Will be heading up there at the end of September and was curious about any hazards on the lake. I went last year and fished the south end of the lake but this year I plan to venture up the river part of the lake. I noticed on the navionics app that up north it says “standing timber” in a lot of places. I was curious to know as long as I stay in the river channel I should be fine? Any help is appreciated so I don’t lose a lower unit miles away from the ramp lol.

On a side note, any tips for that time of year? Figure I would fish shallow points off of deep water with squarebills, small Swimbaits, drop shots and Ned rigs?

You are good (just stay off the main lake points 40+ yards) running north. When you get into the "S" curves up there, stay in 50+ ft of water and you are ok. Its been so long since I have run that area when it straightens out going north (someone else will need to tell you from there), but I think you need to be careful and get off plane around where the white runs out if you are looking at the lake on Navionics chart viewer

Common sense makes me think that there shouldn’t be standing timber in 100ft of water in the channel so I feel like I’m good there. Thanks for the confirmation. I really think I’m only gonna be fishing near the S and not too much past that

That Gaines Bend area is a good place to be clear walking bait and a small swimbait ready to go, if you like catching Kentuckys on topwater

and if you get bored with the bass, you can take a light spinning rod set up with 4lb test and a few inline spinners down below the dam and catch a limit of trout

Thanks for the tip. I've never done well fishing for trout there, but I don't know much about it. May give this a go next time I'm there.