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By Ken Smith

Lake levels have started to fall back toward normal. As of last week, Kentucky Lake at New Johnsonville was at 359 ft and was predicted to remain stable. Flow rates have dropped off as well, with averages around 54,000 cfs. The Cumberland River, on the 25th, was at 59.4 ft at Dover and 29 ft at Clarksville. Cheatham Dam was holding at 385.2 ft, with an average discharge of 28,000 cfs. Most areas are now seeing surface water temperatures in the mid-60s, which are expected to continue rising. The Duck River was at 3.7 ft, and the Buffalo River was at 4.7 ft.

We’ve seen a few days where the wind has dropped off somewhat, but it continues to be an issue for fishermen. The crappie bite has been strong, with many fish now in the shallows spawning, although some remain deeper around drops and creek channels. Those who have been finding fish in shallow spawning areas have reported them as scattered, but occasionally grouping up on some beds in good numbers.

Bass have moved in as well, with many bass fishermen finding good numbers in the shallows—using Texas-rigged worms, creature baits, and other techniques to coax spawners off the beds. Catfishermen have been having a bonanza, finding good numbers of “eaters” in the shallows. Both channel cats and blue cats have been moving in, looking for easy meals, as many sunfish species are beginning to spawn in those areas. Most catfishermen have been using nightcrawlers fished on floats around areas where crappie and bluegill are spawning. Rip-rap cover seems to be a good location to look for feeding catfish activity.

The spring turkey season saw just under 6,000 birds added to the statewide total this week. Here are some of the totals for surrounding counties (through April 23rd):

• Benton – 169
• Dickson – 414
• Hickman – 434
• Houston – 143
• Humphreys – 328
• Montgomery – 377
• Stewart – 271
• Perry – 162

The current statewide total stands at 18,700. I want to remind hunters that only male turkeys can be harvested this year—hens, including bearded hens, are not allowed. Spring squirrel season will begin on May 10th and continue through June 8th.

Here are a few notes about bass spawning that I hope will help fishermen targeting bass this time of year:
Bass spawn in a few stages. The males move into the shallows when water temperatures rise into the 60s for several days, typically four or five days before the females. However, females may already be cruising in the same general areas. When spawning begins, males and females pair up (some say this aligns with the full or new moon), though it really depends on water conditions like temperature, stability, and clarity.

Bass will spawn in areas with several key features: a hard bottom substrate clear of debris, shallow depth with good light penetration (less than 3 ft), and some type of nearby cover. These areas are typically protected from the current. The female’s only responsibility is to lay eggs—it’s the male fish (as with all sunfish species) that build and guard the nests and protect the eggs and young. If water temperatures stay in the mid to upper 60s, the eggs will hatch in 2–5 days; if temperatures drop into the low 60s, hatching may take over 10 days. Both males and females feed very little during the spawn, making them harder to catch. The spawning period can last up to a month. Also, females do not lay all their eggs in one nest—they will deposit eggs in several different nests with different males.

Upcoming Outdoor Events:

• May 3 – Perry Co. Bush Annual Bass Invitational at Mousetail Landing
• May 3 – ABA out of Birdsong Marina
• May 3–4 – USA Bassin Classic out of Moores Landing
• May 3 – Humphreys Co. Humane Society Fundraiser, 10 AM–2 PM at Tractor Supply Co. in Waverly
• May 4 – Johnsonville State Park Watercolor Class, 2:30–6 PM at the Visitor Center (pre-registration required, limited slots available)
• May 4 – TN Mad Catters at Clarksville Marina
• May 10 – TVA River Clean-up Day at EVA Beach, starting at 10 AM
• May 10 – Cumberland River Catman’s Association at Ashland City
• May 10 – 2nd Annual Stewart Co. Knapp-In at Lick Creek Park Recreational Area
• May 17 – Team C&O at Liberty Park
• May 17 – Kentucky Lake Bass Anglers out of Johnsonville
• May 31 – Hickman Co. Bass Club out of New Johnsonville
• May 31 – Kentucky Lake Anglers Trail out of Camden
• June 7 – Free Fishing Day – Many kids’ fishing events will take place; details to be announced closer to the date.