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Navplanner2 & Kentucky Lake 2024


fishing user avatarFishing Rhino reply : 
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That's sorta what I was planning to do. I'm really excited to put this together and see if I can get some results. I think Rhino has got me talked into the navplanner2. I'm getting a big bonus at work in March. That's gonna add SI and a bigger TM to my boat. I'm like a little kid on Christmas eve that can't go to sleep. If my kids could read this, they'd be laughing at me.

You can do it all from the comfort of your computer. Note the O'brien Branch (cove) in the first, then in the zoomed image. The flooded timber doesn't show until you zoom. Same with many things.

You can print what you want, make notations on it and bring it with you. That's KY Lake. You can see a portion of the canal that joins it with Barkley at the top right corner.

kentuckylake2.jpg

kentuckylake1.jpg


fishing user avatarscrutch reply : 

I think the only thing that you can transfer into your HB is waypoints, right Rhino?  Waypoints would be all I'd need anyway.


fishing user avatarFishing Rhino reply : 

I haven't played with it yet, but it comes with a card reader that has two ports in it.  I believe it allows the maps on the hot maps chips to be displayed.  I'm not sure about printing them.  It will overlay waypoints which will produce a course.  Again, I haven't fiddled around with that part of it yet. 

It does display the lat/long of the cursor.  If you wanted the coordinates of that flooded timber, move the cursor there and record them

It will interface with the storage chip and the navionics chip.  When placed in the Humminbird or any other brand they will appear on the display.  Again, that's my understanding.  Haven't done that yet.


fishing user avatarCJ reply : 

I wouldn't spend to much time marking spots that list flooded timber on the maps. I have a Navionics chip in my S.I and I hardly ever find what is marked as far as stumps and flooded timber. What that is is where they noted stumpbeds and timber piles before they flooded the lake. Most of it has rotted away.

I'll give a good tip for places to look at:

Look for the bays that seem to have the most inflow from the feeder creeks. Look at the land geography around those feeder creeks to try and get an idea as to how much water flows in during and after rain. Those bays usually have more bass in them giving there is good cover.

Within reach of the Moors here are a list of areas that have fished good in the past during April:

Sugar Bay

Duncan Bay

Smith Bay

Willow Bay (Barkley)

Davenport Bay (Barkley)

Just a little tease. Look at the characteristics of these bays.


fishing user avatarLund Explorer reply : 

Well CJ,  I can't seem to find Davenport, but the others are all located in the LBL area, looks like few if any homes on them, and I would assume most importantly are the number of feeder creeks that are feeding into each of them that create plenty of secondary points.

What I can't see on my map is bottom content or what if any flooded timber there might be.


fishing user avatarscrutch reply : 

Alright, darn it! I'm ordering Navplanner2 right freakin now!  Until it gets here, it's google earth.

:'( :'(


fishing user avatarFishing Rhino reply : 
  Quote
Alright, darn it! I'm ordering Navplanner2 right freakin now! Until it gets here, it's google earth.

:'( :'(

You'll like this about the Navplanner2 program. You bring up a shoreline on the map, then open google earth and it will display the satellite image and the map side by side. This isn't big, but it shows the feature.

screen_navplanner2_google_earth_lr.jpg


fishing user avatarFishing Rhino reply : 

Regarding the "flooded timber".  It was just to illustrate that as you expand or zoom in, you get more details.  It may be vegetation, submerged or emergent, creekbeds, submerged bridges, roadways, etc.


fishing user avatarFishing Rhino reply : 

Want bigger of the side by side. I managed to find it.

screen_navplanner2_google_earth_hr.jpg


fishing user avatarscrutch reply : 

Wow Rhino, that's pretty cool.  Navplanner2 is ordered.


fishing user avatarscrutch reply : 

Cant seem to get google earth to label the bays on KY and Barkley.  Might have to try to find that on another site.  Noticed on GE that Barkley was muddy for the photo.  Interesting to note where the muddy water collects, and where clear water remains.


fishing user avatarscrutch reply : 

found this interesting http://fw.ky.gov/kfwis/google/fishing/kentucky_FA.kmz


fishing user avatarLund Explorer reply : 
  Quote
Cant seem to get google earth to label the bays on KY and Barkley. Might have to try to find that on another site. Noticed on GE that Barkley was muddy for the photo. Interesting to note where the muddy water collects, and where clear water remains.

I'm just using Google Maps, as that does label all of the bays. 

And I did finally find that last bay.  Sometimes blind guys like me can't find certain bays for quite awhile, but the labels are there.   8-)


fishing user avatarUncle Leo reply : 
  Quote
I wouldn't spend to much time marking spots that list flooded timber on the maps. I have a Navionics chip in my S.I and I hardly ever find what is marked as far as stumps and flooded timber. What that is is where they noted stumpbeds and timber piles before they flooded the lake. Most of it has rotted away.

I'll give a good tip for places to look at:

Look for the bays that seem to have the most inflow from the feeder creeks. Look at the land geography around those feeder creeks to try and get an idea as to how much water flows in during and after rain. Those bays usually have more bass in them giving there is good cover.

Within reach of the Moors here are a list of areas that have fished good in the past during April:

Sugar BayDuncan Bay

Smith Bay

Willow Bay (Barkley)

Davenport Bay (Barkley)

Just a little tease. Look at the characteristics of these bays.

Sugar Bay was hot on our last trip. I had two on that broke off in that bay but did manage quite a few.


fishing user avatarCJ reply : 

There are no houses on the LBL side. That's all National Forrest.

Davenport is on Barkley right where it turns south, on the LBL side. It has been a bass magnet in the past for the spring season.


fishing user avatarCJ reply : 

Oh yeah Rhino and Scrutch, I'm totally illiterate to the Navplanner. I don't know when they recorded their data. But last year Ky. and Barkley had record elevations and record water release rates. A lot of laydowns and cover in general that had been there for atleast 10 years are no longer there.

But hey, you guys look like you're doing your homework and that's what makes for success! My hat's off to you.


fishing user avatarLund Explorer reply : 

Yeah CJ, I guess I mis-spoke myself.  What I meant to say that I did see that Pisgah Bay has a fairly large human footprint with that campground.  I can also see that several other bays have roads leading into them for what I assume are the listed launch sites.

I read and fully understand your previous comment on how this is one of your tournament lakes.  While I have a few questions, I'll hold off until I get the chance to meet with you down there.

I hope this roadtrip isn't coming just before one of those tournaments.  If so, just give me the evil eye if I ask about a certain area.  Been there before.   ;)


fishing user avatarCJ reply : 

Lund, there is the Everstart that is going to be held 2 weeks before the roadtrip. But that's not a bad thing. I think it goes out of the Moors so the area will get stocked! There are big tournaments here every weekend. It usually doesn't effect fishing that much though. Pisgah Is the party cove of Ky. Lake. I rarely go in there. The launch sites on the LBL side are only used by a few fisherman. Don't let that worry you none. Now Big Bear which is the big bay that is where the Moors is located gets hammered throughout the year but there are still a lot of fish there.

Y'all feel free to PM me anytime with any general questions. I've said before though that I would have to write a book to respond as far as lures and patterns right now. Every year seems to change around here. For example, the last roadtrip here Senko77, LBH, and I had a great day. We caught over 100 fish that day with a 5 lb. smallmouth to top it off. The next day I couldn't buy a bite on the same pattern.

BTW, I'm not planning on fishing a great deal of tournaments this year. Even if I was I wouldn't care. I'd rather see some BR friends have a great time and experience how great this lake can be.


fishing user avatarctf58 reply : 

Does the Navplanners indicate summer or winter pool? Can you manually adjust for it? Ky and Barkley draw down about 5 feet for winter pool. Should be near summer pool for the event and rising.

Here is another site

explorekentuckylake.com/weather.htm

Might have been posted before


fishing user avatarscrutch reply : 

Navplanner2 arrived today. I'm literally an hour into the exploration of KY Lake. Wow have I got a lot of questions for you CJ. I'll surely not bombard you with all of them.

  Quote
Does the Navplanners indicate summer or winter pool? Can you manually adjust for it? Ky and Barkley draw down about 5 feet for winter pool. Should be near summer pool for the event and rising.

Here is another site

explorekentuckylake.com/weather.htm

Might have been posted before

CTF58,

It appears the water level in Navplanner is 357.6 fasl by default. I think thats about 3 ft above winter pool. Winter pool is 354 (fasl) elevation, and rises during April to reach summer pool of 359 (fasl) by May. So the pool will be on the rise while we're there. Oddly enough it MIGHT be pretty close to the actual level for the roadtrip.

I'm still looking for a manual adjustment.  to be continued...


fishing user avatarscrutch reply : 

Does anybody know how much current (if any) we might be seeing in April?  As I understand it, current exists only when they're releasing water.  So, if they're raising the water level to summer pool, will there be less or no current?


fishing user avatarctf58 reply : 
  Quote
Does anybody know how much current (if any) we might be seeing in April? As I understand it, current exists only when they're releasing water. So, if they're raising the water level to summer pool, will there be less or no current?

We will not know until it is closer to time to go there. You are right that generally it will be low current, unless we get a big rain near Nashville TN. TVA likes to bring the water up slowly. Think about a 5 foot rise in the course of a month. I have seen the water at summer pool on April 1st, just to see TVA drain it back down 4 feet in a week so they can bring it up on their schedule. Kentucky and Barkley lakes are first and foremost for power generation, second Army Corps can take control of the dam gates for flood control. Lastly comes the fishermen. We have no say as to the levels. I would love to see the lakes brought up about early March just one year to see what effect it would have on the fishing. I think the spawn would be a lot better.


fishing user avatarCJ reply : 

ctf58, the water levels hit 363 in March 3 years ago and we had a great bite.

We have no way of knowing what the water levels or current flow will be. We will be able to make a good prediction about a week before time. If it were to do what would be considered annual average, it would hit right at summer pool a week before the roadtrip, that would be ideal for a shallow bite. It all depends on the rainfall in the western part of TN. or anywhere along the TN. River and Cumberland.


fishing user avatarscrutch reply : 

When they're releasing water, and there IS current, how much is there? Is it a faster "river" style current or more of a "tidal" type slow current?


fishing user avatarCJ reply : 
  Quote
When they're releasing water, and there IS current, how much is there? Is it a faster "river" style current or more of a "tidal" type slow current?

It will seem more like a slow current. If you are out on the main lake while they are pulling a lot of water, you might would drift toward the dam at about 2 mph. That's what it would be like in the area around the roadtrip sight where the lake is wide, and as long as you don't get to close to the dam.


fishing user avatarscrutch reply : 
  Quote
  Quote
When they're releasing water, and there IS current, how much is there? Is it a faster "river" style current or more of a "tidal" type slow current?

It will seem more like a slow current. If you are out on the main lake while they are pulling a lot of water, you might would drift toward the dam at about 2 mph. That's what it would be like in the area around the roadtrip sight where the lake is wide, and as long as you don't get to close to the dam.

On our rivers up here bass stack up in the dead water areas near the main channel current.  I've already ID'd a few spots where I think that might happen in the rare event that they're pulling water.  Has this been your experience?


fishing user avatarCJ reply : 

At this time of year those kind of spots would be good for smallmouth.


fishing user avatarscrutch reply : 

A lot of things to talk about here.

2ic7edg.jpg

s285xj.jpg

Whats up with the pockets in the main channel in the upper right-hand corner?


fishing user avatarCJ reply : 

Are you talking about the submerged ones? If so, there would be nothing wrong with them in late May or June.


fishing user avatarSPEEDBEAD. reply : 
  Quote
Does anybody know how much current (if any) we might be seeing in April? As I understand it, current exists only when they're releasing water. So, if they're raising the water level to summer pool, will there be less or no current?

LOL, we fished Big Sandy last year during the flood.  Talk about current where the cove met the main river channel!!!

First, you had to watch for freaking huge trees and ISLANDS of floating debris.  Next thing you had to contend with was going into the current.  If you tried to run under the bridge there coming out of the back waters, it was like hitting a wall in that current.

Pretty nuts.   ;D


fishing user avatarCJ reply : 
  Quote
  Quote
Does anybody know how much current (if any) we might be seeing in April? As I understand it, current exists only when they're releasing water. So, if they're raising the water level to summer pool, will there be less or no current?

LOL, we fished Big Sandy last year during the flood. Talk about current where the cove met the main river channel!!!

First, you had to watch for freaking huge trees and ISLANDS of floating debris. Next thing you had to contend with was going into the current. If you tried to run under the bridge there coming out of the back waters, it was like hitting a wall in that current.

Pretty nuts. ;D

LOL! You guys got to experience the most current ever release by Ky. Dam.


fishing user avatarCJ reply : 

Here's some info that might be interesting:

Two generators are down at the Barkley Dam due to a fire. Ky Dam is having to pull extra to make up for it.

My thoughts is that this may help both lakes. Put some current in Ky. and help keep Barkley's water less stained. It probably won't factor in if we got a lot of rainfall. Then Barkley would simply open gates.


fishing user avatarSPEEDBEAD. reply : 
  Quote
  Quote
  Quote
Does anybody know how much current (if any) we might be seeing in April? As I understand it, current exists only when they're releasing water. So, if they're raising the water level to summer pool, will there be less or no current?

LOL, we fished Big Sandy last year during the flood. Talk about current where the cove met the main river channel!!!

First, you had to watch for freaking huge trees and ISLANDS of floating debris. Next thing you had to contend with was going into the current. If you tried to run under the bridge there coming out of the back waters, it was like hitting a wall in that current.

Pretty nuts. ;D

LOL! You guys got to experience the most current ever release by Ky. Dam.

That chit was bordering on white water.   ;D


fishing user avatarCJ reply : 

Here's a couple of pic's I was looking at to maybe show you guys what we hope to be dealing with at the roadtrip. I'm not posting these to look at the fish but, the background. The water and cover the lake can provide this time of year if the water will come up enough. Look at the real thick, viney looking stuff and the cypress trees.  ;)

chrisdad-1.jpg

chrisfish-1.jpg


fishing user avatarscrutch reply : 

Looks like I better not forget my stuff for heavy cover!


fishing user avatarFishinTN reply : 

Hey CJ, I have never fished the KY (lic.) part of the lake. I fish mostly between the 79 and 68 bridge, going to try my luck down south some more this year though. My question is, do you think the north (KY) is better than the mid section? Wondering if I should get a annual non-res. lic.




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