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Warmer days are in progress for the Kentucky Lake fishing scene as near record daytime highs are on the threshold this weekend across the region. Highs could reach the 84 to 86 degree range Saturday/Sunday and that will no doubt heat up fishing fever, which has already been running pretty high on the big lake.

Also rising have been lake levels. Elevation as this report was formulated has the lake creeping up to the 357 level, which is up several inches over the last week or so and a bit above normal for third week of March.

Water color is clear. A slight stain was present in the upper Big Sandy and West Sandy but it was mostly due to recent high winds whipping up shallow shorelines.

Surface temperature is around the 56 degree range but will increase the next few days based on the weather forecast of very warm weather and sunny days. Anglers can expect the water warm into the 60-plus degree range quickly.

Remember it’s March and yet another cool snap will enter the picture by Monday. Highs are expected to only be around 62 degrees Monday but slowly rebound Tuesday and back to the 74 degree range by next Wednesday.

Crappie will respond favorably to the rising surface temps and move up pretty fast. Anglers can expect increased activity in the 4 to 8 foot depth ranges. Midrange depths of 8 to 12 will appeal to increased numbers too as fish transition to the staging areas just out from spawning territory.

It’s time for fish to camp out on the door step of their favorite spawning spots. That seems to happening now and the timetable is pretty much on schedule. Peak spawning temps occur in the 62 to 66 degree range once the water gets there (and stays there) with weather stability.

Already crappie have been on the move, stair-stepping their routes from deep water winter venues to midrange depths. It’s not unusual for anglers here to find fish in several different depths at the same time.

It often indicates fish are just on the move. Reacting to changing conditions out there is why fish may be scattered at different depths at different times.

Male crappie are just beginning to show darkening shades of color. Once spawning time arrives they undergo hormonal changes that produce that beautiful deep dark purple or darkening appearance.

That peak hasn’t arrived yet but the biological clock is ticking!

What works best for the fish and those who pursue them is stability in both lake levels and weather patterns. It’s not unusual for interruptions in both to occur in early April.

Seems there’s always an uninvited cold front still hiding somewhere just waiting to rock the boat of anglers and interrupt the bite. Those gale winds and whitecaps escorting falling temperatures sure disrupt the party.

Meanwhile, Kentucky Lake’s normal curve by TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) for reservoir filling has the lake scheduled to begin its annual rise on or about April 1. A slow but gradual rise in lake levels is the norm with a goal of summer pool level (359) by May 1 each year.

If you do the math that’s a 5-foot different between winter (354-range) and summer pool levels here.

All that depends on rainfall. Sometimes flooding rains greatly influence TVA’s normal plan. Fluctuation can occur. Anglers don’t like it but drastic changes in lake levels can happen quickly, upsetting the plans of fishermen.

Drastic changes in lake levels has an impact. A fast rising lake tends to scatter fish.

Of concern to fishermen are bass and crappie moving up to spawning habitat on shallow shorelines and then, as they’re about to drop or broadcast their eggs, water levels fall out fast.

Both quick changes in lake levels plus dramatic cold fronts that lower surface temps overnight are not the friends of high spawning success.

Sometimes the bass and crappie are right on the verge of spawning only to have dramatic changes occur which sort of puts the brakes on ideal fishing.

Fish have been known to react to the negative changes and lack of stability by delaying or holding off spawning and reabsorbing their eggs.

Perhaps it’s Mother Nature saying now is not the ideal time. Maybe it’s changing the timetable a bit, signaling to fish to ride it out and wait until things improve.

Since the lake was formed fishermen have discussed (and cussed) the weather, changing lake levels and unstable behavior of fish when drastic changes occur that offsets the aggressive spring spawning bite.

Hard to predict all the potential variations. About the only control fishermen have is being there. You can’t catch ‘em if you don’t go!

Expect some dandy stringers of slabs to be taken this next week. Scores of anglers are applying a variety of techniques in a variety of depths.

From bass fishermen have come reports of hefty stringers being caught on a wide variety of lures and color combinations. From the old reliable crankbaits to jig and craw combos plus both Alabama and Carolina rig presentations.

Tossing those swim baits on spinning rods has yielded some nice bronzebanks too as smallmouth are on the verge of spawning.

A few tournament reports have winning 5-fish limits weighing well over 20-pounds lately on both Barkley and Kentucky Lakes.

Won’t be long until any stickup will be begging to have a spinnerbait cast its way. And, a topwater jerkbait presentation isn’t too far away from producing either.

Spring officially arrived last Saturday. The fish sort of thought it sneaked in the door back in early March!