Lake Barkley Top 5 Patterns – Day 1
Four out of five run to Kentucky
Day one of the Costa FLW Series on Lake Barkley presented by T-H Marine was largely fought on Kentucky Lake. Of the top five, four raced to Kentucky Lake and fished the ledges. Flip-flopped boat draws and another day of fishing pressure will likely keep things interesting through day two and into the weekend, and the top 10 is certainly stacked with Kentucky Lake experts.
In first, Jake Lawrence smashed 28-15 from the ledges down near Paris, Tenn., and while he’s got a big lead to start, the fish needed for a big comeback are certainly out there.
2. Hensley Powell – Whitwell, Tenn. – 23-3
Hensley Powell, who will open day two in second place at 23-3, almost didn’t make it to Kentucky.
“I have five different places I really wanted to fish,” says Powell. “But I had motor problems. I could only run about 45 miles per hour. I made it to my first spot and I was just happy to be there. I really just sat on it all day.”
It turned out pretty well for him, and he had a limit by mid-morning and culled the rest of the day. Per Powell, most of his action came on a big worm.
3. Brandon Hunter – Benton, Ky. – 22-1
As much as anyone in the field, Brandon Hunter is an expert on the north end of Kentucky Lake. With a late boat draw and a refusal to pull in on places with multiple anglers, Hunter had to hop around a lot. He ought to be able to get on someplace good to start day two, so it’s likely that he can keep up the pace.
4. Ramie Colson Jr. – Cadiz, Ky. – 21-0
Ramie Colson Jr., who is from Cadiz and also on his home water, closed day one in the fourth spot with 22-1. Unlike most of his fellow anglers, Colson fished Barkley.
“I did work the ledges, but I mixed it up with baits,” says Colson. “And I caught fish throughout the day.”
5. Cole Floyd – Leesburg, Ohio – 20-15
Like leader Jake Lawrence and many others, last year’s T-H Marine BFL LBL Division Angler of the Year Cole Floyd also took a long boat ride to the upper reaches of Kentucky Lake and fished offshore.
“It’s about 150-mile round trip,” he says. “The early bite was a lot better.”
From the sounds of it, Floyd’s starting spot is loaded, so with a deficit to make up and an early boat draw tomorrow he may lean on it a little more.