Old Man Winter has been a stubborn cuss this year and he has been reluctant to let the warmer spring weather settle into the region. Last week, unseasonable cool weather had anglers at Barkley and Kentucky lakes wearing insulated jump suits and coveralls to keep warm in the northwest winds.
 
Fishing was difficult as the water temperatures dropped six degrees below normal, but relief is on the way with normal spring weather conditions expected over the next week. Afternoon temperatures are expected to hit the 90 degree mark by midweek, and water temperatures should rise to their normal levels of 76-78 degrees.
 
“The good news is a warming trend is now in progress, and the mercury is projected to climb,” reports Kentucky Lake fishing guide Steve McCadams. “A rapid rebound is underway.”
 
The bluegill and shellcracker (redear sunfish) bite was coming on strong, but the cold weather turned them off. “The popular panfish have had a mood swing,” McCadams noted. “Redear really backed off their bite, and spawning phases that were in high gear pretty much hit the brakes.”
 
The bluegill bite also slowed, but they didn’t shut down like the shellcrackers. The bluegill have been finicky to bite, but some good stringers have been taken by anglers who backed off the banks and fished in deeper water.
 
“Both of these species are sensitive to quick surface temperature changes, and it is not unusual to see dramatic changes in their mood when cold fronts pay unexpected visits and linger for a few days,” McCadams said.
 
Many local anglers are hoping the warmer weather will bring the bluegill and shellcrackers back to their shallow-water spawning areas and that they can get a good bite before the spawning season is over.
 
The catfish spawn is still on, and the cats have not been as adversely affected by the cooler weather. “Catfish have been hitting well lately as their spawning phases continue,” McCadams reported. “Good numbers are being taken despite the cold front’s impact.”
 
Shallow pockets off the main lake are attracting large numbers of catfish that are searching for rocky or gravel-type bottoms to deposit their eggs. They will readily bite on nightcrawlers, live minnows or cut bait. Some of these cats can exceed 50 pounds, so be prepared for battle if you hook one.
 
The bass action has been slow with the cooler weather, but the Clarksville couple of Frank and Connie Fisher didn’t have any problems finding some good fish in the recent Austin Peay State University Governors Bass Tournament on Kentucky Lake out of Paris Landing State Resort Park Marina. The couple weighed in a five-bass limit that tipped the scales to 25.28 pounds to win the $5,000 first place prize.
 
It took a total weight of 17.73 pounds to make the top 10 in the tournament, and all but four of the top 50 teams brought five-bass limits to the scales. There weren’t a lot of really big bass brought to the scales, and a 7.40-pound largemouth caught by the Clarksville team of Reed Baldwin and Justin Hopper took big bass honors.
 
McCadams said that the crappie spawn is over and the fish are now scattered in the midrange depths of 13-15 feet. Jigs and minnows fished vertically around stakebeds are producing a few keeper crappie, as is slow trolling crankbaits for suspended fish in the main lake area.
 
The weekend looks promising for fishing, and anglers may finally get some decent weather for the late spring bite.
 
Owen Schroeder can be reached at 931-358-9214 or by email at owenschroederjr@bellsouth.net.