About Steve Welch

Steve Welch has been fishing on Lake Shelbyville since its inception and guiding since 1994. He’s an accomplished writer and has written for Adventure Sports Outdoor, Heartland Magazine, the Decatur Herald & Review and Ilfishing.com. He’s been quoted and written about in the Bloomington Pantagraph, Peoria Journal Star, Effingham Daily News, Illinois Fish & Game Finder Magazine, North American Crappie, and Field & Stream’s ‘Best Fishing Spots in the Midwest’.

Fishing Report End of 2024

I am done after this week for 2024. I will be back on the water mid March so look out for a report then. I am booking trips for 2025. Just look at the Book a trip section on my website and reach out either by phone or email. 217-840-1221. I just updated my calendar for 2025. I currently have about 60 trips booked so if you are wanting a prime time period I wouldn't wait long. My spring Kentucky Lake trips are down to just one left March 25th. I do however plan on going back in November and [...]

By |2024-11-26T05:42:08-06:00November 20, 2024|Fishing Report|

Availability for 2025

Lot's of clients have reached out asking "when are you going to start booking for next year?"... Well here goes... Ice out Crappie on Shelbyville March 10-22 weather depending Kentucky Lake - Big Sandy March 25 Lake Shelbyville Pre-Spawn-Spawn Crappie April 19-24 May 1,2,5,8-12,14 Walleye/Crappie/White Bass - Pulling Spinners May 15,16,24-29,31 June 1-5,7,9-12 ** Be aware for trips later in June, if the walleye quit and I can't give you a decent trip then I will switch to fishing for post-spawn crappie. Crappie/White Bass on slip bobbers June 12-30 Crappie/White Bass Combo Trips - Slip Bobbers for crappie. Jigging Spoons [...]

By |2024-11-26T05:55:56-06:00October 29, 2024|Fishing Trips|

Fishing Report November 1-15

I am guiding down on Kentucky Lake at the Big Sandy in Tennessee. I will be back November 19th and currently have November 20,21,24 and December 4-15 open. All these dates are weather dependent. These trips on Shelbyville are the best trips this lake can offer. It's jig time and we tear them up. I will be in attendance at these following shows. Collinsville Let's Go Fishing Show January 3,4,5 Tinley Park January 10,11,12 Schaumburg January 23,24,25,26 Rock Island QCCA February 13,14,15,16 Sullivan VFW Crappiefest March 8

By |2024-10-29T15:13:14-05:00October 29, 2024|Fishing Report|

Fishing Report October 15-31

The lake is still about a foot low and I am seeing water temps around 66. The cold mornings this week will get it where I want it High 50's. Then my jigs will work better. The north end has a nasty scum on it and you can see air pockets rising to the surface all over. This tells me it is turn over time. This week should complete that process. I am just crappie fishing now since the white bass are just spread out everywhere and very unpredictable. Good news we are heading into the best crappie fishing this [...]

By |2024-10-14T12:49:48-05:00October 14, 2024|Fishing Report|

Fishing Report October 1-15

Water levels are about one foot below summer pool. Water temps are about 70. South end is gin clear, north pretty stained due to recent rains. Crappie..... I have put away the white bass rods to concentrate solely on crappie for the remainder of the year. We are getting into my favorite time to crappie fish. Three long rods and a jig. All of us up on the nose comfortably vertically fishing over cover. Weather it is a Shelbyville Cube a stump or a brush pile. There are tons of fish on all of them. Depending on how many I [...]

By |2024-09-30T13:29:43-05:00September 30, 2024|Fishing Report|

Fishing Report September 15-30

The lake level is about one foot low. Normal summer pool is 599.7 and currently we are at 598.86. Water temps are running 72. With very little rain the lake is gin clear top to bottom. Every where you go you can see bait on the surface up in the shallows just everywhere, More than any past year I have seen. So fat and healthy fish that can be moody. Force feeding them is the key. Crappie.... On sunny days I am fishing heavy shaded cover. Cubes are the best target since they provide a lot of shade. The shallower [...]

By |2024-09-15T16:12:42-05:00September 15, 2024|Fishing Report|

Fishing Report September 1-15

The lake level is about 6-8 inches below summer pool and the surface temps are running 85 on the north end and 77 on the south end. North end very stained with a cloud on the surface that stirs up with your trolling motor. The south end is gin clear and fish are deep and spooky. Here is how I am catching them. Crappie.... I am fishing laydowns, cubes and stumps mid lake to south end. These fish want shade mid day. Early in the morning they are near it roaming looking for balls of baitfish. Since a thermocline never [...]

By |2024-08-30T12:51:21-05:00August 29, 2024|Fishing Report|

Fishing Report August 15-30

Finally the lake is at summer pool 599.7. The water temps took a dive this week from 87 down to 76. The lake is very clear one end to the other and the bait remains shallow all over the lake especially the north end. I can't remember a year I have seen it more abundant. Algae bloom coincided with lake rising all perfect timing. We are going to have some fat healthy fish in this lake for some time. CRAPPIE.... Since the bait is shallow so are the crappie. I am still pounding on stumps all over the lake in [...]

By |2024-08-14T05:40:54-05:00August 14, 2024|Fishing Report|

Fishing Report August 1-15

The lake level is 601.31 or about a foot and a half over normal summer pool. Water temps are running 78 or so. The north end has some stain but the south end is gin clear. The Corp is pulling the lake down about two-inches a day so this is having an effect on everything. Places that held fish a couple days ago just have small fish left. As for me I know it will get better in a week or so once the water quits dropping. Until then move a lot you will get crappie over ten-inches. Crappie..... Right [...]

By |2024-07-30T12:59:29-05:00July 30, 2024|Fishing Report|

Kentucky Lake November

I know it is early but I want to remind clients I am guiding on Kentucky Lake "Big Sandy" area November 1-17th. Near Paris Tennessee. I have these trips still available. November 5,6,7. I only take two besides myself on these trips. We all set up on the nose of my boat and tight line 12ft. rods over stake beds and brush. We do it this way mainly because of the wind. My boat can handle it comfortably. It is so wide open down there that you will be in some sort of breeze. Too much for a slip bobber. [...]

By |2024-08-06T14:34:34-05:00July 22, 2024|Fishing|
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