CAPTAIN JIM’S LAKE CUMBERLAND FISHING REPORT
Provided by Captain Jim Durham
Owner StriperFun Guide Service, Tennessee Walleye Charters, Superbaittanks.com
Captain Jim Marine Electronics & Captain Jim Lures
Staff Writer for fishin.com
DATE OF REPORT: August 11, 2022
• Latest water temperature: 82.6 ° F surface (Main Lake): August 11, 2022
• Latest water temperature: 82.2 ° F surface (Indian Creek): August 11, 2022
Currently, the lake level is right at 720.40 feet above sea level. The lake is now 4 feet below summer pool which is 725.00 above sea level. The power generation turbines are 12,000 cubic feet per second as I write this report.
THIS IS MY 229th EDITION OF MY CUMBERLAND LAKE STRIPER FISHING REPORT!
Greetings to my readers! I hope that the world finds you and your family doing well!
ABOUT CAPTAIN JIM FISHING 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, Laurel Dam Trace, 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 as well as the “upper” Clinch (above Norris Lake) and upper Powell rivers. We also do Bass fishing and Muskie and Walleye (KY Walleye and Musky charters) fishing charters in KY and TN!
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.
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 fishing runs hundreds of fishing charters a year. All Captains who take our clients fishing are US Coast Guard licensed, insured and are well trained in CPR & First Aid with many years’ experience per man. 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.
I personally charter 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!
With full Humminbird electronics, Minn Kota trolling motor, 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. The boat is covered to keep our clients dry during inclement and a heater is provided when it is cold.
All StriperFun guides have similarly rigged boats!
We are booking the late summer and fall dates strong, so don’t delay – come get in on the great Striper fishing! Come get yours!
SUPPORT THE VETERANS
As a former United States Air Force Airman - military veteran and as a current U.S. Merchant Marine Captain and 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 speak English, can vote and can enjoy the freedom that you do!
We also cannot forget the duty and service provided by our Policemen, Fish and Wildlife Officers and Firemen.
STRIPERFUN OFFERS A 10% DISCOUNT on all charters to currently active Policemen, Fish and Wildlife Officers and Firemen as well as to all active military AND retired military veterans (with proper verification ID provided by the person booking the trip).
This is our way of saying “THANKS” to these important men and women for your service.
With full State and USCG Captain’s licensing and insurance, all Captain Jim’s Guide Service guides on Lake Cumberland can take you on a safe, fun and unforgettable fishing adventure! Check out all of our fishing services at www.striperfun.com or call 931-403-2501 to make reservations today.
God is amazing in his creation! I am blessed to spend another day pursuing my passion of putting clients on big fish on our magnificent lakes! I give it all to God!
STRIPER FISHING ON LAKE CUMBERLAND
We are catching nice fish on the main lake now, fishing from 25 feet some days to about 60 feet deep water on live bait and trolling umbrella rigs. I also attached photos of some recent catches. Most days we have been catching some great fish!
We are also catching some nice fish casting “Captain Jim Magic” Striper lures! Click this link: https://striperfun.com/product-categ...r-magic-lures/
There is a lot of truth to the old adage; “Find the bait fish and you find the Stripers”!
You can catch fish using multiple methods at this time. I demonstrate these techniques on my “STRIPER FISH LIKE A PRO” Trilogy series. Click the link below to go to the StriperFun website for more information on how to order this informative “how to” DVD Trilogy series:
http://www.striperfun.com/store/stri...ilogy-p-3.html
HELPFUL TECHNIQUE
One of my favorite tricks this time of year is to position the boat perfectly “still” (possible only with a Minn Kota I Pilot!) and then drop a Captain Jim Striper Dominator hair jig or Captain Jim’s “Little Friend” blade bait right into a big ball of bait. If your fish finder is of high quality (like my Humminbird Helix 12), you can actually see the jig going up and down. The secret then is to be sure to let the lure drop “below” the bait ball “bail open” to let it “flutter down” at least 6 to 10 feet (below the bait ball). Keep your thumb lightly on the line to feel for strikes, as many times the big predators will then eat the lure hard as it drops because the fluttering hair jig looks like a wounded minnow in a death spiral! If they do not hit it, then “rip” it back up into the bait ball and “bounce it” for a few seconds in place then repeat the process.
This hot little technique can turn on the fish! Additionally, using the same technique to “drop shot” live bait also works (making a slow day into a frenzied bite)!
STRIPER FISHING TRAINING
The Striper fishing training services we offer on Lake Cumberland are "hands on and personalized" fishing instructional technique training with me "on the water" aboard a boat. Training topics allow customers to choose from a large and diverse group of specific areas of fishing they want to learn more about then to "narrow down and focus in on" the chosen subjects. Once the subjects are chosen, then I provide very precise and detailed training in a direct on the water "one on one" teaching environment!
Training subject choices include but are not limited to:
· How to set your boat up for fishing large predators (like Stripers), including the types of rods, reels, line, weights, planer boards, lures, slide divers and hooks you should use for trolling, casting and fishing live bait and the actual “hardware and software” you will want to consider (as outlined below)!
· Bait tanks, including advice on the best model for your boat and tips to keep bait frisky!
· Trolling motors (focusing on Minn Kota “I” Pilot models), including the best model for your boat, electronic anchoring techniques, speed settings, auto tracking and other features and techniques!
· Fish Finder / GPS units (focusing on Humminbird Side Scan models), including the best model for your boat, learning to read a standard two-dimensional bottom view presentation, learning to read down imaging and side imaging, learning to read the GPS and Radar and a multitude of numerous other features and techniques!
· Available “Software” for your Fish Finder / GPS unit. What products work best on Lake Cumberland!
· Safety equipment - concepts – including attention to weather forecasts, marine radar considerations and other safety options!
· Lake Cumberland Seasonal lake information (where to fish Lake Cumberland what time of the year)!
· Fishing Live bait techniques (every possible scenario how to fish live bait, from pulling planer boards, fishing weightless corks and balloons, down lining, the drop shot technique and bottom fishing tricks)!
· Catching live bait techniques including using Hydro Glow bait lights and Fitec Super Spreader bait nets, where to use them in what circumstances and other techniques for catching large bait in other parts of the lake!
· Casting and retrieving lure techniques and what lures to use in various situations!
· Multi Skill trolling secrets including trolling Captain Jim Umbrella rigs and trolling Captain Jim hair jigs on slide divers and a multitude of other trolling features and techniques!
· Customized subjects not listed the customer wants to learn!
We can cover a maximum of 4 subjects in each 4-hour class. Call me for pricing and details!
“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
CAPTAIN JIM ON THE RADIO!
I recently did another fishing radio talk show 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 11 bodies of water my companies offer fishing charters on.
You can listen to the radio show by clicking:
For hour one: https://www.iheart.com/.../episode/0...ur-1-98747459/
For hour two: https://www.iheart.com/.../episode/0...ur-2-98747460/
I hope you enjoy it! I am generally on Sunday nights at 6:30 pm eastern.
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
Many of our customers do not initially realize that the Striper fishing is 365 days year-round. However, all of our boats are covered 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 moving quickly through summer. Dawn rolls around a little earlier each morning and “Twilight” now rolls around just a little later each night. 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!
Remember also to always obey all Kentucky fishing regulations while on Lake Cumberland or any Kentucky 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, call Kentucky Fish and Wildlife at 800-858-1549.
Until next time, blue skies and tight lines!