Emergency Regulations Lake Cumberland-Striper

This has been an on going problem for several years. Its hard for a guide to stop fishing after a coup-le of hours when he has an all day charter, and keeping a few dinks will not make customers happy. I saw what happens one year at the mouths of beaver and otter creeks in late summer, there were belly up stripes all over the place. We had closed seasons for years up north, and folks learned to live with them. Close the season on stripes from 8/1 to 10/1, and people will learn to live with it. It isn't only guides either, its guys who cull fish, like for example the trout on the lower cumberland river. Tenn. has pumps that put O2 back into the lake at Norris.I just stop fishing for them after july.

What some don't understand is that most of the fish floating on surface are there not because anyone caught and released them,but due to poor water conditions(high water temps/poor oxygen content).This is due to the large amount of cold water pulled from Cumberland this spring and summer to keep lake level close to 680.Higher than normal summer air temps hurt also.

There is a number of fish floating aournd Indian Creek /Dam area.Won't speculate as to the number ,but it is significent!!!Haven't been on other areas of lake to have first hand knowledge.This is a very serious situtation for Cumberland's striper fishery.Comments about possible changes to striper regs to improve the fishery are mute till the work on dam is done and lake returns to normal (We can all hope).Had the same situtation this time last year-mainly with walleye.If we have a heavy rainfall year in 2011 and Corp has to dump lots of water,depleting the cool water reserves,we will be facing this problem again.

Some who have commented that lake would be better off without stripers might think about this --If striper fishery goes to pot,most will still fish for something/somewhere. Be carefull what you wish for,might see a bunch more people after your targeted fish at your favorite spot.

Ok I am the first to admit that I am not a striper fisherman . But early in the summer and late spring the number of stripers that we where catching while fishing for bass was UNREAL.. Every weekend while tournament fishing we where catching 75 - 100 !!!! Most were 15 -20 inches long. BUT I heard that the fish and wildlife had increased the numbers they had stocked.
OKAY this is the same thought process that third world countries use in having kids. Limited amount of food, (oxygen) but if they have more kids then the chance of one surviving is greater. OK COMMON sense kicking in , the more fish in a lake the more oxygen being used up. Yes there is a happy medium but if it is known that the oxygen levels won't sustain but a certain number of fish ,why add to that number? And another thought what about other lakes that the damns are not being repaired. The ones the level remain pretty constant. One key factor is grass. It adds oxygen to the water. Also some one said the problem was they had to pull the lake to keep it at a certain level ,actually pulling the lake helps the o2 levels , current = dissovled oxygen increasing.

They didn't increase the stocking number on a whim. Results showed that stripers are using more of the lake than they originally thought and they stock based on the USAGE lake area.
The issue with drawing more water than normal has to do with where they draw it from and the affect it has on lake temps. The draw happens from the lower reaches, which pulls the cooler water which raises the over all lake temp and removes some of the cool water layers. The fish have been fine with the higher than normal temps, until this latest dry spell. The higher temps results in lower amounts of dissolved oxygen and without a source to help keep levels up, the amounts can drop rapidly this time of year. The slight current movement from drawing does not add O2 to the lake. It may help the river..

As Randall pointed out, this has nothing to do with catch and release *this time*. That can be an issue with 4 year or older stripers in normal years. But if adult fish are distressed before catch and release at this time, that means the 2-3 year classes would move into the range of dying during catch and release.

*Please* if you fish for stripers at this time *please* make sure to not fish the jumps and use larger baits to try to avoid the 2-3 year classes. Getting those fish through this as unharmed as possible is a major key to the next few years. Take advantage of the size limit and stop when you have your limit. If you get the chance to net a dying fish, please do so and take advantage. Getting those fish out will help. Also, use some sense and only collect *dying* fish and not *dead* fish for consumption.

Pray for rain...

Ok quick question . Does boat traffic add o2 to the water. I already know this answer because o2 levels in water is what I do for a living. Also current does add o2. When the lake is not moving it looses more oxygen than if there is current. Anything in the water that current moves around it adds dissolved oxygen, It might not be a large amount but it does add it in ppm. This is the reason that in extreme cases the fish will be in 1 foot of water with 90 degree water temps. The waves and boat wash add o2 to the water at that level
But back to my original question why add more fish that will use up more oxygen. 2 fish in a livewell don't use as much oxygen as 5,6,7 ect....

Sometimes I can't help but just wonder about some of the remarks posted on this board.....??:confused:

Okay, so here's my question:

New reg says: "Anglers must not catch and release striped bass over 22 inches, as these released fish are likely to die."

I don't eat these things. I catch and release. So if I'm out striper fishing, and 2 boards go down, and both fish are 28 inchers.....I HAVE TO KEEP THEM:eek:??????? I guess I have to run around from dock to dock hoping to find someone to take the two fish I won't clean and eat. Or since I don't clean fish, do I just back to the dock, and dump the fish in the garbage can? I guess so, cause KDFWR doesn't want me to let them go and have them floating on the lake.

What kinda a perverse logic is that?
a. If I keep them, and don't eat them, [B][I][U]they are dead anyway[/U][/I][/B], no chance to survive.
b. If I did keep them, and did eat them--[B][U]THEY ARE STILL DEAD[/U][/B]
c. If I do let them go, while odds are against them, [U][I][B]but they still have a chance to survive. [/B][/I][/U]......RIGHT?
d. I catch a 22 inch fish, I [I][U]can[/U][/I] release it, but if its 22.5 inches I have to MAKE DARN SURE IT DIES BY KEEPING IT......HOW DOES THAT ADD TO THE POPULATION?

And the part that's really looking out for the health of our citizens: " net or hand grab three additional striped bass over 22 inches that are floating on the surface. ". HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE THE MEAT IN A DYING OR DEAD FISH TO GO RANCID? Especially in 90 degree water that we all know holds more bacteria than cold water.

"Although a number of factors may contribute to meat spoilage, the most common cause of meat spoilage is the deterioration of meat caused by micro-organisms (bacteria, yeasts, and molds). Beware! Foods can contain dangerous bacteria and microorganisms but still have a normal appearance."

So the KDFWR, to help clear dead fish off the lake, think its a good idea to encourage (raising the limit to five encourages collection)....encourage people to pick up dead fish that might be DANGEROUS TO THEIR HEALTH AND EAT THEM.

What next? "The KDFWR this week , as a reult of a recent oil spill on the Ohio River, are recommending people take towels to the river and collect oil to use in their lawn mowers".

And the real charm: "If you catch and keep 2 under 22 inches, stop fishing for Stripers." Does that mean I have to now put out lures I HOPE A STRIPER WILL NOT BITE AT? Does that mean I take off the planer boards, because only Stripers will bite a bait, and only if its under a planer board?

Come on KDFWR, make it clear and simple:
1. Bad conditions, to many fish dying, so STRIPER FISHING IS BANNED TILL FURTHER NOTICE. We'll tell you when you can do it again. If you accidentally catch one while fishing for other species, let it go and hope for the best.

2. DON'T EAT DEAD FISH! THEY GOT BAD STUFF IN THEM.

3. Do more water skiing. Fish with nightcrawlers for bluegill. Go swimming, but DON'T Striper Fish.

AND YOU GUYS THINK I'M WACKED OUT? Nope, I'm just obviously working for the wrong agency. Looks like my weird ideas would fit in well at KDFWR.

They should have just made it a no cull, 2 fish limit.

[QUOTE=Jbyrd;426081]Ok quick question . Does boat traffic add o2 to the water. I already know this answer because o2 levels in water is what I do for a living. Also current does add o2. When the lake is not moving it looses more oxygen than if there is current. Anything in the water that current moves around it adds dissolved oxygen, It might not be a large amount but it does add it in ppm. This is the reason that in extreme cases the fish will be in 1 foot of water with 90 degree water temps. The waves and boat wash add o2 to the water at that level
But back to my original question why add more fish that will use up more oxygen. 2 fish in a livewell don't use as much oxygen as 5,6,7 ect....[/QUOTE]

They did not increase the number stocked. Don't know where that came from.

[QUOTE=HURRICANEBOB;426093]Okay, so here's my question: I don't eat these things. I catch and release. So if I'm out striper fishing, and 2 boards go down, and both fish are 28 inchers.....I HAVE TO KEEP THEM:eek:??????? I guess I have to run around from dock to dock hoping to find someone to take the two fish I won't clean and eat.[/QUOTE]

My answer to your question is as follows:

If you launch out of Grider Hill on any given Friday, Saturday or Sunday you shouldn't have any problems finding takers on the fish you catch. I'll give you an exact slip number to deliver the fish to if you'd like.

If you don't want to keep them in the summer, don't fish for them. That's how every catch and release striper fisherman I know approaches it. Stripers are a put and take fish. They are put there to control the bait population first, to be taken home for food second, and for pure sport (catch and release) last. If you are catching and releasing ANY 28 inch stripers in the summer then going back for more, you are doing damage in that if you catch 10 per person, you killed eight over your limit (per person).

Along the lines of the fish seen floating on the surface dying, A friend of mine fishes for stripers everyday . He said they almost always catch 10 -25 fish most around the 20 inch mark. Some of the dead fish may be due to the low oxygen levels but in my opinion I think that alot of the fish seen floating are released fish. At any given time there are 10 - 40 striper boats from the **** to wolf creek. If they all catch 5 fish , after pulling them out of 30 -50 ft of water and release them into the 90 degree water we have ?????? Any one can do the math !!!!