In the summer, connecting more consistently with largemouths on Green River means fishing points close to river and creek channels. Largemouths, especially the older and bigger ones, spend increased amounts of time in spots where they can find food in close proximity to deeper water. At night, these bass prefer to move up to a point or out on a flat to feed, and then return to the safe spot along a channel where water is a little cooler, cover is present and the daytime light penetration is reduced.

During the summer months, a good number of Kentucky bass are caught from reservoirs like Green River early and late in the day. After all, spotted bass are voracious eaters. They seem to ignore the warm water as a deterrent to their feeding activity, and will key on groups of baitfish, at times even chasing them into shallow bank areas.

When you locate shoreline cover, watch closely for shad activity. Then use flashy lures around that cover to imitate a hurt preyfish. Sometimes a school of spots will be nearby.

Often you can come up with a fish or two nowhere near cover, especially when you find a school of shad breaking the surface out in the middle of a cove or off a main lake point. It seems as if you’re casting to nothing. But beneath those baitfish could be cruising a group of Kentucky bass, which have herded them to the top.

Smallmouths are a third option for Green River anglers. The population is considered marginal, but this lake still carries a good reputation for producing trophy-sized bronzebacks. You’ll need to focus on areas where cold-water habitat is located. Biologists suggest the lower and midsections of Robinson Creek and the Green River arms of the lake.

At night, smallmouths will turn out and move to points and banks where they can bang their noses on the bottom and spook out crawfish and minnows for an evening snack. Bottom- bouncing soft-plastic baits down a bank or ledge will get their attention. Crawling a worm, or twitching a jig combination over submerged cover often encourages strikes as well.

Sometimes a medium-sized crankbait dragged over rocks creates enough ruckus to give smallmouth something to home in on and find more easily under cover of darkness.

After the sun sets, many anglers also choose to drift live minnows off rocky banks and points, or along a creek channel in fairly deep water. Days when a light rain occurs are also good times for more condition sensitive smallies. Lots of bass anglers will use artificial lures only, but few will argue that live bait can’t be just as effective or more effective in the dead of summer when the fishing turns tough. If you want to catch fish, you may have to exchange glamour for practicality. Go with minnows or soft craws on a simple cast-out, drift-down-and-back presentation.

When you stroke a 5-pound smallie that way while your buddy imitates the pros and comes up empty, you can decide between yourselves who had the more productive outing!

LAUREL RIVER LAKE
Not too far away, nor too much smaller at 5,600 acres, Laurel River Lake has gotten a shot in the arm from some additional largemouth stockings.

Fishing is improving, says fishery biologist John Williams. He notes that the agency chose to stock largemouth fingerlings in 2005 and ‘06 when naturally spawned year-classes were small. As a result, much improved numbers of 14- to 17-inch largemouths are now present, and this is good news for anglers.