Fishing the Cumberland River?

For the last several years I've wanted to fish the C-land river for some of the monster stripers that I've read about in articles. I know it really is a trophy fishery from what I've read. I'm hoping for some advice from those who fish it or have fished it. Can a novice learn to fish it fairly easily or should I really hire a guide and try to learn to fish them that way? I fish for stripers in tailraces and warm water discharges on the Ohio pretty often but no experience with Cumberland other than fishing the lake twice. I have a feeling I could get hooked on these c-land river stripers fairly easily. One last question, I usually fish a jon boat, but have thought about buying a smaller pontoon possibly 16'-18' for more comfortable fishing for myself and family. I know the cumberland is supposedly narrow and I assume shallow in areas, is it fairly fishable with a pontoon. Thanks for any help and suggestions, it is truly appreciated.

yeah I would like to know some information about the C-Land river as well, but I am more interested about the upper river, in the strech from the falls to the headwaters of the lake. I frequent this area in the fall for canoeing, but with the lower water levels, I will be able to canoe it year round now. However, I have never seemed to catch, or even see a hint, or a fish in that strech of the river. Anyone got any suggestions?

Its not like fishing some of the other tail races, and with the lower water levels, it may be better than it used to be. Mostof the giudes use large shad or skip jacks behing planer boards, Many just cast large baits like the big bango lures or the very large plastic jerk baits.About the boating who knows, with the water level of the lake down, the current on the river may make a lot easier to use a pontoon. A lot of stripers are caught below the dam, but you need water coming out of the turbines, and some times the river drops so fast you may have problems trying to recover a boat from the launch area at the dam.

Try fishing the area from Burkesville to the state line; there's a couple of ramps available but you have to look for them. The water level is more consistent down in this area compared to up by the dam, plus the current isn't as fast as by the dam when water is being released. Stop at Strange's Bait and Tackle for info. and there's a guide service that works out of Burkesville. I don't think a pontoon boat is the ticket for the river.

I can't imagine a pontoon working out for you on the river. As far as a guide, if you're going to fish the river a good bit, by all means hire a guide and ask plenty of questions. Best money you can spend.

I was kind of wondering about just using a bass boat from Burkesville to the state line and below. I know I wouldn't try it between Burkesville and the dam. Any one use fiberglass below Burkesville?

I would get a guide to start with. You can reach the guy you saw on tv at
[url]http://www.dalehollowguide.com/index.html[/url]

I've fished out of my 17 foot Carolina Skiff (fiberglasss) in that area several times without problems and the guide that runs in that area is using a 19 foot plus Skiff also.

I've fished that section of the river with a 20' F/S and I've used a pontoon. The river will tear a fiberglass boat up. I can go anywhere in the pontoon when the water level is right. I fish with a couple of guys that are 62 and 65 years old and have been fishing the river since they were kids. They use basstrackers with 60 hp evinrudes. I have to admit the basstracker type boat is the ideal boat for the river.

Your jon boat should work well. It's all I ever use. Just be careful until you learn the river. What was three feet of water in the morning will be an island in the afternoon.
If you want to make a weekend of it there is a nice motel called the River Front Lodge in Burkesville. They have a boat dock about a hundred feet behind the rooms. Don't forget to make a few casts for the trout. They are addictive!

Steve