Walleye on the Cumberland River?

[troutcrazy]

A friend of mine claims that walleye run up the river during the winter months. Does anyone know if this is true?? If so then...
1) When do they run?
2) What section can you find them on upper or lower?
3) What do you use to fish for them?

Any help is appreciated...

[motalot]

That is a good question. I here Walleye fishing is the biggest secret going on the River. I sure would like to know more about it myself.

[mhall]

Where are you at SSKY?????

[kygorski]

About the end of november, launch at the dam, go up to the boiling water, and drift back about 500 yrds, use 3/8 ounce jigs, or cast masters, cast and keep the bait moving close to the bottom, oh, bring plenty of baits, the snags will kill you, when and if they quit generating, pack up and go home, or fish for trout. If they are not generating, you're screwed.

[troutcrazy]

thanks...we'll try it next month...

[birdstrike]

Been there done that, not to discourage anyone but it's tough fishing. Some clame to know the secret to catching a few at night with just the right discharge. I've never had any luck. You will get cold, tired and likely wet. But you might get lucky and hook a fish. They are in there, saw hundreds of them on the bottom a few years ago when the O2 level dropped and killed them.

Good luck and let us know how you did.

[SSKY]

The lake is better for numbers and average size, there are a few bigger trout fed walleye in the river about the same length that you can catch in the lake and they may have about 1.5 pounds of extra weight compared to the fish in the lake at around the 25 inch mark. The biggest fish that I have caught in the river was only 27 inches but had 2 trout in the belly and was fat just at 9 pounds (football), but It is hard work to catch them and really not worth the money and effort to catch them compared to the lake.

[troutcrazy]

Thanks for the information...When you have to work at catching fish it kind of defeats my purpose in going fishing in the first place...which is NOT to WORK! I think I'll pass on the Walleye on the river idea and stick to those wonderful trout.

[kygorski]

Heres a hard earned tip, if you are going to use jigs, get a dozen or so punisher jig heads , the weedless or snagless kind, they will get through a lot of the hangups where you would loose a plain jig, and these snagless jig heads do catch fish, they are the wire guards not the the bulky fiber ones.Yeah SSKY its hard to fish with waders when the water is roaring , and there are only a few places where you can use them on faster water, lately I have just left mine in the truck.Mine are the old fashioned insulated type that weigh a ton, and will keep you warm in the coldest water you'll ever get on the cumberland, they were mostly used on the rivers up north for salmon and steelhead.