Fishing Report For Herrington Lake, KY

Current Report: Fair To Good

FALL. Now that Fall is in full swing, bass here have moved shallow, following schools of baitfish into coves and shallow bays around 6 to 15 feet of water. Rocks and docks hold a lot of bass in Herrington Lake, and reports of quality catches are showing up from locals and tournament anglers alike. Some of the top tournament anglers are throwing vibrating jigs as a primary bait, along with buzzbaits early and late in the day. Jerkbaits, crankbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits are catching nice bass. Later in Fall, as deeper water cools, bait and bass move out to ledges, channel edges, points and humps where flutter spoons, jigs and drop shots are often good choices in 8 to 18 feet of water.

WINTER. Winter will isolate largemouth around slightly deeper structure, flats, points and creek channels. They can be found from 12 to 30 feet deep. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring. Slow presentations are key to getting bites. On warmer days, especially during late afternoons, bass may move into 8 to 15 feet of water to feed.

SPRING. Once water temperatures rise into the low 60's, largemouth will move from deep wintering holes, to shallower water nearby spawning areas. Anglers report good topwater action from mid Spring through Summer, especially early in the morning, and on cloudy days. Vibrating jigs, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits typically get bites just away from the shoreline. At this time they are feeding aggressively in about 6 to 15 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 6 feet of water, and create nests, then lay their eggs. Immediately afterwards, females move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move to slightly deeper water, around 6 to 16 feet deep. Deep-diving crankbaits, vibrating jigs, plastic worms, jigs, worms, and swimbaits catch bass during this period.

SUMMER. Water temperatures will warm considerably in Summer. Bass will feed shallow, early and late in the day, where they will be caught in 2 to 6 feet of water, on square-bill crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. Largemouth bass here feed on shad, herring, small sunfish and crawfish. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, channel edges, and ledges 10 to 25 feet deep. Some good reports seem to be from anglers fishing around points and ledges between Mid Lake Marina and the dam.

Current Report: Fair

According to local guides, and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, the hybrid striped bass population is thriving in Herrington Lake.

FALL. Hybrid stripers have returned to shallower water, the upper end of the lake, and into inflowing water if available. Early in the day wipers chase bait to the surface and feed aggressively, making this an excellent time for topwater action. Mid day they move into 10 to 30 feet of water. Look for structure nearby deeper sections in channels, and fish them thoroughly. Most any lure that resembles shad will catch wipers at this time of year.

WINTER. In Winter, hybrid stripers again hang out in deeper water and feed close to the bottom, often 40 to 50 feet deep. Warm afternoons occasionally draw stripers shallower, so look for them around the 20-foot range as they feed on roaming schools of threadfin shad and gizzard shad. In Winter it is important to locate schools of bait, then look for wipers schooling below the bait. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice fish are being caught while trolling or drift fishing. Spoons, swimbaits, blade baits, crankbaits, live bait and cut bait are typically effective this time of year. Due to slower metabolism, anglers are triggering more strikes by making slower presentations.

SPRING. When water temperatures rise into the mid 60's now, it's the ideal time for hybrid stripers to spawn. There are plenty of hybrids averaging 2 to 3 pounds, with an occasional 5-pound plus fish being caught. In Spring, hybrids stay in 6 to 20 feet of water, on wind-blown points, creeks, and the upper reaches of the Dix River area. If they spawn, they will lay eggs in flowing water. Look for deeper holes in the river channels, as they are a good holding place for hybrid stripers after the spawn.

SUMMER. In Summer, these wipers typically hang out in 10 to 30 feet of water, staying close to schools of bait. Sometimes during the heat of the day they move close to the bottom, and hang around ledges 12 to 18 feet deep. Morning often draws hybrid stripers to much shallower water, to feed on roaming schools of threadfin shad and gizzard shad. Being successful at fishing for stripers in Summer is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of wipers are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and sonar electronics, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Nice wipers are being caught by casting, trolling or drift fishing. Spoons, blade baits, crankbaits, live bait and cut bait are all effective here.

Current Report: Fair

FALL. Now late Fall finds white bass following baitfish that moving back out of shallow coves and bays, into 15 to 25 feet of water. Small spinnerbaits, crankbaits, spoons and underspins are catching good numbers of whites. Later, once the shallows cool considerably from chilly Fall temperatures, schools of white bass, along with baitfish, move deeper. They are relating to most any structure, which includes drops, humps, and creek channels.

WINTER. Winter for white bass is a continuation of Fall patterns, except slightly deeper, around 12 to 30 feet. They are being caught on the same lures, but most are caught using a slower retrieve. They often concentrate in the main lake basin, around drop offs, points and humps. Good reports come from anglers fishing around Gwinn Island and drop-offs along Dix River channel edges.

SPRING. White bass tend to start their spawn run once the water temperature gets into the mid 50's. Reports from last year indicate that this begins as early as late March to mid April. The Dix River, McKecknie Creek and The Tanyard Branch are popular this time of year. White bass move upstream into the river area, and running creeks, and congregate for several weeks. This is a prime time to fill the livewells with some fat white bass. This makes it easier to locate schools in 2 to 15 feet of water. Live minnows on a bobber, small swimbaits and small crankbaits all are working for white bass. White bass start their spawn run once the water temperature reaches the mid 50'sEarly Spring is a prime time to fill the livewells with some fat white bass. Spinnerbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, small crankbaits, small jerkbaits, and most any lure that resembles baitfish, will catch these feeding whites. As the water temperatures continues warming, they move out of spawning areas, into slightly deeper water. Look for them following schools baitfish in 10 to 20 feet deep. Also, watch for feeding frenzies when they chase schools of bait to the surface, and the fishing can be spectacular.

SUMMER. Summer finds white bass congregating in the main lake area, following and feeding on baitfish. They tend to stay in 8 to 20 feet of water, moving up and down the water column with the baitfish. They are being caught on slow-rolled spinnerbaits, curly-tail jigs, underspins, spoons, blade baits and small crankbaits, depending on the depth of the baitfish. Middle of the lake channel edges, points and deeper flats hold both bait and white bass in the warmest months. Flats and windy points around the dam, as well as around Mid Lake Marina, are popular spots.