Cumberland Help - Please Read

[tr186man]

I know with all the threads going on about people not giving back info when others have supplied them with some, I may not get any responses . But for any who do respond via pm or email, rest assured immediately upon my return I will give my results, good or bad, as well as water conditions to all those who provide me with information to the same degree of the information received .

I am heading out next week for a few days of relaxing fishing on Cumberland. I plan on fishing for crappie, bass and stripers. I have never fished the big C for crappie and only a few times many years ago when I was young for bass. Recently, the last two years I have been fishing for stripers so I know and am learning quickly about them.

Since the lake is so large and with the current water level my maps aren't as helpful in locating good areas and eliminating bad areas. If anyone could help out I would be very appreciative .

Thank You.

[JoeB]

I'll help you the best I can. The striper fishing this past weekend was pretty tough. Most boats came in with only one or two fish. Some w/ none. A few did limit out though and it's just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. They aren't feeding for long periods I think because of the rapid drawdown after all the rain. Look in the upper halfs of the creeks. If you are live bait fishing, use short freelines behind planer boards and bobbers / balloons. Usually at this time of year the fish are right up against the bank, but when they are pulling a lot of water, it sometimes pulls the fish out into open water. Faubush, and White Oak are turning over heavily and I would avoid them. Wolf, Caney, Lily, Harmon, Difficulty, and Fishing were in good shape this past weekend. I can't speak for the other creeks. I did hear of a few fish caught in Beaver so I assume it's ok too.

I saw a guy catching several nice crappie a few days ago in the upper half of one of the creeks casting jigs to blowdowns and visible cover. I wont say which creek cause it's "his" spot, but he was doing VERY well.

I haven't bass fished in a while, but the guys I've seen mostly seem to be throwing cranks. Good luck. Phil

[wtucker]

Crappie = Alligator two area. Hope this helps

[hairball]

Just got back today from a week long trip to Cumberland (except for one day at Dale and another at Cedar Creek). Big fish of the trip was a 5 1/2 lb smallie. We also had a couple of fours and numerous smaller fish, predominantly smallies. The main lake was really muddy on the East end with a ridiculous amount of drift piled up in the horseshoe around Cumberland Point (where we put in) the first couple days we were there. The drift has probably spread down to Wolfe Creek by now, maybe further. The only clear water we could find was back in a couple of creeks, and we fished from Fishing Creek to Beaver.

Most of the fish were caught on jerkbaits and flat-sided cranks with just a handful on jigs. We mainly targeted contact points where the old river channel swings into and away from the bank. All of the smallies were caught in these areas and we picked up a few spots and largemouths in the backs of pockets. Concentrate on these main lake areas, especially when there is wind blowing in on them, and you will be rewarded.

In case anyone is wondering, Dale and Cedar were pretty uneventful.