Plan B
Ken Lake Marina is also another good launching point for bass anglers looking for intense after-dark action. This is the closest marina to the lake's Blood River portion, which has built quite a reputation as a summertime hotspot. Hipsher feels that the best smallmouth fishing on the entire lake is located between the U.S. Route 68 bridge to Blood River on the east bank of the LBL (Land Between the Lakes) side. Once again, you can't go wrong with deep-water ledges on river-bend banks in this area. However, also try gravel points and bars that stretch across the mouths of coves. Bass will generally move onto these areas during the night to feed heavily upon schools of baitfish.

According to Hipsher, a black-and- red tube jig rigged with a rattle can really turn on the bass on a summer night. Popping the bait off the bottom creates an erratic action that bass simply can't resist. Another Hipsher favorite is a 3/8-ounce brown/orange jig-and-pig combination fished around gravel points and bars. In addition, Texas-rigged soft-plastic baits can also be highly effective. Anglers need to make a mental note that green pumpkin is an extremely hot color on Kentucky Lake during the summer months.

DAYTIME BASSING
Craig Hipsher also notes that the daytime fishing on Kentucky Lake during the summer can be very productive. Targeting milfoil in the backs of hollows during the early morning and late evening hours can be a lethal daytime strategy. Weedless rats, flukes, and buzzbaits fished on and around the milfoil during these times can be magical. For more information about fishing Kentucky Lake, you can contact Craig Hipsher of Hipsher Guide Service at (270) 354-5221 or at dhipsher@webtv.net.

BARKLEY LAKE
Bass anglers shouldn't overlook Barkley Lake for exciting summertime bass angling. In fact, Barkley has built quite a reputation as one of the top summer bass lakes in the Bluegrass State. A number of local bass tournaments are held on the lake throughout the summer months. Generally, it takes well over 20 pounds with a five-fish limit to win one of these tournaments. This translates to a 4-pound-per-fish average, which is pretty darn impressive for summer bass fishing. Let's take a quick look at how you can get in on the summer bass action on Barkley.

Ask any of the locals, and they'll tell you that Ramie Colson is the guru of bass fishing on Barkley Lake. Colson is also one of the premier bass anglers on the FLW and Stren Series tournament trail; he's currently sponsored by Ranger Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Zoom Baits and G-Loomis Rods. He grew up fishing Barkley and has developed an extensive knowledge of patterning and catching bass under any condition and throughout the season.

The following is a step-by-step plan of how Ramie Colson exploits summer bass on Barkley.

Plan A
Colson likes to launch at Lake Barkley State Resort Park and target flats that are covered in stumps and brush. Bass will move onto these areas after dark and feed upon schools of shad and small baitfish. Anglers should also pinpoint offshore humps or submerged islands offering quick access to deeper water. These types of structure tend to hold large numbers of bass under cover of darkness. You can expect to catch a mixed bag of bass including largemouths, smallmouths, and Kentucky or spotted bass from these areas.