lake Cumberland bound

Heading down to Conley Bottom Resort tomorrow the 2ND staying until sun the 6Th. I'm taking my laptop with me so I can give a report sometime on Friday, for those of you thinking about coming down on sat. or sun. the way are luck has been the report properly won't help much, but at leased your know water temp and condition :). My son Jr has fished with me on almost all my fishing trips, he is very dedicated :D The bass that we do catch are small, the last 2 time we fish c-land we got skunked, I think Jr might be losing interest. It would make my day to see him hook into a nice big bass, he would be hooked for sure :D I would be grateful for any pointers. Thanks in advance for any help

Lake Cumberland has been known to humble even the best fishermen so don't worry yourself to much about getting skunked...yeah it's a bummer but that's how Lake Cumberland can be...there are others on this site that fish this lake more than me so they will be able to help you out a lot more with some information.

As for Jr losing interest...the other two places besides Lake Cumberland that I would take him is on a wading trip to the Cumberland River for trout (waders, light tackle, 6lb test, 1/4 oz lures and a nice low flow makes for some exciting catching)....and I would also take him to Dale Hollow. Both of these waters offer some real nice fishing, and his odds of catching a fish might be a little more in his favor. But as with all fishing, even these two waters can have their days in the barrel. Good luck and let us know how you do!

From what I've heard, and from my own trip on Monday, it's tough right now. Two fish won a Sunday tourney. The lake may be turning over in some areas.

The fish we did catch were on main lake cuts.

Try white or chart grubs and 2-3" sassy shads (shad color) on light tackle in the mid creek area. You should find some smallies and you may even hook into a killer striper or two. Be really careful if you nail a striper. They can open or close a small hook in a split second. But landing them can be done as I and people on my boat have done it many times.

You can also up size to a 1/2 oz bucktail jig. Smallies will hit those too this time of year. Use a smaller trailer than normal.

[QUOTE=Duayne;321839]Try white or chart grubs and 2-3" sassy shads (shad color) on light tackle in the mid creek area. You should find some smallies and you may even hook into a killer striper or two. Be really careful if you nail a striper. They can open or close a small hook in a split second. But landing them can be done as I and people on my boat have done it many times.

You can also up size to a 1/2 oz bucktail jig. Smallies will hit those too this time of year. Use a smaller trailer than normal.[/QUOTE]

Hey Duayne good to see you posting again. What Duayne said is very true also throw that jerkbait and spinnerbait on those windblown banks and especially points. There is also a decent bite starting in some of the backs of the creeks in the warmer water on the slickheads and Kentuckies.

There have also been good fish (brown in color) caught in mid-creek areas on crankbaits.

Hi MHall. Good to see you too.

I've never really done the jerk baits much but I know of many that do well with it around this time. When working a point, start WAY out and work your way in. 30-40 yards may not be enough. I know because I have trolled further than that around points to avoid them, when they were on the points and stripers were on the bluffs.

What would some of you suggest for someone who no longer has a boat and is limited to fishing the banks? Stripers are my priority but always happy to fish for smallies or kentucky bass. Being restricted to the bank, where are some good places to try/what time of day or night? Thanks!

WOW,
That would be like a needle in a hay stack. Stripers move so much that I don't know if you could ever locate them on foot. Right now would be the time since they are close to the banks, but getting the right bait in front of a fish would be quite difficult. Their strike location can change by the hour. But one thing is for certain, no one has ever angled a fish without having a line in the water. And as long as a line is in the water, there is a chance.
I would really suggest you invest in a guide. They can get you were you need to be.
OK now, lets see if we can help you with a specific answer to your question. Get you a map of Cumberland and check out the access points where ramps or old roads end around mid creeks. My fish came on a gravel bluff that was close to a bend in the creek, and the channel ran close to that side. You can see most of that on maps. What you can't see is if its a rock bank or gravel. If you find a bank you can cast from, make your casts down the bank and maybe 10 yards out. The fish are roaming close to the shore line right now so if any are hunting on the banks in that area, they will find you.

[QUOTE=Duayne;321886]WOW,
That would be like a needle in a hay stack. Stripers move so much that I don't know if you could ever locate them on foot. Right now would be the time since they are close to the banks, but getting the right bait in front of a fish would be quite difficult. Their strike location can change by the hour. But one thing is for certain, no one has ever angled a fish without having a line in the water. And as long as a line is in the water, there is a chance.
I would really suggest you invest in a guide. They can get you were you need to be.
OK now, lets see if we can help you with a specific answer to your question. Get you a map of Cumberland and check out the access points where ramps or old roads end around mid creeks. My fish came on a gravel bluff that was close to a bend in the creek, and the channel ran close to that side. You can see most of that on maps. What you can't see is if its a rock bank or gravel. If you find a bank you can cast from, make your casts down the bank and maybe 10 yards out. The fish are roaming close to the shore line right now so if any are hunting on the banks in that area, they will find you.[/QUOTE]

I know this is the only time of year to have any chance at them from the banks but its this time of year up until they stop their surface activity around the end of May that I enjoy the most. Even without a boat, once the surface activity picks up, it shouldnt be too hard to have some luck. What Im wondering is....what time of day are they active right now near the shoreline? I know once the surface activity picks up, it will be anytime from dusk til dawn but im pretty sure its still too early for them to be on top yet. Ive been a few places during the past couple of weeks just to listen if any shad are up or if i could hear any pops on the surface but I havent heard anything yet. I never stayed past 11 pm though.

Right at dusk has been the best time. Some at night as well on Slivers. Don't think you'll hear bait yet. That is at least 2-3 weeks out.

The striper bite has been great the last two mornings right at daylight. Without a boat though, you're chances of success are pretty much nil. The only place I've ever caught a few from the bank is at the Cooper Power Station at Burnside. I don't know if they still allow people to fish there or not, but it's a possibility.