Falling from the trees

Flipping bite, hefty catches expected during AFS event on Kentucky Lake

GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. – Less than a week ago, the prospect of driving a 20-foot bass boat across someone’s front yard and catching a 4-pounder by flipping to a picnic table wasn’t an entirely outlandish notion on the shores of Kentucky Lake. Record-setting rainfall and subsequent flooding in the Nashville area (in addition to heavy rains in the immediate area) brought both the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers to near record high levels – more than 10 feet above summer pool at times.

Many locals said they’d never seen the water that high, and even if they had, it’d been a long time since. In fact, just last week the U.S. Coast Guard had closed much of Kentucky Lake and all of Lake Barkley to recreational boat traffic, citing hazardous water conditions.

Things have certainly changed in a week, but the water level will still be the key player for the 150 pros and as many co-anglers fishing the FLW American Fishing Series event on Kentucky and Barkley lakes this week. While Kentucky Lake remains above summer pool (359 is normal summer pool and it’s currently at 365), it has fallen drastically and is projected to fall an additional 4 feet by the end of the tournament.

“When I came down last Friday, you could pull into any pocket and catch bass in the flooded trees as far back as you cared to fish,” said pro Aaron McManaway of Altamont, Ill. “But now, with the water falling so fast, the fish are moving by the minute. They aren’t way back in those pockets anymore. I still think most guys will be flipping shallow cover, probably 75 percent of the field, in fact, but a few fish are beginning to move offshore to the ledges as well. If a guy could find them there, he’d do well.

“Regardless, I think this will be a good tournament, and there are going to be a lot of fish caught – it’ll just be a matter of finding them because they’re moving so much.”

Logistics

Portions of both Kentucky and Barkley lakes remain off limits during this tournament due to the high-water conditions. Daily takeoffs and weigh-ins will be held at Buckhorn Park launch ramp, which is located off Moors Camp Highway in Gilbertsville, Ky. Anglers will take off at 6:30 each morning, and weigh-ins will begin at 2 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

Thursday’s conditions

Sunrise: 6:02 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 70 degrees

Water temperature: 66 degrees

Wind: SSW at 10-17 mph

Day’s outlook: sunny, warm and breezy