In the Outdoors Report this week, Lanny cautions boaters to proceed slowly while out on area lakes due to low water levels. Plus, Steve tells you where to find the bluegill on Kentucky Lake right now and what you'll need to have in your tackle box to catch them. Hear all this and more in this week's report!
Meeting created at: 29th Apr, 2026 - 4:23 PM1 Lanny Callicott: Good morning and welcome to the Outdoors Radio show with host Brent and Lanny Callicott. Lanny Callicott: The days are still having a tremendous amount of hard wind and the crappie bite is still on its own with some good catches being caught on Reelfoot as well as Kentucky Lake. Lanny Callicott: And with the water level on Reelfoot being well below the pool level for this time of year, be sure to boat real slow and I have heard of boats as well as trolling motors being damaged severely by running fast, so be extremely careful if you're going to be on the real foot due to the water level being exceptionally low. Lanny Callicott: In preparation for the 2026 summer boating season around the corner, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will participate in this year's National Safe Boating Week and that is held May 16th through the 22nd. Lanny Callicott: So it'll be here before we know it. Lanny Callicott: And the TWRA will join other organizations from across the United States and Canada to spread the message of safe and responsible boating. Lanny Callicott: And the TWRA continues to strive in their efforts to educating the boating community about life jacket wear and the options available when it comes to comfortable and lightweight life jackets. Lanny Callicott: This is Lanny Callicott thanking you for listening and we hope you have a real nice day. Steve McCadams: Hi everybody, this is Steve McCadams. Steve McCadams: Thanks for joining me this week and a lot of things going on Kentucky Lake. Steve McCadams: It's transition time as April waves goodbye to May and we've got a lot of bluegill activity. Steve McCadams: They're spawning. Steve McCadams: So are the shell cracker. Steve McCadams: It has been great fishing lately. Steve McCadams: The first full moon in May is now arriving. Steve McCadams: That signals that kickoff of the peak spawn on bluegill. Steve McCadams: There'll be another one later in the month on the 31st but meanwhile it is a time to get out on the lake and enjoy of this great pan fishing. Steve McCadams: Some nice red ear have been taken in three to five foot water as of lately. Steve McCadams: Most are using red worms so I'm using crickets and mealworms. Steve McCadams: Bluegill are hitting crickets pretty good and mealworms as well. Steve McCadams: It's a great time to be on the lake if those bluegill are congregating and moving up in the edge of weed beds. Steve McCadams: Unfortunately the water level is not all the way up in the bushes as of yet. Steve McCadams: Kentucky Lake is about a foot below normal for this time of the year. Steve McCadams: We're usually at 359 on summer pool but TVA has been slow to get it there this year I guess due to lack of rain. Steve McCadams: The lake is presently at 358. Steve McCadams: That's about a foot below normal for this time of the year. Steve McCadams: That makes a big difference for folks trying to fish those book bushes and weed beds. Steve McCadams: But not to worry, the bluegill are adjusting just right and get out there and take advantage of that spawn while it's underway. Steve McCadams: Now catfishing is improving too. Steve McCadams: They're heading toward the rocky banks as we speak, so the rocky bluffs and banks all along the lake will be a great location for catfish. Steve McCadams: Night crawlers is hard to beat. Steve McCadams: Some of the commercial baits and private concoctions work good too. Steve McCadams: Crappie in post spawn period is a few fish being taken by, but they are more scattered than they were the last week or two and they're thin. Steve McCadams: Typical of postpone period. Steve McCadams: Bass fishing along the weeds has been fair. Steve McCadams: Topwater spinner baits and Texas rig crawls have been producing quite well this week. Steve McCadams: This is Steve McCadams. Steve McCadams: Thanks for listening. Steve McCadams: I hope you have a great week ahead in the outdoors.