Page B2 Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012 email: [email protected] THE TIMES LEADER — Princeton, Ky. OUTDOORSEVEN MORE NEWS, SPORTS AND INFORMATION AVAILABLE ONLINE AT WWW.TIMESLEADER.NET AND ON THE TIMES LEADER FACEBOOK PAGE MARCH FISHING MADNESS Good muskellunge fishing spots revealed By LEE McCLELLAN Lake holds an excellent popula- Another productive spot to Kentucky Afield Outdoors tion of 30- to 40-inch muskies. try for muskellunge is the Green February and March are two of River tailwater just below Green The winds still blow from the the most productive months to River Lake, near Campbellsville north and many days produce fish for them. off KY 55. The Tailwater cold temperatures and leaden There’s no boat ramp below Recreation Area gives anglers skies, but now is the time to the dam, but there’s room to ample bank fishing opportunity catch big muskellunge in the launch a fishing kayak, float and a boat ramp accommodates tailwaters below Cave Run, boat or small johnboat with a small boats, canoes and fishing Buckhorn and Green River take-out a few miles down- kayaks. lakes. stream at the KY 28 bridge. Anglers using a motorboat The smaller tailwaters give The Middle Fork of Kentucky on the Green River Lake tailwa- bank anglers and owners of River just below Buckhorn Dam ter should be extremely careful small boats a chance at a trophy also provides limited bank fish- as this section of the Green muskellunge. ing opportunity to chase River contains riffles and shal- “We had a report of a muskie muskies. low shoals. A canoe or fishing caught from Cave Run Lake tail- In the early spring, if the kayak would make a much bet- water that was 52 inches long water is clear and levels aren’t ter choice. For more informa- and weighed close to our cur- too high, some anglers launch tion on floating the Green River rent state record of 47 pounds,” bass boats in Beattyville and Lake tailwater log on to said Fred Howe, northeastern motor up the Middle Fork of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s fishery district biologist for the Kentucky River to fish in the webpage at fw.ky.gov, click on Kentucky Department of Fish lower tailwaters the “Fishing and Boating” tab, and Wildlife Resources. Be careful while navigating then the “Blue Water Trails” tab. Sarah Terry caught the cur- this section of the Middle Fork Shad-colored jerkbaits draw rent state record, a 54-inch-long of the Kentucky River because it FURNISHED PHOTO strikes from Green River mus- 47-pounder from Cave Run is full of deadfalls that can dam- kellunge in the deep holes that Lake in Nov. 2008. The Cave Sarah Terry, age 14 at the time, looks in awe as her stepfather, Scott age the lower unit of a boat have woody structure in them. Run Lake tailwater holds an Salchli, hoists her 54-inch long, 47-pound Kentucky state record motor. Muskies congregate Live small bluegills or shad excellent population of large muskellunge on Nov. 2, 2008, from Cave Run Lake. The Cave Run around flooded wood cover and worked in the same areas also muskellunge. Lake tailwater along with the Green River Lake and Buckhorn Lake are caught by casting jerkbaits work well. The area immediate- “My brother Wes crappie tailwaters make some of the top late winter and early spring mus- to this structure. ly below Green River Lake is fishes below Cave Run Lake kellunge fishing destinations in Kentucky. Muskie guide Chris Haley relatively small and would be an regularly,” said Mike Hardin, fishes white, chartreuse or sil- excellent spot to live bait fish for assistant director of fisheries for Cave Run Lake and the Licking Cave Run Lake dam, go to the ver-colored lures in the spring, muskellunge from the bank. the Kentucky Department of River since childhood. “But, live Louisville District of the U.S. which mimic the colors of shad. “Whether you use live or arti- Fish and Wildlife Resources. bait produces best.” Army Corps of Engineers web- Later in the year, he switches to ficial baits, if you plan to release “He’s had a couple of days this Hardin said anglers should page at www.lrl.usace.army.mil, larger yellow and orange-col- your muskellunge, handle them year where he’s observed peo- concentrate on the mouths of click on the Lake and River ored lures when muskies fatten as little as possible and release ple catching several muskel- tributaries in the Licking River Reports tab and then on “Cave up on carp and suckers. them back into the water as lunge around 45 inches long just below Cave Run Lake when Run.” The extreme drawdown of quickly as you can,” said Gerry and saw one caught right at 50 the water flowing through the A public boat ramp accom- the lake to winter pool (25 feet) Buynak, assistant director of inches. Those are nice muskies.” dam is a little high. modates boaters just below and the rapid, unpredictable fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Anglers must catch a muskel- “The best water level for Cave Run Dam with ample bank rise to summer pool in the Wildlife. lunge of at least 40 inches in them is between 900 and 2,000 access. A canoe, johnboat or spring, have a big effect on fish- Remember the current length to qualify for Kentucky cubic feet per second going fishing kayak would be ideal for ing. The lake is often muddy license year expires Feb. 29. If Fish and Wildlife’s Trophy Fish/ through Cave Run Lake dam,” fishing this section of the and unfishable in the early you plan to fish after March 1, Master Angler program. Hardin explained. “This level Licking River. spring. This makes the tailwater you’ll need to buy a new fishing Live small bluegill and suck- pushes them into those tributar- Another great muskellunge a much more attractive alterna- license, available in the sporting ers draw the most interest from ies seeking that warm water at spot to try right now is the tail- tive for muskie fishing at this goods section of department muskellunge in the Cave Run this time of year. They are no waters of Buckhorn Lake, a time of year. stores and tackle shops. You tailwaters. “They hit the Suick doubt going through their pre- 1,230-acre lake 28 miles west of Heavy discharges from the may buy one by visiting the jerkbaits and a large soft plastic spawn behavior and they con- Hazard formed by damming the lake in the fall keep the tailwa- Kentucky Fish and Wildlife lure called a Bulldog up there,” gregate in those tributaries.” Middle Fork of Kentucky River. ters stocked with muskellunge homepage at fw.ky.gov or by said Hardin, who has fished To find out the flow through The tailwater of the Buckhorn as well. calling 1-877-598-2401. Cooler weather is good time to clean gear, straighten tackle By FRANK FLACK The largemouth bite is primary and secondary very productive. span consecutive days, try main lake ledges in 15-25 Kentucky New Era slow on both lakes and is points that should have Both Kentucky and and go on the second or feet of water. A few in a late winter pattern. adjacent bluff like banks Barkley Lake can produce third day of that trend. anglers are catching a few Recreational fishing The crappie bite is being or transition banks that well during the winter Largemouth are just like nice crappie in the creeks naturally slows down reported as improved. The have wood and chunk season; however we do you and I and will be a lit- and bays over brush in the some on our lakes during catfish are holding off- rock cover. This time of have a few other nearby tle more active after they 10-15 foot range of water the winter months and shore and the bite is year start your search on a lakes that are known for have had a chance to using minnows under because of that so does reported as good. secondary point that has their better cold water warm some. bobbers on warmer days. this fishing report. As I The water conditions 12 to 20 feet of water fishing. One of my favor- Local anglers report Local anglers are have said before the fish are muddy to stained on structure present and ite lakes to fish from the smallmouth bite as reporting the white bass don’t stop eating during both lakes with water work your way back out of November through Jan- improved. Smallmouth bite as good. These fish this time of year, we just temperatures in the mid to the creek or bay to the pri- uary is Dale Hallow and a are being taken on main have schooling on main stop fishing for them. upper 40s. You can moni- mary main lake point. close second is Lake lake points and the first lake points located at the You might want to use tor water levels and gen- Some of the better Barren. Both of these secondary points in the mouths of the creeks and this time to go through eration schedules for both creeks on Kentucky Lake lakes are deep and clear creek and bays. These fish bays to feed on the your gear and reorganize lakes at www.lakeinfo.tva. this time of year are with plenty of steep rocky are being taken on topwa- numerous schools of tackle and have rods and gov. Duncan, Sugar and Roads bluff banks for the fish to ter lures early in the shad.