Likewise, Herrington Lake, for years touted as a tough lake to fish but highly productive for largemouths, appears to be on track for another good year in 2006. The number of bass over 12 inches is increasing, and many fish in the population are beyond 15 inches. March and April are the top months for catching the most fish and biggest bass in the upper parts of the reservoir around shoreline cover. Bass will move in from the creek channel ledges and will be ready to feed before nesting.

In this generally clear lake, anglers who can find some stained water in the creeks and fish cover or irregular bank features tend to do very well on largemouths. Slow-moving baits early on get the nod, while crankbaits, worms and topwaters are the best ticket later in warmer weather at night.

Lastly, for the big boys, you'll have to take a hard look at Kentucky and Barkley lakes for really good bass-fishing potential in 2006. Last year, Kentucky Lake's opportunities began to improve after a sustained period of suffering from poor spawns. Biologists see things turning for the better this season, with more keepers expected in the population.

While Kentucky Lake is vast, it's not that hard to find good quality habitat in the embayments -- places that look "bassy" with shoreline bushes, stumps, vegetation and other features. There's plenty of submerged stuff in Kentucky Lake, which is primarily designed to attract crappie. Bass will use this cover just as readily in the spring. Keep your eyes open and when the crappie guys aren't on it, slip in there and probe it with a jig combination or spinnerbait. Chances are you'll pick up a bass or two somewhere close by.

Smallmouth fishing continues to be good for this spring on Kentucky Lake around rocky banks and walls. Look for spots where feeder creeks intersect the main lake and channel, in the connecting canal with Barkley and off main-lake points. Kentucky Lake produces some super-sized smallies, which can really add unexpected excitement to a fishing trip.

Smallmouths provide anglers on the lake a different angling experience. If you get something on your line that doesn't act like a largemouth, hang on; it could well be a 4-pound bronzeback seeing if you're up to the test for some serious rod-bending action.

Across the way at Lake Barkley, anglers will still see a good bunch of sub-legal fish, but more and more bass from the good 2000 and 2001 spawns will be hitting the quality-sized fish mark (12 inches) and above in 2006. Anglers should have no trouble finding bass and putting a few in the well, if you like taking home a couple.

Barkley is a generally shallow lake where the creeks and flats will warm quickly and pull fish in from the depths in early spring. Look for places where long points extend into the main lake, and along the Land Between The Lakes side and canal, too, if you want a chance to land a smallie in this reservoir. They aren't incredibly numerous, but they are there and on a slow increase, biologists say.

SMALL LAKES
Scanning the substantial list of smaller impoundments in Kentucky, those under 1,000 acres, several standouts are expected for largemouth fishing in 2006.

Among the best will be Lake Malone, a beautiful little 825-acre gem in the corner of Muhlenberg, Todd and Logan counties in west-central Kentucky. Malone is not only considered as an excellent choice for trophy bass opportunities, but for very high-quality bass larger than 15 inches. In fact, nearly one out of every four largemouths sampled a year ago was above the protective 12- to 15-inch slot limit on this lake. (Note that something new on Malone this year will be a boat motor regulation that restricts motors to 150 horsepower from just before Memorial Day to just after Labor Day. Other times, the limit is 200 horsepower.)