Too early to shiner fish at Cumberland?

[MagikSmallie]

As a rule, I would think that it is never too early to throw a shiner!

[mhall]

Magik is right. Yea they stay alive better in cooler water but they will always catch fish, Spots are exceptional Suckers for shiners.

[R19]

Several years ago I read an article in KY Game and Fish Magazine about live bait fishing for smallmouth on Lake Cumberland. At the time I myself was doing a lot of live bait fishing. It's been several years ago but I do recall a quote in the article that was very accurate that I found to be true..."If it's tobacco cutting time use crawdads and If it's tobacco stripping time use shiners"

I have found there is NO bad time to use crawdads for smallmouth. They do become harder to find this time of year because of cooler water but in return with the cooler water creek minnows and shiners become easier to keep alive.

[brushhogking]

I've been quiet a few times over the past 3 years and have been really successful doing it. Even on a bad day we would still catch 15 fish or so. But it is usually when the water gets a little cooler, like in the upper 50's. Probably still gonna go Sunday. I really enjoy it. I got my personal best last December, she weighed 6 and 1/2. Anybody doing any good in the creeks up by the dam? I usually fish the Jamestown, Lily and Wolf creek area but lookin for something new