

Can you fly fish for largemouth bass?

Fly fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is a wonderful way to spend a quiet afternoon and most people have them close to home so it’s a way to get out and try your newfound skills right away. Bass take flies eagerly but timing is important to make sure you fly fish in the right places throughout the season.

Can you catch bass on trout flies?

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Where is the best fishing in Kentucky?

  • Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley: These two are arguably the most popular and the best fishing spots in all of Kentucky.
  • Cave Run Lake: One of the best places for big Muskellunge (muskie) fishing in Kentucky.
  • Lake Cumberland: Bass, walleye, and crappie are plentiful here, but it’s probably best known for the stripers.

Is Kentucky Lake good for bass fishing?

Some of the best freshwater fishing in the country can be experienced at Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley! With a combined 218,000 acres of water, these lakes are known for excellent fishing for largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, bluegill, redear, and yellow and white bass.

What size fly is best for bass fishing?

Surface flies for bass should be large (#2/0-#4) to attract aggressive bass, and to keep away smaller panfish that may try to peck at smaller flies.

What flies to throw bass?

  • BlockHead Popper. These popper flies push a ton of water and cause a commotion sure to gain the attention of nearby bass.
  • Swimming Baitfish Diver.
  • Lunchable Streamer.
  • Shimmering Minnow.
  • Woolly Bugger.
  • DB Crayfish.
  • Muddy Bunny Streamer.
  • Clouser Minnow.

What weight fly rod is best for bass?

When looking at fly rods for bass, experts suggest that rods of weight 4-5 are good for small bass. Rods weighing 6-7 units are the best for medium-sized bass. Weights of 8-9 are good for larger bass. To catch the stripped bass, you’ll need a fly rod weight of 9-12 units.

Is there good fly fishing in Kentucky?

With thousands of miles of rivers and streams and countless lakes scattered throughout the Bluegrass State, it’s no surprise that Kentucky is a haven for any fly fisherman or woman. The state is filled with excellent places to chase trout and other species, both near big cities and in more remote areas.

Do I need a trout permit in Ky?

Migratory bird hunters must have a Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl permit in addition to the hunting license. FISHING LICENSES allow the holder to take sport and rough fish statewide by rod and reel, pole or line, or other specified legal methods. Trout fishermen must also have a trout permit.

How do you catch bass on a fly?

  1. You can score big in low light.
  2. Don’t lift the rod when you set the hook on a big bass.
  3. Go slowly when picking apart big bodies of water.
  4. Give tracking bass time to look at your popper.
  5. Keep constant pressure on a subsurface bass fly.
  6. Try muskie-sized flies after dark.

What time of day are bass most active?

In Conclusion. Most times of the year, bass fishing is best around dawn and dusk. Focus on the hours of dawn until around 8 am and 5:30 pm until dusk in the late spring, summer, and fall. During the late fall, winter, and early spring focus fishing efforts around midday for bass.

How do you fly fish for bass in a river?

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What is the cleanest lake in Kentucky?

Laurel River Lake is considered one of the cleanest and deepest lakes in Kentucky, according to Kentucky Tourism’s website. Travel time: About two and a half hours from Louisville. What you can do: Swimming, fishing, skiing and scubadiving.

What fish are in season in Kentucky?

  • Largemouth Bass. Spring. 72 degrees avg. temp.
  • Smallmouth Bass. Spring. 72 degrees avg. temp.
  • Crappie (Black or White) Spring. 72 degrees avg.
  • Bluegill. Spring. 72 degrees avg.
  • White Bass. Spring. 72 degrees avg.
  • Rockfish “Striper“ Spring. 72 degrees avg.
  • Catfish. Spring. 72 degrees avg.

Where is the best crappie fishing in KY?

The big twins of western Kentucky, Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, along with Green River Lake and Taylorsville Lake all receive oodles of fishing pressure for the crappie that swim in their waters.

What is the most common fish in Kentucky?

The sunfish family includes some of the most popular and sought-after sport fishes in the state, such as Bluegill, Large- and Smallmouth basses, the crappies, and several other smaller species regarded as panfish.

Can you eat fish out of Kentucky Lake?

Statewide, the general population is advised to not eat more than one predatory fish from a Kentucky waterway per month, and no more than one bottom-feeder fish per week. The standards are stricter for children and pregnant women.

What color flies do bass like?

Favorite colors are chartreuse and white, pink and white, and gray and white. For bigger fish or deeper water, try the Clouser/ Deceiver Half and Half. 2. Crawfish patterns: My personal best largemouth bass on the flyโ€“as well as one of our clients’ world record Guadalupe bassโ€“was caught on a crawfish pattern.

How do you set up a bass fly rig?

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What weight fly rod for bass and bluegill?

Any lightweight rod will work, but most anglers prefer something in the 3 or 4 weight range. I’ve used a 6-weight fly rod that works just fine (and is much better at handling the occasional largemouth bass).

Do largemouth bass eat flies?

His slide show, documents the things found in the bellies of largemouth bass. It shows little tiny bugs and worms, and huge 12 inch shad and mice in a 10lb bass belly. I find it amazing how bass will eat huge flies, but just as readily, they will take tiny flies. The large surface flies are the most fun to fish.

How do you fly fish for bass in a pond?

For the middle levels of a pond, stick with the floating line and probe any cover with your poppers and deer hair bugs. If no strikes come, switch to streamers. Good choices include the Zonker, Sculpin, Marabou Muddler, Flashabou Muddler, Clouser Minnow and Whistler.

Do bass eat dry flies?

Largemouth bass will eat pretty much anything with a pulse. As long as your fly looks alive, a bass will find it appetizing. If you enjoy exciting takes, gear up with poppers. Surface flies that mimic a baitfish, frog, lizard, snake, mouse, or any prey that may be available will elicit strikes.

Can you use regular lures on a fly rod?

Yes. It is possible to use a spinning rod or bait casting rod to cast flies if you add lead weights or a casting bubble. However, the action and length of regular fishing rods is not designed to properly cast unweighted flies very far, even if used with fly fishing line.

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