Reply With QuoteYou need to know the water levels before fishing the Cumberland. For the last few days, the corp has been releasing very little water from the dam. It's really too low for most boats except canoes, drift boats, or small jons. I don't know anyone that rents them down there. Perhaps someone does. The best way to fish when it's like this is to wade either down from the dam or around Helms Landing. You can check out the KY Gazeteer for these locations. Fishing is usually best during these low water periods. If you're using spinning gear try crankbaits, jerk baits, spinners, spoons, and river rigs. Any of them can catch fish. Flyfishing is best with sub-surface nymphs and midges.
When they are releasing water from the dam, the depth of the river can go up 15 feet or more fairly quickly. Most aluminum boats work fine then, but there are some dangerous rocks and logs than can make for a bad day that can be just under the surface. The current can also be very swift. Fishing tends to be more difficult during these periods as the corp can be releasing as much as 24,000 CFS at the dam. The fish tend to just hang out behind rocks and current breaks. The same baits apply, but typically need to be fished deeper.
Here's a link to the corp's website for the dam. Look for long periods where there are zero units released. Also keep in mind that if the corp is releasing water in the morning and they stop, it will take several hours for the water to get down to "low" levels.
http://lakeinfo.tva.gov/htbin/lakeinfo?site=WCH&DataType=All&submit=View+info
Originally Posted by FlyLie
