Fishing Report For Rough River Lake, KY

Current Report: Good

This lake has a lot of smaller bass, but there are still plenty of quality fish, as tournament anglers often need a 3-pound average, or heavier, to take top prize.

FALL. Now that late Fall taking over, bass are moving out of shallow coves and shallow bays, following schools of baitfish back into 10 to 14 feet of water. Good Fall options include Cannons Point, North Fork, the mouth of Cave Creek, and around Axtel. Currently jerkbaits, deep-diving crankbaits, slow-rolled spinnerbaits, artificial worms, spoons and jigs are catching most of the 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 12 to 20 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, around main-lake channel edges, rock piles, stump fields and brush piles. 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 shallower 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. Good areas to explore include brushy pockets near the State Park shoreline, Cannons Point, and shallow coves and flats along Axtel. 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 12 feet of water, and preparing for the spawn. Once water warms into the mid to high 60's, they will move into 2 to 8 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 18 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 10 feet of water, on topwater lures, square-bill crankbaits, spinnerbaits and a variety of other lures. Wacky-rigged stick worms always catch finicky bass when the bite is slow. During Summer, keep an eye on the thermocline to determine the maximum depth to fish, as there is very little oxygen below the thermocline. 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 12 to 20 feet deep. Some of the best reports seem to be from anglers fishing around weed lines and shallow flats.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

While Fall is the prime time to catch hybrids at Rough River Lake, yet plenty are caught year round. Their primary diet is the schools of gizzard shad, and they follow these schools to stay close to the food supply.

FALL. In Fall, hybrid stripers return to shallow water, the upper end of the lake, and into inflowing water if available. Quality wipers are coming from points and flats around creek mouths and flats on the Cave Creek, Laurel Branch and North Fork arms. 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 8 to 25 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 feet deep or deeper. Warm afternoons occasionally draw stripers shallower, so look for them around the 18 to 24-foot range as they feed on roaming schools of 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 as deep as 40 feet, 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. Big hybrid stripers chase baitfish all over the lake. They are being caught up lake toward the incoming current and they feed and prepare to spawn. Expect to find hybrids in 6 to 12 feet of water early and late in the day, closer to 20 feet during mid day. There are plenty of hybrids averaging 1 1/2 to 2 pounds, with an occasional 4-pound plus fish being caught. In Spring, work wind-blown points, creeks, and the upper end of the lake if there is inflowing water. 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 12 to 30 feet of water, staying close to schools of bait. Sometimes during the heat of the day they move close to the bottom. Morning often draws hybrid stripers to much shallower water, so look for them around the 6 to 12-foot range as they feed on shallow on roaming schools of threadfin shad and gizzard shad. Creek mouths of the Cave Creek, Laurel Branch and North Fork arms are popular areas. 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: Good

Fish attractors planted by the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, include brush piles, Christmas trees, and other materials. These are a great place to locate a school of crappie. There are quite a few in the Axtel Campground and Laurel Branch Campground areas.

FALL. Baitfish, have moved into deeper water, and the crappie followed. They are feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter, in 10 to 18 feet of water. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late fall starts the migration deeper, toward winter holding areas, for both crappie and baitfish. Small flutter spoons, fished in 15 to 22 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results are coming around points, creek channels, and brush piles.

WINTER. Once the shallows start cooling rapidly, crappie will migrate to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. At this time they are typically caught using a very slow presentation, in 15 to 30 feet of water. Most are caught around deep brush piles, creek channel bends, submerged timber, and main-lake structure. If they are suspending in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into 10 to 15 feet of water, to feed.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 6 to 12 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as both black crappie and white crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 2 to 10 feet of water. Vegetation, docks, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in 14 to 18 feet of water. Early and late in the day they are being caught in 6 to 10 feet of water. Once they move deep, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Light tackle, with 4 lb to 8 lb line, is a popular choice.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 6 to 12 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 8 to 22 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. This is a good time to focus around brush piles, standing timber, deep lay downs, bridge pilings and deeper docks. Good Summer options include mid-lake humps, and the middle section of North Fork. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.