Operating a boat in the cumberland river.

I am wanting to make a trout trip on the Cumberland river as soon as the the flow slows down to fishable level. I have fished it in the past out of my kayak from the Rockhouse to winfreys but I am wanting to take my boat. It is a Lund multispecies boat and I have heard that the average depth of the river gets deeper farther down the river like around burkesville and on down. Is this true? I am talking about with average flow. I want to be in water where I don't have to be in a constant state of paranoia about shallow water/obstructions when the river is at a more manageable flow.

Any tips/ suggestions/ launch areas would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[QUOTE=MrPike;555325]I am wanting to make a trout trip on the Cumberland river as soon as the the flow slows down to fishable level. I have fished it in the past out of my kayak from the Rockhouse to winfreys but I am wanting to take my boat. It is a Lund multispecies boat and I have heard that the average depth of the river gets deeper farther down the river like around burkesville and on down. Is this true? I am talking about with average flow. I want to be in water where I don't have to be in a constant state of paranoia about shallow water/obstructions when the river is at a more manageable flow.

Any tips/ suggestions/ launch areas would be much appreciated.

Thanks[/QUOTE]

It is EASY to tear stuff up down there. Be careful, go slow, and have fun.

That being said.....I've hit stuff on every trip when I have taken a boat, but that is part of it. I no longer take my boat, and only take my canoe or yaks.

Later,

Geo

[QUOTE=GeoFisher;555335]It is EASY to tear stuff up down there. Be careful, go slow, and have fun.

That being said.....I've hit stuff on every trip when I have taken a boat, but that is part of it. I no longer take my boat, and only take my canoe or yaks.

Later,

Geo[/QUOTE]


Thanks for the response Geo. Have you had issues with hitting stuff downriver below Burkesville as well or are you talking more upriver towards the dam?

you can operate a boat above and below burkesville. you just have to know where the gravel bars are and watch for logs, lots of logs in the river. i would contact the folks at traces on the cumberland and get one of their river maps.

[QUOTE=barkleyhawggitter;555359]you can operate a boat above and below burkesville. you just have to know where the gravel bars are and watch for logs, lots of logs in the river. i would contact the folks at traces on the cumberland and get one of their river maps.[/QUOTE]
just take it easy as there are some places that are only 2 feet deep you have to cross over so a great big boat aint gonna work, most guys use a flat bottom type boat. i use a 16 foot grizzly with a 25 on the back but some guys use 21 foot john boats with 150's on them and trim up the engine when necessary.

I fish the river often from the dam on down stream. I have a "river prop" for when im going there. My river prop is aluminum with lots of earned character. I know where most prop getters are,usally remember right after I tag one.

Thanks to everyone for the replys. I will be sticking to my kayak for the river then. I cannot afford to damage my brand new outboard over some trout. I am scratching my head because I have seen folks fishing in modified V boats below the dam. From the sound of things its too risky for me in my main fishing boat.

[QUOTE=MrPike;555373]Thanks to everyone for the replys. I will be sticking to my kayak for the river then. I cannot afford to damage my brand new outboard over some trout. I am scratching my head because I have seen folks fishing in modified V boats below the dam. From the sound of things its too risky for me in my main fishing boat.[/QUOTE]
you have to clearly understand what the generation schedule means and what the river levels mean in terms of safe boat travel. those big boats you saw below the dam were probably running when they were generating a lot of water and it was 16 to 20 feet deep. when they are not generating it looks like a little creek instead of a big river.

[QUOTE=MrPike;555347]Thanks for the response Geo. Have you had issues with hitting stuff downriver below Burkesville as well or are you talking more upriver towards the dam?[/QUOTE]

Mostly upriver, but I have put in at burkesville and ran up to the first or second riffle..........

The Lund is fine from a couple miles up from burkesville and about 4 miles down before Traces. The run at traces can make you pucker up in low flow if you don't know it (especially coming back up). The large run south of Traces before Marribone is even worse. So you have about 6 miles where water is at least 8 foot deep. Problem is trout fishing is usually best in the shallow stuff.

You could go to Celina and put in the Obey. Safe water for miles down there. Trout not near as good in Cumberland that far down (obey has trout but it's skinny at places too).

[QUOTE=Lowerider;555503]The Lund is fine from a couple miles up from burkesville and about 4 miles down before Traces. The run at traces can make you pucker up in low flow if you don't know it (especially coming back up). The large run south of Traces before Marribone is even worse. So you have about 6 miles where water is at least 8 foot deep. Problem is trout fishing is usually best in the shallow stuff.

You could go to Celina and put in the Obey. Safe water for miles down there. Trout not near as good in Cumberland that far down (obey has trout but it's skinny at places too).[/QUOTE]

Just remember, the Obey is Tennessee, and requires a tennessee license.