Cumberland River Trout!!!!

I'm with you on this one, this is a scheme by a special interest group to increase their fishing pleasure at the expense of others.Where does it go next?These are fish paid for by all trout stamp holders and from other federal monies, the corn soakers have just as much righjt to fish legally as the dry fly guys.Its the same ole crap, the guys who can afford 300 buck fly rods and costly fly fishing gear, just want the guy with the zebco 202 to just watch them enjoy themselves.

I am the Secretary for Louisville TU. You mention that we are at the base of this situation. We are not. We did work to secure the slot and creel limites and they are working for everyone catch and release and take some home too. We believ that both groups are given justice in this program.
The catch and release section issue is another matter completely. We have not backed this issue for several reasons, not the least of which is public oppinion of the people that live there and use the river. Some of our other reasons are allowing studies of the effectiveness of the slot and creel regulations to be completed and the position of most of the biologist that the slot and creel limits help the fish more than a 1, 2, or 7 mile catch and release section. Louisville TU is about the trout and what ever works to make the quality and quanity of the trout in the Cumberland is what we are for.
As to the Catch and release section, Derby City Fly Fishers has been the main champion of that issue as far as I know. They have a web-site and would be glad to field questions on this. Maybe they will make you believers or possibly you will get your point across. Debate is always healthy!
Please make sure all of your people know where this is coming from and that Louisville TU isn't behind it. We will do things that are not popular sometimes for the fishery's shake, but we always look at the effect on aall the people that use the river not just one group. So blame us for the slot and creel, we are proud of that, but not for the catch and release section we HAVE NOT sponsored that and won't until the biologist tell us that it will do some good.
I am open to any communication with any of you on this. I can also tell you to date the Northern Kentucky FlyFishers is not for it either.
Barry Morris
Secretary
Louisville TU

Not true, or fair. See the note below from the Secretary of Louisville TU. There are a lot of flyfishermen who use the river who fully support the right to keep some fish and couldn't care less what tackle anyone uses. By the same token, I know some non-flyfishers who would like to see catch and release only.

I only flyfish, mostly because that's what I grew up doing and I don't have other equipment, and I disagree with the Derby City Flyfishers.

Somehow, this has digressed into a debate between flyrodders vs. bait fishermen. Please don't speak for me. I DO like to fly fish and I actually do have a $300.00 fly rod. You will also see me on the river drifting power bait and casting pin minnows for browns. I do NOT support "catch and release only" on the river. Personally I never keep trout, not because I'm morally opposed, but because I just don't much like trout to eat. I DO keep bass, striper, walleye, and lots of others that I fish for, but I don't like trout. However, I know that lots of other people do like them and I would never support something that would only benefit a relatively few. But, please don't speak for me just because I like to flyfish. Ya oughta try it sometime, it's a lot of fun.

Dave, I hope you read my post. Louisville TU feels the same way you do and so does KYF&W. I hope it is clear that we are not the ones with this proposal. We fought hard to get the slot and creel limits because we felt that it was fair to both sides and both sides would reap the benifits. We see that happening now as all the reports I get say the river is producing more and better fish than ever before. Even some of the proponents of the catch and release adnit that the slot and creel regs are doing their job. Louisville TU is a trout fishing and cold water conservation organization not exclusively a fly fishing organization. That said most of our members do fly fish and a lot practice catch and release, but we do not want to exclud anyone that does like to take their limit home for super. We just want to protect the resource from those that are greedy and would that in excess. I would like to see treble hooks cut out and bait fisherman that want to continue to fish and release after they have their limit be required to use circle hooks. Both of these methods catch just as many fish and alow for easier release and better mortality rates. Those are just my ideas not those of Louisville TU. I used spinner baits for years before fly fishing got hold of me and I switched the trebel hooks on them to single hooks and can honestly say my landing rate didn't change noticably. Even without those changes and leaving things just as they are now, the system works. Is there some mortality in the fish released? Yes. Is it greater than if there were now limits and everyone could take as many as they want? Not hardly! A fish released properly probably has a 75%/25% chance of survival. The survival rate in the skillet is 0%!
I like one of the others that has posted do not like the taste of trout so they all go back. Walleye, suager and smallmouth is a whole different thing. My limit goes home with me each time on that count.
Derby City Fly Fishers has a few folks that sincerly believe that this Catch and release "Trophy" section is nessary on the Cumberland. They have the right to their opinion. I believe they are a minority and will not win in their efforts. That doesn't make them bad people they just have a different opinion.
By the way, Northern Kentucky Fly Fishers IS a fly fishing organization and they are against the C&R section also.
Barry Morris
Secretary
Louisville TU

Been there done that, got my first fly rod when I was 15 yrs old, 55yrs ago. Yweah it was fun, but spinning rods and light tackle are just as much fun.The fly rod is limited in my humble opinion, its like playing golf with a 9 iron only

I didn't say it was the only club in my bag, just one of them.:)

If it was a wild fishery MAYBE catch and release would make sense. However being that it is a put and take fishery when fish are put in someones freezer they are replaced by continuous stocking.

Therefore the only true issue is the size at which they may be kept. Certain groups have fought to make this more of a TROPHY fishery by pressuring KDFWR to put on the current limits......then those same people are concerned that bait fisherman are going to kill the fish they are told they must release?

C'mon guys get over the elitist attitude....this is a recreational fishery started to mitigate the fact that a dam was built over a warm water fishery.

The beauty of fishing the Cumberland is that shore fisheman, waders, and boaters all have access to quality fishing that all can enjoy at the same time.



Rich

I usually just watch these post from the shadows. This is an important subject and I would like to put my two cents in.I live out of state and fish the river regularly. I always bring several people with me and we do our part for the local economy(we wait to buy supplies until we get to burkesville).I mostly target trophy size fish and this river is one of the only places they may still be found in any numbers.It is an awesome fishery and needs to be preserved.I do not want to see this river become another chattahoochie. I feel that something needs to change. Change is constant and since I started fishing the river I have noticed a huge increase in fisherman and a decrease in quality fish. It is sad but the rights of the many are usually hindered by a few bad apples and the ignorant. I am no expert and do not have all the answers. I am glad to see that people are talking about the subject.If you want to see where the cumberland is headed I will be glad to host you on my home river the hooch.

There are a few differences, one of them being about 5 million people do not have quick access to the cumberland.I* dont fish the river as much as I used to, one reason being the newer fishermen just give a d-m about others fishing rights, very few will idle down for anchored or trolling fihermen, they are too busy to be courteous, because they are after that trophy fish.I dont keep trout, and mostly use artificials, but sometimes trying to cast the banks when a speeding boat goeas within yards of you, just makes me not care if thete are new limits or no limits.But I'm sorry about rattling on, its that way all over the country now, more boats bigger boats. more horsepower, and less brain power.

That is not a fisherman. That is a boater that is uneducated most likely. Most people purchase boats and use them only a few times a year. There are no laws to educate boat owners except for the young. I have been with many boaters and some have scared me to death.

There are many who say..."Why not have a section that is catch and release?" The problem is you cannot have any trout in your possession while in the section of C/R. If I catch a 20in.+ brown up stream outside the C/R section, it's gonna be hard to give it up just because I have a few miles downstream to float through a C/R section. There must be conservation but I don't believe C/R is the best way to go about it on the Cumberland. In this case the slot is the best way to create trophy fish, and I hope the KDFW will apply those limits for many years to come.

On the boaters who are idots comment...couldn't agree more. Do your best to idle by waders and float boats...