• CAPTAIN JIM’S CUMBERLAND RIVER FISHING REPORT

    StriperFun and Tennessee Walleye Charters
    (931) 403-2501 http://www.striperfun.com captainjim@striperfun.com
  • Specializing in "Trophy" fishing as the owner of StriperFun Fishing Guide Service in KY and TN and TN Walleye Charters, Captain Jim Durham is a licensed guide who has fished the Cumberland Plateau and KY and TN year round for over 50 years. Captain Jim is a U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Marine Captain and is the creator of the “Striper Fish like a Pro” instructional DVD series as well as his own line of fishing lures.

  • CAPTAIN JIM’S CUMBERLAND RIVER FISHING REPORT

    CAPTAIN JIM’S CUMBERLAND RIVER FISHING REPORT

    Provided by Captain Jim Durham

    Owner StriperFun Guide Service, Tennessee Walleye Charters, Superbaittanks.com, Captain Jim Marine Electronics & Captain Jim Lures and much more……

    DATE OF REPORT: November 1st, 2020

    • Latest water temperature: 57.6 ° F surface (Cumberland River): October 30th, 2020

    Greetings to my readers! I hope that the world finds you and your family doing well!

    FISHING ON THE CUMBERLAND RIVER HAD SLOWED DOWN FOR A FEW WEEKS BUT HAS NOW PICKED BACK UP!! OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE CAUGHT MULTIPLE 30 TO 40 POUND PLUS INCH FISH IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS! JOIN US TO EXPERIENCE THIS AWESOME FISHING!

    REMEMBER WE FISH YEAR-ROUND! BOOK YOUR NOVEMBER – DECEMBER - JANUARY TRIPS NOW!

    As a former United States Air Force Airman - military veteran and as a current U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Patrol Coxswain (Captain), I understand the great importance that our brave service men and women play in our society. Their service is why you can enjoy the freedoms you do!

    We also cannot forget the duty and service provided by our policemen and firemen.

    STRIPERFUN OFFERS A 10% DISCOUNT on all charters to currently active Policemen and Firemen as well as to active military AND retired military veterans (with proper verification ID provided by the person booking the trip).

    This is our way of saying “THANKS” for your service to these important groups.

    PRESS RELEASE

    STRIPERFUN HIRES NEW CUMBERLAND RIVER GUIDES!



    Captain Jim Durham, owner of Captain Jim Fishing including StriperFun Guide Service, Tennessee Walleye Charters, Marine Electronics and Super Bait Tanks, is pleased to announce that the company has hired four new fishing guides!

    Captain Jim commented:

    “I excited to once again announce that we have added new guides to the family of StriperFun charter fishing guides! As the company has now expanded to offering charter services on eight (8) different waterways in KY and TN, we will continue to provide the very highest quality fishing charter service in the region!”

    Meet John Bowman!



    Charter Guide John Bowman is retired U.S. Army and a seasoned Striper fisherman who lives on the Cumberland River in Gainesboro TN and has fished the river year around for many years. Fishing out of a new 22-foot Sea Ark boat, John will be providing charter services on the Cordell Hull pool of the Cumberland River.

    Meet Chris Pridgeon!



    Charter Guide Chris Pridgeon is a retired U.S. Marine and is a seasoned Striper fisherman as well who also lives in Lebanon TN on the Cumberland River and has fished the river year around for many years. Fishing out of a new 24-foot Sea Ark boat, Chris will be providing charter services on the Old Hickory and Cordell Hull pools of the Cumberland River.

    Meet Nick Malencore!



    Charter Guide Nick Malencore is a seasoned Striper (as well as multi species) fisherman who lives near Percy Priest Lake in Nashville and has fished it year around for many years. Fishing out of a 22-foot Center Console Thompson boat, Nick will be providing charter services on the Cumberland River, Percy Priest and Tims Ford lake.

    With full licensing and insurance, all Captain Jim’s StriperFun Guide Service or Tennessee Walleye Charter guides can take you on a safe, fun and unforgettable fishing adventure! Check out all of our fishing services atwww.striperfun.comorwww.tennesseewalleyecharters.comor call 931-403-2501 to make reservations today.

    CUMBERLAND RIVER STRIPER FISHING IN TENNESSEE!

    When you use large 2 to 3-pound Trout as bait, we only target big Trophy fish! As the owner of StriperFun, I am a TN licensed bait dealer and raise Trout for my client’s use on charter trips (no sales).

    AS A REMINDER, IT IS "ILLEGAL" TO BRING WITH YOU FROM OUT OF STATE OR POSSESS MORE THAN 7 TROUT OVER 8 INCHES TO USE AS BAIT IN TENNESSEE PER PURCHASED TROUT STAMP.

    TN Fish and Wildlife has been advised of this frequently occurring on the Cumberland River and is aggressively checking bait tanks on boats and also checking storage tanks at hotels. It is a stiff fine with serious repercussions. Be so aware.

    Remember also to always obey all TN fishing regulations while on any Tennessee waterway. Following the rules is a must! It is important that we all be good stewards of our fishing resources. If you have any questions about fishing regulations or to report poachers doing this or cleaning fish on the water, call Tennessee Wildlife Enforcement.

    RECENT CATCHES

    These photos below were just some of our recent fishing adventures!



    Join us for a memorable experience on the Cumberland River. I hope to hear from you soon!

    WILDWOOD RESORT & MARINA

    The Wildwood Resort & Marina is in Tennessee's “Mayberry styled” town, Granville. It is very popular with our StriperFun and Tennessee Walleye Charter clients that fish both the Cumberland River and Dale Hollow Lake. Located directly on the shore of Cordell Hull Lake, it just underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation and is stunning! It is only 11 miles from I-40 and just an hour’s drive from Nashville.

    Wildwood Resort & Marina offers lakeside lodging, nice boating facilities, several great dining options, live music seasonally and a variety of fun activities to make your stay at Wildwood fun and comfortable.

    Your lodging options are varied, with different options and price points to choose from:

    • The Lakeside Inn
    • Wildwood Lodge
    • Water front cabins
    • Vintage Airstreams
    • Cabins in the woods
    • Harbor cottages

    CALL CAPTAIN JIM FISHING AT 931-403-2501 AND WE WILL ARRANGE YOUR STAY AND ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR BOOKING!

    WEIGHT OF THE FISH

    I am often asked how much some of these big Stripers weigh. As a rule, if we do weigh these big fish, we do so with an official Boga Scale WEIGHING THEM IN THE NET THEN DEDUCTING THE 2 POUNDS WEIGHT OF THE NET.With such huge fish,hanging a fish to weigh it on a scale when it is exhausted (long fights) can dislocate their jaw when tired. This may kill them as they cannot eat.

    We usually take a real quick photo and then back they go into the 50 degree plus water where they go flying off and no worse for the fight!

    However, if you want to get a good idea of a big river Striper's weight without weighing it, the crew at "In Fishermen" put together a study years ago that can give A GOOD ESTIMATE of a big Striper's weight based upon its length

    Striped Bass Weight Conversion Chart


    25 in 7.01 lb
    26 in 7.89 lb
    27 in 8.83 lb
    28 in 9.85 lb
    29 in 10.95 lb
    0 in 12.13 lb
    31 in 13.38 lb
    32 in 14.72 lb
    33 in 16.15 lb
    34 in 17.67 lb
    35 in 19.28 lb
    36 in 20.98 lb
    37 in 22.78 lb
    38 in 24.68 lb
    39 in 26.69 lb
    40 in 28.80 lb
    41 in 31.02 lb
    42 in 33.35 lb
    43 in 35.80 lb
    44 in 38.36 lb
    45 in 41.04 lb
    46 in 43.84 lb
    47 in 46.77 lb
    48 in 49.83 lb
    49 in 53.02 lb
    50 in 56.34 lb
    51 in 59.79 lb
    52 in 63.39 lb
    53 in 67.13 lb

    I mention this because many "haters" will post negative posts about the reported estimated sizes of these big fish. Although I ignore these poor sports for what they are, since I do not always weigh these river fish, I use this "In Fishermen" measuring scale. You can as well.

    To read the study, you can click on:

    https://www.in-fisherman.com/editori...n-chart/154560

    About StriperFun Guide Service and Tennessee Walleye Charters

    As a United States Air Force Veteran, U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Marine officer, USCG Aux Search and Rescue Coxswain and as a Firefighter, Captain Jim Durham is the owner/founder of StriperFun Guide Service and Tennessee Walleye Charters.

    · StriperFun provides charters in Kentucky and Tennessee on Lake Cumberland, the Cumberland River, Cherokee Lake, The Clinch River and Tims Ford Lake!

    · Tennessee Walleye Charters specializes in fishing charter services for Walleye on Dale Hollow Lake and for Walleye and Sauger on the Cumberland River.

    CUMBERLAND RIVER WALLEYE AND SAUGER!

    We begin fishing Walleye and Sauger on the Cumberland River in Tennessee December 15th and fish it until April 1st (THEN WE ARE BACK ON DALE HOLLOW). Jeff Brown is a master at catching Walleye and Sauger on the Cumberland River in Tennessee, with 25 years’ experience!

    We are already heavily booking these Walleye and Sauger trips on the Cumberland River Winter trips. We are also already booking strong on the 2021 “Summer nights full moon” trolling trips (very popular – only 30 available night trolling trips each year) - We also offer Muskie trips on Dale Hollow all Fall and Winter!

    DON’T DELAY! Call 931-403-2501 or click to https://striperfun.com/tennessee-walleye-charters/ to learn more or book your trip

    Jim’s businesses also include Superbaittanks.com and much more…...

    StriperFun Guide Service and Tennessee Walleye Charters are one of the largest and best- known charter fishing guide services in the Cumberland Plateau region. As a former B.A.S.S. fisherman (presented a “Lifetime membership” award many years ago), Captain Jim has been fishing and/or guiding on Lake Cumberland and on the Cumberland River in TN for most of his adult life, fishing the Upper Cumberland Plateau Region 52 years since he was six years old. Captain Jim is very well known and respected by marina owners, lake area business owners and regional law enforcement.

    Captain Jim personally holds multiple licenses and memberships:

     Licensed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife as a fishing guide, with privileges to take customers fishing (Kentucky License # 007).
     Licensed as well by the State of Tennessee Department of Fish and Wildlife as a fishing guide.
     Licensed as a United States Coast Guard Merchant Marine Officer, holding a Captain's license (Coast Guard Merchant Marine Officer License # 1037731).
     United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Staff Officer, holding a “Coxswain” (Patrol Captain’s Search and Rescue) rating with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary.

    Captain Jim and his guides run hundreds of fishing charters a year. All StriperFun Guide Service and Tennessee Walleye Charters Captains are licensed, insured and are well trained in CPR & First Aid with no less than 20 years experience per man (a combined 180 plus years of experience). StriperFun Guide Service and Tennessee Walleye Charters has worked to be one of the best-known guide services in the Kentucky and Tennessee region and will work hard to deliver "big trophy fish". You can count on the fact that your group will be treated with the utmost professional care and safety.

    Different than many basic guide services, StriperFun Guide Service and Tennessee Walleye Charters also caters to corporate groups as well as to families (and couples). Our guide boats are covered and heated during the winter months to get clients out of inclement weather. Our trips include all equipment & tackle as well as bait. Your trip also includes the cleaning and bagging of your catch (where allowed) as well as photos for you to remember your trip.



    Jim personally charters out of a 2015 24-foot center console Alweld Escort Bay boat. Powered by a 2015 Mercury 150 four (4) stroke outboard (I love my Mercury!). She is quiet to sneak up on big fish and fast to cover a lot of water! She has 24-mile radar, full Humminbird electronics, a Minn Kota trolling motor, a 50 Gallon Super Bait Tank, a huge 7-foot-long 6-foot-wide Atlantic Towers T-Top (covering you from rain) and is heated and can be quickly enclosed for really cold or wet days. This rig is the ultimate guide boat! She has "tons" of for moving around and fighting big fish and also has comfortable seating for the trip.

    All StriperFun Guide Service and Tennessee Walleye Charters guide boats have the most modern electronics, fishing gear and Coast Guard safety equipment and are covered in inclement weather for customer comfort!

    CAPTAIN JIM ON THE RADIO!

    I did a fishing radio talk show September 17th on WHAS 840 out of Louisville on the “Jim Strader” Great Outdoors show. It is broadcast to 17 States. I had the pleasure of being on the air with Jim Strader for almost 2 hours, covering fishing on all seven (7) bodies of water my companies offer fishing charters on.

    You can listen to the radio show by clicking:

    For hour one: Jim Strader On the Radio

    For hour two: Jim Strader On the Radio two hours

    I hope you enjoy it! I am many times on Sunday nights at 6:30 pm eastern.

    SUPER BAIT TANKS

    To really hit the “monster” Stripers, you need to use the freshest live shad. Not only can catching fresh shad be tough, keeping them alive used to be virtually impossible! Not any longer!

    The SUPER BAIT TANK has a triple filtration system, a built-in oxygen infuser, a built-in light for night use and is insulated. This system has been tested to hold gizzard shad & blue-black herring for up to one week. I use only the SUPER BAIT TANK. Every guide I know uses it and so should you! StriperFun is the exclusive NATIONAL "on line" dealer of the SUPER BAIT TANK.

    For “new” Super Bait Tank orders - call me or click:

    http://www.striperfun.com/store/super-bait-tanks-c-3.html

    “SPECIAL NOTICE”

    When it’s time to go boating and fishing, you want to make sure your boat is ready to hit the water with all the equipment you need to have a great time!

    StriperFun and its related companies can help!

    With a full line up of the most modern marine electronics (fish finders, GPS, radar and more..) at "way below" national chain store prices, you need to let us get you the most modern marine electronics you have really been wanting! StriperFun also sells Captain Jim fishing lures, Striper Fish like a Pro “how to” DVDs, Super Bait Tanks, Hydro Glow Fish lights, Fitech bait nets and more. Captain Jim and StriperFun have everything you need to have a safe and fun year!

    StriperFun and Captain Jim is a "one stop shop" for your boating and fishing upgrade needs or to outfit your new boat! Give me a call at 931-403-2501 or email me at captainjim@striperfun.com

    HUMMINBIRD COMBO GPS AND FISH FINDER UNITS

    Captain Jim is your low price on line leader to purchase all Humminbird Fish Finders! Call me at 931-403-2501 to order!All StriperFun Captains use Humminbird Side and Down Imaging units. Humminbird Fish Finder / GPS units are simply the best on the market! When you have to depend on your marine electronics to navigate safely at night and in the fog, as well as help you find fish, it is one of your most valuable tools!

    My Humminbird HD unit is simply great! When trolling artificial lures or live bait, I just don’t troll “hoping” to run in to a school of fish. I am scanning up to 240 feet per each side of the boat, looking for schools of bait and fish. When I see them (example: 3 o’clock to the starboard or 9 o’clock to port!), I can then “turn” my boat towards the schools of bait and fish to “get in to the strike zone”. My new Helix 12 Humminbird finder is really delivering for me! These huge Stripers act like Largemouth in the river, stacking up and hiding behind cover in the current to “swoop” out and hit the Trout! This new side scan technology can make the difference on a slow day, helping me spot the patterns!

    Once arriving on the schools of bait and fish, I can switch over to the “Down Imaging”, “Quadrabeam Plus” or “Switch Fire” sonar systems to let me see with great clarity (each technology providing a different yet important view!) exactly where the fish are and how they are orientating.

    Why troll “blind” when you can scan surrounding water to see where the “big ones” are!!

    It makes all the difference in the world, turning a slow fishing day into a great catching day!

    My Humminbird Fish Finder is a guide’s best friend.
    As a Field Staff member of Johnson Outdoors, I strongly recommend this product to any open water fishermen. To be successful, you need to learn to use your marine electronics. If you are looking for new marine electronics, feel free to call me and I can make some solid suggestions on HUMMINBIRD COMBO GPS AND FISH FINDER UNITS.MINN KOTA TROLLING MOTORS FROM JOHNSON OUTDOORS

    Captain Jim is your low price on line leader to purchase all Minn Kota model trolling motors! Call me at 931-403-2501 to order!I only use the Minn Kota “Rip Tide” trolling motors from Johnson Marine and so should you! As a professional fishing charter Captain, my livelihood depends on my trolling motor working every time – every day! For 15 years I have used Minn Kota trolling motors and my “Rip Tide” trolling motor never lets me down!

    With “cool” features like the hands free “Auto Pilot and “I” Pilot functions, I can set my motor to go a specific direction and turn my back to deploy lines and have full confidence it will stay on course no matter the weather conditions!

    For using a “drop shot” on the fish, once I locate a nice an active school I simply push a button on “I” Pilot functions control and it “electronically anchors me” directly over the fish. If the winds blows me off the spot, the “I” Pilot brings me right back and again “electronically anchors” me back over the fish.

    Man, is that cool or what? I would never consider using anything else but a Minn Kota trolling motor!

    GIVE THE BEST GIFT OF ALL, A FISHING TRIP WITH CAPTAIN JIM AND STRIPERFUN GUIDE SERVICE!

    The gift of a weekend package deal (or even a one-day fishing trip) with StriperFun Guide Service makes a great Christmas or birthday present for Dad, a brother or for the family and kids, or can make a great bonus for an employee or a promotion for a customer! We fish year-round and our trips are very popular and our booking dates fill up fast!

    Fishing is family friendly and wholesome. So, if you are interested in giving the perfect gift to that special someone, order a fishing gift certificate today!

    Call me at 931-403-2501 or email me at: captainjim@striperfun.com

    SPECIAL NOTICE – STRIPER FISHING TRAINING WITH CAPTAIN JIM!

    For years, as I have done radio and TV shows as well as outdoors and boat show seminars on Striper fishing, I have been approached by the “nicest” people who have a true desire to learn more about the great sport of Striper fishing. There are always lots of questions asked regarding the numerous different techniques involved in our great sport.

    Unfortunately, many times, it is hard to explain things and answer questions when you are not out on the water (to be able to physically demonstrate what you are talking about!). Initially, this is why I created my (hot selling!) "Striper Fish like a Pro" instructional 3 DVD "Trilogy". This gave new (and even experienced!) fishermen a lot of good solid data on how we "Pros" do what we do, etc.

    But from the constant feedback I get I have learned that more information and training is wanted! Because of this continual strong request and demand for more information and Striper fishing training, I now offer "hands on and personalized" Striper fishing technique training with "on the water" instructional trips! These will be trips on my new Alweld that will allow customers to “narrow down and focus in on” a large and diverse group of specific areas of Striper fishing they want to learn more about. It will also allow me to provide very precise and detailed training in a direct on the water "one on one" teaching environment!

    The Striper fishing technique training subjects will include (but not be limited to):

    MULTI SKILL TROLLING SECRETS INCLUDING UMBRELLA RIG - DOWN RIGGING AND SLIDE DIVERS TROLLING;

    HOW TO SET YOUR BOAT UP CORRECTLY FOR BIG GAME FISHING TO BE SUCCESSFUL;

    HOW TO READ MARINE ELECTRONICS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE GREAT NEW LINE OF HUMMINBIRD FISH FINDER / GPS UNITS;

    LIVE BAIT TECHNIQUES (EVERY POSSIBLE SCENARIO HOW TO FISH LIVE BAIT, AS WELL AS TRICKS FOR KEEPING YOUR BAIT FRISKY!);

    CASTING AND RETRIEVING TECHNIQUES AND WHAT LURES TO USE IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS.

    And dozens of more subjects!!!

    Training trips are $75.00 an hour with a 4 hour minimum and are held afternoons beginning at noon. I suggest you book at least 30 days in advance as they are already getting popular and I am booking up.

    By the way, you might even catch a trophy Striper while we are training!

    Please call me at 931-403-2501 if you would like more information. I hope to see you soon!

    To get in on the great fishing action, you can book a Striper fishing adventure with StriperFun! Click the following link: www.striperfun.com/pages/bookacharter.php

    AVAILABILITY FOR TRIPS WITH STRIPERFUN GUIDES

    Many of our customers do not initially realize that the Striper fishing is 365 days year-round. However, all of our boats are heated and we virtually fish almost every day.

    We live for this type of fishing and you can too! Come see us!

    Do not be afraid however to call last minute if you want a trip as we have numerous guides and can accommodate your schedule!

    If you have any other ideas, techniques or subjects you want me to write about, drop me a line!

    I am many times asked “What are the advantages to hiring a guide”? In essence, you hire a guide to utilize the guide’s many years of experience and lake knowledge, to learn new tactics and techniques to increase your chance of “landing the big one”. Guides use top of the line equipment and the freshest live bait. Also, if you cannot afford your own boat, it is a very cost-effective way for you or your group to fish (cost per fisherman). Even professional fishermen hire guides to learn a lake and new techniques!

    We are now moving quickly through Fall. Dawn rolls around a little later each morning and “Twilight” now rolls around just a later earlier each night. Winter will be here before you know it and then it all starts again. I give it all to God.

    It is great to be alive and be a “free” American! I look forward to seeing all of you this year on the water.

    Count your blessings each day and live “in the moment”, not in the future and always remember to stop and shake the hand of a person in uniform or wearing garb that shows they are a veteran! Their service is why you speak English, can vote and can enjoy the freedoms you do!

    Until next time, blue skies and tight lines!
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