Cumberland smallmouth fishing

MJ, Nice thoughts... About the shad though... WOW, I've fished the lake for many years and have never seen the amount of threadfin, Alewive and Gizzards in the lake. In places it's like you can walk on shad acroos the lake at times, it's crazy..

I think the slot should be .0000001" to 100" for Smallmouth Bass, but that's just my opinion. Plenty of Shellcrackers, Crappie, Catfish, etc to fry up.

[QUOTE=mhall;488861]MJ, Nice thoughts... About the shad though... WOW, I've fished the lake for many years and have never seen the amount of threadfin, Alewive and Gizzards in the lake. In places it's like you can walk on shad acroos the lake at times, it's crazy..[/QUOTE]

You're probably right about the shad. I was just trying to think of things that could be effected by the change in the lake. I really feel like the sudden drop in water is what is making the difference on Cumberland. The striper fishing is not what it used to be either since the water drop. Night time striper fishing used to be crazy. You could limit out in a few hours and have some monster fish. We had the few years of mass flooding then the water drop and it's not the same. Plus, there are thousand more striper guides than there used to be also. I really think once the water is back up to normal and several years past the same productive areas we used to catch fish will be productive again.

I can be at Cumberland in 30-45minutes and it takes me 1:00 to 1:15 to get to Dale.....I'll make the extra drive EVERY single time....I fished live bait on Cumberland twice this year with a grand total of 10 smallmouth...On Dale, that was a very very poor day


The amount of cover on that lake has dropped since they dropped the water, but like MHall said, smallmouth aren't a cover oriented fish....However, smallmouth fry need cover to stay away from larger predator fish...You stick a school of fry on a bare bank with no protection and before long there won't be any fry...They can have an awesome spawn, but if the fry aren't protected, the numbers won't grow....I'm all for anything that will make the fishing better, I'm just not sure a slot would fit that bill right now...IF they ever get her back up to what we remember as full summer pool, the excessive amounts of vegetation will create great spawns, and thus make for some great fishing for a few years

Once the lake gets to "normal pool" that's when the slot needs to be put into effect. Until then I don't see it really having any benefit... Dan

[QUOTE=Fishin is life;488874]I can be at Cumberland in 30-45minutes and it takes me 1:00 to 1:15 to get to Dale.....I'll make the extra drive EVERY single time....I fished live bait on Cumberland twice this year with a grand total of 10 smallmouth...On Dale, that was a very very poor day


The amount of cover on that lake has dropped since they dropped the water, but like MHall said, smallmouth aren't a cover oriented fish....However, smallmouth fry need cover to stay away from larger predator fish...You stick a school of fry on a bare bank with no protection and before long there won't be any fry...They can have an awesome spawn, but if the fry aren't protected, the numbers won't grow....I'm all for anything that will make the fishing better, I'm just not sure a slot would fit that bill right now...IF they ever get her back up to what we remember as full summer pool, the excessive amounts of vegetation will create great spawns, and thus make for some great fishing for a few years[/QUOTE]

I agree with the idea of the fry needing cover and the lack of it. Also, we had 2 springs in a row with a lot of rain and fluctuating water levels. That very well could have affected the spawn yhe last 2 years. I think there may be a water quality issue going on. The stripers have the pararsites in their mouths leads me to think that.
I do know this: I used to fish down there every weekend from 2003-2006. Caught alot of nice smallies during that time including a 22.5" 6.5 pounder. Since then, I have spent less and less time down there each year because I can't catch em down there like i used to. Also fish BFL at LBL so I dont have as much time to go to C-land, but when I have gone, its been disappointing. Fished the 1st mile and a half of Beaver and Otter twice at night last summer in June, not one smallie either trip and only a few Ky's. I do think IF the water level is allowed to return to normal, we will have a couple years og good spawns and survival rated with all the new cover. I agree that the limit should change then if not sooner. It sure couldn't hurt the fishing and I think most people would welcome it after seeing the results on Dale the last few years.

I think that when the water is allowed to return to summer pool and water returns to what is now a forrest in creeks, the quality of spawn and numbers of survivual will help C. I think that a slot now would also benefit C. Thats just more protected bass that will spawn when it does come back up. As for the Stripers, I wouldn't give you a red cent for. Not to hurt anyone's feelings. Just not a striper guy. But, why can't C be both. Why can't it be a world class lake. Why can't the Elite Series come to C. It's so big, it just doesn't have the numbers for it. On a side note. What do you think creates more revenue? Stiper guides or Bass Tournament anglers filling thier boats with fuel, buying baits at the local tackle store, hotel rooms, resturants, etc... I think def bass fishermen would create more revenue for the local. Just look at the tournaments that could go out on C. KDFW needs to start working to bring C back and stronger than ever. I live an hour away from C but I bypass it everytime to drive another hour to Barren. Now thats a lake. Now that I think about it, KDFW even put new stake beds out this year on Barren.

I fished Cumberland in 2003 up to Dec 2004 when I made my first trip to Dale. Never since and never will I plan a trip to Cumberland to Smallmouth fish. I am not an expert but Stripers do nothing but Swim and Eat and they dont care what they eat. Dale has 3 major advantages over Cumberland, No Stripers, has Grass and Rainbow Trout is stocked regularly. Plus, I don't think there will ever be a slot on Cumberland because of all the Tournaments that are held on the lake. Put the slot that Dale has on Cumberland and that same bag of 18-20 inch Smallies that wins most tourneys is a big fat zero. Deep clear water lakes are about the only thing Dale and C has in common.

[QUOTE=chiphunt;488862]I think the slot should be .0000001" to 100" for Smallmouth Bass, but that's just my opinion. Plenty of Shellcrackers, Crappie, Catfish, etc to fry up.[/QUOTE]

I like the way you think...

Some good stuff here. I TOTALLY AGREE that the water level coming up has to help protect the fry as Steven pointed out. Will it be the magic pill....who knows we'll see. As another poster pointed out Cumberland could do the slot after and make a huge difference in my opinion. Also as another on here said, Cumberland can have Stripers and smallmouth both, it can and should.

Elite series because it's such a strong fishery, yes that is a reachable goal, loved that kind of mindset. I wish fishery guys with KDFW would read this site. There are alot of fellas on here with good ideas and maybe it would at least get them thinking.

Dale is awesome make no mistake, the slot is the reason. However I remember a time when catching 19 and 20 pound plus sacks of your best five smallmouth on CLand was not uncommon AT ALL, and now it is.

Thanks for all the input fellas..

Dale is a terriffic smallmouth lake. I believe a couple things contribute to it's success not just a slot. Not saying the slot doesn't help because it def does. I believe the biggest factor for Dale is genetics. Those fish are just strong, thick, eating machines. I dont spend much time on Dale, I just feel this way because the KDFW transplanted those genetics to my home lake of Laurel.There are 3 fish tournaments that take 17 pounds to win here. Don't even get me started about Laurel. The meat hunters live on it especially when the spawn is on. But, that clear water with grass, is also helpful. I feel like KDFW is dropping the ball on C. But, maybe they know something I dont. Maybe they never intend on bringing her back up.

lived in somerset from 2001 to 2010. fished both lakes. have to say i believe more than anything what helps dale over cumberland is the grass. good for fry and young fish to get big. additionally and close behind is the slot limit. this keeps the bigger fish in the lake and growing! as long as their are striper guides, their will not be limits. i have watched way too many guides bank up and drop live bait to smallmouths - next thing, in the bucket. i get it. they have to make a living but in that sense they are not really striper guides but bass guides. its legal and they are trying to make a living. with all the stripers dying off, maybe they won't have as many opportunities to hook smallies. most folks don't come to cumberland for smallmouth trips, its a striper trip with a side benefit of smallies when the stripers aren't biting. c will be back IF they bring up water and LEAVE the vegetation growing. fished it before it was dropped and have observed growth of vegetation on banks for years. it WILL come back with a fury IF they leave growth alone!