• Lake Cumberland Striper 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.

  • Lake Cumberland Striper Report

    • Latest water temperature: 48.2 ° F surface (Fishing Creek – Lee’s Ford Marina) March 12th, 2013
    • Latest water temperature: 44.7 ° F surface (Indian Creek) March 12th, 2013
    • Latest water temperature: 46.6 ° F surface (Fishing Creek – Needle Point) March 10th, 2013
    • Current lake level is at 690.12 feet.

    Currently, the lake level is right at 690.12 feet above sea level. The lake is now about 35 feet below the tree line. The tree line is normally at 725' above sea level. With the repairs finished on the dam, the lake is forecasted to be back at 725' above sea level by late summer (we will see!).

    THIS IS MY 156th EDITION OF MY LAKE CUMBERLAND STRIPER FISHING REPORT!

    It has been 3 weeks since my last report. Greetings to my readers! I hope the world finds you and your family doing well!

    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 freedoms 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.

    CURRENT FISHING CONDITIONS AND TECHNIQUES - RECENT ACTIVITY

    “Same Bat time – Same Bat Channel!”

    It just keeps on “keeping on”!!

    The air warmed up last week (65° on Saturday and 72° on Sunday!) and the water temperature at the lake is now rising and is nearing the 50° mark! This 50° mark is always a magic temperature that begins the spring onslaught of huge fish biting! With the weather warming up the rest of the week (sunny and 60° on Friday!) this coming weekend should be even nicer! The fishing should continue to be spectacular!

    The fishing continues to be “off the chart” strong, as it has been the last 45 days. We are hitting lots of good numbers with some (really fat!!) 26 to 33 inch plus 14 to 20 pound keepers. The bite is still in full swing and it is “Big Fish” time on Lake Cumberland!

    RECENT CATCHES

    The bait and Stripers are schooling up heavy and it has been “Kapow” and “Wham” as the rod tips are being pulled hard down to the water’s edge with the reels screaming like a rabid Wildcat fan! Check out the photo of one of the guy’s fish finders (one of my good clients Steven Wire who was fishing with us and doing some scouting) as to how “thick” the Stripers are stacking up!



    In early spring the larger Stripers have a stronger metabolism and it is the best time of year to catch a real trophy. The lake is certainly not disappointing us this year!

    Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of taking out 4 guys from Columbus – the Rob Simon group. We had just put the lines in the water when it was “Slam and Kabam”, with three rods going down at once (the old “fire drill”!). I had just taken the last keeper out of the net from that craziness when “boom” one of the guys casting up on the front of the boat nailed a nice 30 inch Striper on a Captain Jim “Dominator” hair jig! It was not the last keeper that day on a jig! We caught numerous fish on both live bait and on my hair jigs.

    When the dust settled, we had about 100 pounds of fat keeper Stripers in the boat in the first couple of hours! Then it was off to the restaurant to watch the “Cats” beat Florida! Check out the photo!



    Sunday was the same way. I was off the water by 10:00 am. Mid March fishing with StriperFun! Check out the photo of me with John and Patsy Austin and a huge stringer of keepers!



    Wow!!! It doesn’t get any better than this!

    StriperFun has guides available this weekend so come see us! To get in on the great fishing action, you can book a Striper fishing adventure with StriperFun! Click the following link: Book a Charter with StriperFun Fishing Guide Service - Lake Cumberland Striper Fishing and Fish like the pros

    What to expect on the water

    The fish are holding on flats early in the morning (on “sunny days” – not so much on cloudy days) and then moving to the Canyon walls in the creek turns as the day warms. Learn to fish your creek turns! The current builds up there as the moving water “pushes up” against the side of the canyon wall. This highly oxygenated water is rich in algae, plankton, bait fish and big monster Stripers!

    As normal in mid March, we are still catching Stripers throughout the day in the back sections of the creeks. Early in the morning, do not be afraid to fish as shallow as five to ten feet deep (but only if the temperature is climbing and it is sunny!). Many times, the warmest water on the lake will be flowing in to the very backs of the creeks. The water is always warmer in shallow water and on the mud flats.

    Also, the water is always warmer on the north shore of the creek.

    The simple reason being, the Sun is in the southern sky this time of year and the majority of direct sunlight falls on the Northern shore line. Always use your temperature gauge on your fish finder and hunt for the “warmest” water you can find. There you will find the strongest concentration of bait fish (and large predators).

    There is a lot of truth to the old adage; “Find the bait fish and you find the Stripers”!

    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 right into a big ball of bait. If your fish finder is high quality, 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)!

    The early spring Lake Cumberland fishing can be absolutely outstanding!

    You can find massive schools of Stripers that have trapped huge herds of bait fish back in this shallow water! It can be “Kabam” and “Kapow” with rods getting yanked down hard with major number of nice Stripers and the occasional “wall mount” monster!

    Many times our customers do not initially realize that the Striper fishing is 365 days year round. However, as the largest guide service in Kentucky, all of our boats are covered and heated and we virtually fish almost every day. Do not let the cooler weather keep you away!

    As always, every now and then the weather will shut the bite down for a day or so. But generally, the fishing remains strong! Check the StriperFun website under “recent catches” for “photo after photo after photo” of nice limits StriperFun is delivering for other clients as well.

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

    TARGETING BIG FISH

    I also find that the very largest “older Stripers” will break away from the schools and will stay off by themselves. Similar to how a huge buck deer will separate from the herd to live alone.

    This seems to be the normal life cycle of many of God’s creatures.

    I also find that most of these larger older Stripers (really big targets on the fish finder!) will “strategically hold” on underwater current break points (within a few feet off the bottom) waiting to ambush prey.

    Using high quality fish finders, I search out and locate where there are channel swings in the creek bottom forming ledges (which the current washes nutrient rich water across!) or where there are sharp mud to rock transitional areas (nature’s “party zones” for the algae, plankton and bait fish!).

    It is in these areas I like to target these largest of fish and usually will find them!

    To do this effectively (to narrow the focus to only larger fish), I will Slide Diver and down rig larger (3/4 to 1 ounce) Captain Jim Special hair jigs with plastics trailers. Always keep your colors consistent! Use white trailers with white jigs and green trailers with green (chartreuse) jigs, Do not mix colors and you should have better luck (at least, from my experience).

    I troll at about 2.2 to 2.5 MPH in this cold water. Since the fish are holding right off of the bottom, you need to keep your hair jigs directly in the strike zone. To do this, you have to be continually moving the downrigger ball (and subsequently the trailing lure!) up and down with the bottom contour so as to not hang up your lure or down rigger ball. It is a constantly active moving process and is better worked by having at least two people on the boat.

    I can teach you this technique when you book a trip!

    Equipment section

    Where “on the water” to buy Captain Jim Special StriperFun lures

    You can now purchase all of the StriperFun – Captain Jim Lures and products (hair jigs, blade baits, umbrella rigs and multi lure casting rigs, DVDS and more!!) at Grider Hill Marina on the western end of Lake Cumberland (ask for Lucas or Gwen!) or for the eastern end of the lake directly at StriperFun headquarters at Lee’s Ford Resort Marina on Fishing Creek in Somerset Kentucky (ask to speak with Bobby or Hunt at the marina ship store down on the water)!

    Captain Jim Lures is proud to now offer the new “Slide Diver – Lite Bite”!

    I am pleased to advise that Captain Jim Lures is now selling the new “Slide Diver – Lite Bite” controlled depth trolling fishing device! Captain Jim and the StriperFun crew have been “beta testing” this great new tool for the last several months and the results have just been terrific, with limit after limit of Stripers caught (and some huge trophy monster Stripers as well)!

    Over the years, many Lake Cumberland fishermen have had great success “down rigging” Captain Jim Special “Dominator” hair jigs. When using a down rigger, you can control the depth at which your hair jig is running. If you see the fish continuing to hold at a certain depth, by using a down rigger you can keep your hair jig at this depth to keep your lure in front of the fish.

    However, down riggers (both manual and electric) can be very expensive! Many fishermen simply cannot afford to buy multiple down riggers for their boats. Also, smaller boats (or some boat designs) do not have sufficient space to be able to mount down riggers. Further, using down riggers can be intimidating for some fishermen, especially the need for “double stacking” to increase the number of lures being trolled.

    So what is the solution? How can fishermen inexpensively and dramatically increase the number of lures they can troll while at the same time actually “controlling the depth” at which the lures are running?

    The answer is the new “Slide Diver – Lite Bite”!

    The new Slide Diver – Lite Bite is a disc shaped “in line” device that utilizes water pressure against the planing surface which forces the unit to “dive both out and down” when trolling. The difference is, that while older styled divers were permanently attached to the line (and the lure could only be back as far as the length of the rod from the diver), the new Slide Diver – Lite Bite actually “releases” and slides down the line to the lure once a fish hits. This allows you to run your lures back as far as you want (generally 100 to 150 feet) before you lock down the Slide Diver – Lite Bite to the line.

    This is very important.

    Stripers (different for example from Lake Trout or Salmon) have very keen eye sight. They spook very easily! Because older styled divers were permanently attached to the line and the lure was within just a rod’s length from the disc, they were no good for Striper fishing. The disc would spook the Stripers and scatter them and the lure would pass just a second after. The Stripers would not have the time to regroup and settle back in to their normal pattern before the lure arrived.

    However, the new Slide Diver – Lite Bite again allows the lure to be back 100 to 150 feet behind the disc. This is very similar to how you troll a hair jig and plastic trailer 100 to 150 feet behind a down rigger ball. This gives the needed time (once the disc passes) for the Stripers to regroup and settle back in to their normal pattern before the lure arrives. Just like a down rigged lure yanks the line off the down rigger clip when a fish hits, the new Slide Diver – Lite Bite “releases” when the fish hits and slides down the line to the lure.

    It is just so cool how these things work!

    The adjustable weight shifts the diver from the center to the far right or far left trolling positions from the boat. Based on the adjustable setting on each diver and the amount of line released, the Slide Diver will descend to a pre-selected angle and depth. I can “dial in” the degree I want the diver to run “away from the boat and down” just like a planer boat runs away from the boat. With a planer board, the more line you put out, the further the planer board runs out away from the boat.

    The same thing happens with the Slide Diver – Lite Bite!

    For example, I can put the Captain Jim Special “Dominator” hair jig and plastic trailer out 100 feet and then lock in the Slide Diver – Lite Bite. If I tune the diver in at a 6 degrees setting and let the diver itself out another 100 feet, at this setting the diver will be running at an angle (like a planer board) about 15 feet “away” from the boat and at a depth of about 28 feet. Then I will put out a second Captain Jim Special “Dominator” hair jig 75 feet out lock in the Slide Diver – Lite Bite. If I tune in the second diver at a 3 degrees setting and let the diver itself out another 75 feet, then the second diver will be running at an angle (like a planer board) about 7 feet “away” from the boat and at a depth of about 32 feet. The second diver at a 3 degrees setting (less severe) is running at a more “downward” angle.

    You can tune the Slide Diver – Lite Bites either right or left –either way! As such, I generally run both a 6 degree “and” a 3 degree diver off each side of the boat (right and left) at the aforementioned settings. Once set, I then also double stack Captain Jim Special “Dominator” hair jig and plastic trailers on my Cannon down riggers.

    This allows me to easily troll 8 Captain Jim Special “Dominator” hair jig and plastic trailers at the same time. The fish catching results are simply phenomenal!

    You can buy the new Slide Diver – Lite Bites directly on the StriperFun website store! Just click the link below: Slide Diver Lite Bite | $26.60 | Striper Fun Guide Service!

    For early 2013, look for new videos from StriperFun Lures demonstrating the powerful fishing tools of the new Slide Diver – Lite Bite trolling devices!

    SURFACE ACTION AND FISHING ETIQUETTE

    If you see a school of Stripers on the surface feeding, be sure to not run your boat directly into the school. Come down off of plane at least 150 feet away then approach by trolling motor on high speed. Be patient as well, do not throw until your lure can reach the edges of the school (that is mentally “hard” to do).

    Be respectful of other boaters as well. Unfortunately, you will rarely get the same treatment.

    The reality is that the fish usually will not stay up long. However, check the time on your watch and stay in the general area. My experience this time of year is that they re-surface every 6 to 8 minutes as they “herd” the large schools of shad to the surface (like any predators herd their pray). Many times, I find that if I “run” over towards them when I see them come up, by the time I get there they are “back down”! Then, when I look over, they are coming up “right where I just came from”! This is a technique you just have to learn (to be at the right place at the right time).

    Truthfully, sometimes it is just “luck”.

    If the Stripers are still all over the surface, we are absolutely hammering them throwing my Captain Jim “Little Friend” blade baits and my “Dominator” hair jigs, as well as the Kentucky and Tennessee “Thumper” rigs and the new “Striper Mugger” rig (multi lure casting rigs)!

    LURES TO THROW

    Captain Jim Lures, a Division of Striperfun.com, sells the top of the line the “Striper Mugger”, the "Kentucky Thumper" the “Tennessee Thumper” and the “Walleye Dazzler”! These lures have been heavily field tested, are super easy to cast (or troll) and besides being Striper magnets, they also absolutely wear out the Large Mouth, Spots, Walleye and Small Mouth!

    DO NOT BE FOOLED BY IMITATORS LURES NAMED AFTER OTHER STATES!

    The “Striper Mugger”, the "Kentucky Thumper", the “Tennessee Thumper” and the “Walleye Dazzler lures are all “higher quality” products that sells for much less than the competition AND THEY COME FULLY RIGGED where the competition’s rigs do not! They are tougher than any other multi lure casting rig and they will deliver for you!

    Click the link below to go to the StriperFun website and watch the new lures as their photos will appear (a new photo “pops in” every few seconds) in the middle of the top of the screen on the first page. Click any photo of any lure that to go in and read more about the newly designed lures and to see enhanced photos!

    You can also watch them demonstrated on YouTube by clicking the links below:

    "Kentucky Thumper": Kentucky Thumper Lure - YouTube

    “Tennessee Thumper”: Tennessee Thumper Striper Lure - YouTube

    “Walleye Dazzler”: Walleye Dazzler Lure - YouTube

    “Striper Mugger”: Striper Mugger Lure - YouTube
    I also demonstrate these techniques on my “STRIPER FISH LIKE A PRO” instructional DVDs. You can buy the DVDs and umbrella rig lures on line off of the StriperFun website, or at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Lexington and at Grider Hill Marina or at Lee’s Ford Marina (StriperFun Headquarters!) in the ship store.

    Come book a charter with me and get in on the fun surface casting action!!!

    GIFT CERTIFICATES

    The gift of a weekend package trip (or even a one day Striper fishing trip) with StriperFun makes a great Father’s day 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 catching “trophy Stripers” or giving the perfect gift to that special someone, order a StriperFun Guide Service gift certificate today!

    StriperFun also offers an extensive variety of products that make great gifts, including numerous types of fishing lures, Super bait tanks, Hydro Glow bait lights and much more!

    We take VISA and MASTERCARD credit cards!

    Call me for details at 513-304-8825 or click my photo above to go to the StriperFun website to send me an email!

    HYDRO GLOW BAIT LIGHTS

    I get lots of calls about catching bait. For years I have been using the “Hydro Glow Bait Light” to catch bait and so should you! It allows me to be “mobile” and catch bait on the main lake as well as at the dock!

    The "NEW" Hydro Glow Fish Light (JUST RELEASED!) is actually an "LED". IT IS TWICE AS BRIGHT BUT IS HALF THE SIZE (and is less expensive than the older models!). It is designed to use 12 vdc low amperage fluorescents to produce a green glow similar to that emitted by chemical light sticks in widespread use by divers to lure fish. It will work all night on one battery!

    The patented design utilizes the green light technology for improving your fishing activities during the night time hours. The light is designed to vertically submerge with only the top 3 to 5 inches of the light above the water level. This insures the entire illumination of the light is in the water where to fish are, not the bugs!

    Boy, does it ever draw in the bait fish!

    Click this link to go to the StriperFun store to order: HYDRO GLOW | Striper Fun Guide Service!

    SPORTSMAN’S WAREHOUSE

    All StriperFun fishing products are carried by Sportsman’s Warehouse! Sportsman’s Warehouse is America’s fastest growing “Premier Outfitter” national chain of sporting goods stores! They carry everything you need for your hunting and fishing needs!

    The closest Sportsman’s Warehouse to Lake Cumberland is in Lexington KY off of Interstate 75 - exit # 10. Their address is:

    SPORTSMAN’S WAREHOUSE
    2200 WAR ADMIRAL WAY
    LEXINGTON, KY 40509

    You can also get Captain Jim lures at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Columbia South Carolina and in Roanoke Virginia! You will not find better Striper lures than the Captain Jim Special brand! Captain Jim gets all of his equipment at Sportsman’s Warehouse and so should you!

    StriperFun Guide Service now has six (6) guides to serve your charter needs. We can handle large group and corporate outings!

    My Captains and I are all Federal Coast Guard Certified and State licensed, insured and are well trained with well over 160 years of combined experience! If you want to catch Monster Stripers this spring, then you better book soon! The prime spring dates are already booking up, so do not wait too long to lock in your trip! All of StriperFun’s guide boats are covered and heated as well.

    Lee’s Ford Resort Marina is StriperFun Guide Service “Headquarters”!

    As one of the most comprehensive recreation, entertainment and dining experiences on Lake Cumberland, Lee’s Ford Resort Marina offers fantastic dining at the Harbor Restaurant, great lodging in beautiful cottages, condos and rentals on boat slips, personal watercraft and boats of various sizes. It is also the closest marina to visitors from Lexington and Ohio!

    LEAGUE OF KENTUCKY SPORTSMEN!

    Regulations that govern hunting, fishing, and habitat are formed by both the Kentucky Wildlife Commission and the legislative process. The League of Kentucky Sportsmen (League) helps keep the hunters and fishermen on top of today’s issues. The combined voices of sportsmen are a powerful tool used to more effectively influence the decision making so that sportsmen can actually have a say in how the resources are managed.

    The League works with individuals, Government Agencies, and Club Affiliates to constantly support the use of scientific wildlife management practices on public lands, private lands, and corporate lands. The League also supports the Kentucky heritage of hunting, trapping, fishing, and the right to keep and bear arms. The League also provides assistance with organizing events to bring kids and adults together in the great outdoors.

    No single individual or organization can do it alone. The League needs your help. Become a member today.
    Contact the LKS office and order your membership over the phone at (859) 858-0135. Or click on to their website: League Of Kentucky Sportsmen | Kentucky Hunting Enthusiasts > Home

    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 into the early spring season. “Twilight” now rolls around just a little later each night. 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!
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