Goggle Eyes

Good day all in all, beautiful weather. We caught two 5.4 lbers and may be a 20 lb stringer between the three of us. Sporadic, slower bit though. They were in the back bays, creeks, grass flats and bushes. We used Ratl Traps, chatterbaits, and spinners. The bite should be better every day know. Next week could be big.

Any updates on KY Lake? Anyone been out.

It looks like lake levels are stabilizing, then will fall next week. Beautiful day expected on Friday, 79 deg. we are going for it regardless. If we miss out, we will return in a couple weeks.

Sweet, thanks for the input (again). Now if Kentucky Lake will just stabilize to some degree, I'm ready!

Yeah, I store my gear in the basement where its nice and cool. Seems like a waste to buy all new line. Typically I've found with Yo Zuri, you really only need to replace when you get low. I am not sure if it becomes brittle with time or not.

I had all my baitcasters respooled with Yo Zuri Hybrid last year for a trip to KY Lake. Unfortunately with my kids' sports schedule I really wasnt able to fish much at all after that trip! I was looking at my reels, they are all still full of line and we are planning another trip to Kentucky Lake whenever the lake level permitts. Would you purchase new line????? My guide suggested it but I dont have many miles on this line at all. Thoughts?

Looks like lake levels are still coming up, maybe 7 or 8 feet by mid week!

Sweet, thanks for your help. I'm pumped

I'm heading down to the Kentucky Lake next week to hopefully land some big ones. Currently the lake is rising, water is muddy and water temps should be around 51-53 degrees. Any advice? Sounds like they've started catching some nice LM, I'm hoping to also see some big SMs. I havent been down there this early yet, not sure what to expect. Any thoughts are appreciated.

I agree fully. I tried BPS, Invisx and after I used Yo Zuri on a trip, I quickly spooled ALL my rigs (spinning and casting) with it. Its supple, I dont notice the memory and its never let me down during a fight. I've pulled a hog out of limbs and moss with it to my buddies amazement. They swore I would lose a fish that day without braid. I cannot stand braid under any circumstances lol....just my 2 cents.

Wow, surprised to hear you had issues with Yo Zuri Hybrid, lol, that is all I use.

Coast Guard shut the lake down till Monday, bummer. Not sure what it will do this week-end, but its projected to hit 10' above summer pool on Friday. Maybe it starts to go done, we'll see.

I am looking for opinions on rod lenght. I understand for crankbaits, the longer the rod the better or distance. Perhaps also true for spinbait. What about soft plastics, jigs, etc.? Is a 7' rod always better?

Lake is expected to be 9' above Summer pool by tomorrow. They are still catching fish but its full of debris and real muddy.

I think we've decided to wait a week. The troubling thing is there is a massive amount of water on the ground in that area so I'm hoping it peaks today or tomorrow then stabilizes. Keep an eye on the levels here: http://www.explorekentuckylake.com/weather.htm If you get a fishing report this week, I'd like to hear it. Thanks!

Heading down there this week and I'm wondering what effects all the rain they've had will do for the fishing. Its currently up 5', that may fall a bit by Tuesday. Guide says we should still be in good shape.

It may rain later this week, we are leaving Sunday night. Looks like folks have caught some large mouths, we'll see. Thanks for the facebook info, much appreciated!

We are planning on going up on April 18th, I expect pre spawn fishing. Has anyone been there lately, any tips on what may work?

Do you prefer the weedless skirt on the football jigs? Would you use shaky head jigs for pond fishing with grubs or craws? What benefit do shaky heads offer? What size jig would you use in say 20-30' of water at Lake Barkley?

Looking for some opinions on which jig brand to use with Yamamoto 5" Hula Grubs and Netbait Baby Paca Craws. These are two of my go-to baits and I'm fresh out of jig heads. Typically I would buy football type, but I have never been totally satisfied with the brands I have used. I fish ponds, perhaps 5'-15' deep and I will make a trip to Kentucky Lake in a few weeks so I will need a heavier weight to get me deeper quicker. Any thoughts?? Thanks in advance.

What are the chances of catching some nice fish down there in late Sept. or early Oct? I have the option of hitting either KY of LOZ, I am leaning KY obviously. I went in July last year and it was real hot, we didnt do well. We trolled the canal, caught a couple but seemed like we should have done much better.

I put 6 lb. yo zuri hybrid on my spinning out fit (Pflueger President reel w/ 7' St. Croix Premier ML) and its amazing. It casts like a dream, I havent noticed much stretch, its tough but still super silky smooth, casts better than any line I have tried. I liked it so much I bought 12 lb. and put it on a Citica bs with a 7' Mojo Bass MH rod I use for texas rig. I tried it last night and at this point I will probably us yo zuri on all of my outfits. I was able to cast a finesse worm (no weight) a mile with texas rig outfit whereas before I would struggle to do the same with the Seaguar I had been using. No doubt in my mind, I have used mono,Pline, Seaguar, various braids (which I vow to never use again unless I rig up some sort of slop rig for frogs or perhaps monster bass in Fla. or Ca.) but this is far superior IMO. Thanks for the heads up, I wouldnt have tried had I not read this forum.

I use pearl, firetiger and shad and have caught fish on all of them. I havent used craw yet, but it wont be long...

To give an example we went to Lake Sherwood near New Melle yesterday and it looked great. We had super high pressure and the water is crystal clear (for a lake) so we caught only dinkers but the scenery and lake itself were awesome. Within an hour of STL, a lot that has access to a lake, not necessarily on the water.

I reread my reply, I meant are you guys fishing the banks with these (from a boat)? Its slowly taking the place of my trusty Hula Poppers...