The lake level is very high 609.74 which is ten-feet over summer pool. We are very close to switching to the high water ramps. Hopefully this does not happen as it makes getting your boat out mid-day due to pleasure boat traffic a real pain on weekends can take an hour since we switch from four lanes down to one.

Water temps range from 72-78 and the lake is really pretty clear everywhere. Due to the Corp just filling it up and very little release at the dam. This allows the incoming water to settle up in the river not on the lake.

“CRAPPIE”
I am still catching a ton of crappie just a lot deeper. Normally this time of the year we are drifting slip bobbers over manmade cribs we call Shelbyville cubes. Problem is the top of them are 20-25ft. deep. Since there is no thermocline and really won’t be this year due to fluctuating water and current the crappie are still using them. Plus the two types of structures that know nothing about flooding are riprap and standing timber.

So here is how we are still getting three limits a day of crappie. I put my two clients beside me and we hover over cubes and nose up to standing timber with a 1/4oz. trolling sinker it has a swivel on each end then I put on a foot of Fluorocarbon leader and either a 1/32oz. Hair jig or just a plain number four Tru-Turn hook and then a lively minnow. Above the sinker we use 15lb. Braid so we can get our snags back.

On the cubes you want your bait just inches above the cube so the fish hiding within will come out. On the standing timber you want to fish about 10-14ft. down in twice that depth or more. The coves are full of timber. Livescope lights up the tree like a street light if fish are on it. Very spooky so only get four or five then move on. Clients have loved this watching my 17″ screen and being able to see our baits and the fish swim around before they take your minnow. I use a twelve-foot rod and a baitcast reel just push the button and watch your bait go down no casting. Which is difficult for some due to how long they are but we do this to keep in front of the trolling motor so we can see our baits.

“WHITE BASS & WALLEYE”
Doing the same thing for both species and that is trolling crankbaits. The north end has so much bait that we are trolling very high in the water column with shallow diving cranks like 100 & 200 Bandits. You will catch about everything doing this. My boat is rigged with six rod holders so three each side to cover water. Young anglers love this don’t have to fish such long rods and the fish hook themselves. Just reel them in.

As most of you know I book way in advance so not always easy to get in. All I require is a phone number and name, never have done deposits since my people show up.
As of today my open dates for Shelbyville are.
August 11,12,13,17-21,24-29,31
September 1,2,3,4,7-12
October 2-11,13-24,29,31
November 1-5,7-30

I also guide on Kentucky Lake for trophy crappie. My open dates for down there are.
September 20,21,22,30

We are like family down there, all stay at The Lake Lodge. I just come next door and get you and we go to breakfast then to the lake. I get my normal charge of 400.00 for one or two and Eric gets 100.00 per night plus tax. Rooms have two beds. Very clean almost brand new and secluded back in the woods your boat and vehicle are covered and there is a place to cook out and watch a big screen TV under the carport. Everyone that has done this immediately says sign me back up. The crappie are huge, we see fish from 1lb.14oz. to 2lb.6oz. everyday like nothing then sometimes get a real bruiser. My biggest has been 3lb.4oz. Clients from up north tell me about those big black crappie in Wisconsin and Minnesota then see these fish, are blown away.

Sorry down there I will only take out two anglers. Due to the way we fish.

Give me a call at 217-840-1221 or text. “Let’s catch some fish”

Steve Welch
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