Cumberland winter stripes

[peter]

I'm heading to the lake on Wednesday, hopefully things will thaw a little in the next couple of days,my last chance to fish for the next 4 or 5 months. Not sure what I will target but 60 degrees in January on a lake is to hard to pass up. , any suggestions for stripers?

Did you find anything interesting down there?

[kstonich]

Went into Wolfe pickup up a 28" fish first 15 minutes, the nothing. finished up the day back up in Greasy creek. Didn't go all the way back but 3/4, graphed tons of bait and fish but they were not to interested in my shiners.
The night before I had pulled off my down riggers thinking I wouldn't need them( never again). Most of the bait I saw was very near the bottom with lots o fish activity in and out of the bait schools. The bait was concentrated between 50-80ft. After a while I gave up and moved closer in and did catch 13 small mouths all nice fish 2-4lbs in front of large chunk rock fall. At least they liked the shiners. Not s fun as you would think on 8ft trolling rods
Now If I hard targeted them I probably would not have done as well.

[peter]

Went into Wolfe pickup up a 28" fish first 15 minutes, the nothing. finished up the day back up in Greasy creek. Didn't go all the way back but 3/4, graphed tons of bait and fish but they were not to interested in my shiners.
The night before I had pulled off my down riggers thinking I wouldn't need them( never again). Most of the bait I saw was very near the bottom with lots o fish activity in and out of the bait schools. The bait was concentrated between 50-80ft. After a while I gave up and moved closer in and did catch 13 small mouths all nice fish 2-4lbs in front of large chunk rock fall. At least they liked the shiners. Not s fun as you would think on 8ft trolling rods
Now If I hard targeted them I probably would not have done as well.

Thanks. When you made your original post here I had been watching The weather and was thinking the same thing. Taking advantage of the warm weather. Currently it is looking good for next weekend. Maybe I won't woos out then.
You da man!
Peter

Surprised to hear the bait was so deep. I haven't fished in the winter in a long time but going to try this winter.

[kstonich]

I did see random baitballs 20 ft down but I didn't see much fish activity around them. One day I will figure out how to grow my cast net. I get one decent throw out of 20. Then maybe I can get some good bait. I've watched you tube vids over and over and I'm missing something. It sure would be nice to use good bait for a change, but what I would really would like to get some large fresh shad or alewives and brine cure them. I've always done good trolling cured baits with the slow roll from a 2 hook rig.Honestly there are times when I would love to anchor and toss put some bait and relax. Have never caught anything but bass or catfish on shiners when I've done it at Cumberland.
Thursday I stayed on the lake until dark it was 65 degrees and no wind I didn't want to leave. Probably won't be seeing that for quit a while. Good luck when you go Peter. This might be my last trip till spring taking the boat in to the shop for a complete floor replacement ( gotta luv Lunds lifetime warrenty) . Then off to Canada for a project till June.

[stripernut1]

I did see random baitballs 20 ft down but I didn't see much fish activity around them. One day I will figure out how to grow my cast net. I get one decent throw out of 20. Then maybe I can get some good bait. I've watched you tube vids over and over and I'm missing something. It sure would be nice to use good bait for a change, but what I would really would like to get some large fresh shad or alewives and brine cure them. I've always done good trolling cured baits with the slow roll from a 2 hook rig.Honestly there are times when I would love to anchor and toss put some bait and relax. Have never caught anything but bass or catfish on shiners when I've done it at Cumberland.
Thursday I stayed on the lake until dark it was 65 degrees and no wind I didn't want to leave. Probably won't be seeing that for quit a while. Good luck when you go Peter. This might be my last trip till spring taking the boat in to the shop for a complete floor replacement ( gotta luv Lunds lifetime warrenty) . Then off to Canada for a project till June.

K, i can show you how to throw a net and get it to open every time...in 2 minutes. As a matter of fact, once you throw it and it opens, it will be difficult to throw it wrong ever again lol. Just send me a msg when it warms up and i will meet you at jtown ramp where we talked that day.

[SOFISHTICATED]

K, i can show you how to throw a net and get it to open every time...in 2 minutes. As a matter of fact, once you throw it and it opens, it will be difficult to throw it wrong ever again lol. Just send me a msg when it warms up and i will meet you at jtown ramp where we talked that day.

Sign this grasshopper up for the lesson. Breakfast is on me at the Russel Springs Cafe. Thats down town on main street; he..heee.....

[Duayne]

I'm not sure how Stripernut1 throws but I've adopted the method in this video and it is virtually full proof.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho7Q-eeckko

I just lay the net over my arm instead of over my shoulder.
Key advantages:
The net weight is distributed over both arms evenly. You won't tire one arm if you are making a ton of casts.
You do not need to coil the line, which is huge if you are going really deep
You can tie the pull line off to the boat or dock. This is a safety feature in waters where you could net large fish or get snagged in current where you could get pulled overboard.
It's so easy to load very quickly.
You can throw this waist high which means you can throw over the rail of a boat easily.

[waterdog101]

I'm not sure how Stripernut1 throws but I've adopted the method in this video and it is virtually full proof.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho7Q-eeckko

I just lay the net over my arm instead of over my shoulder.
Key advantages:
The net weight is distributed over both arms evenly. You won't tire one arm if you are making a ton of casts.
You do not need to coil the line, which is huge if you are going really deep
You can tie the pull line off to the boat or dock. This is a safety feature in waters where you could net large fish or get snagged in current where you could get pulled overboard.
It's so easy to load very quickly.
You can throw this waist high which means you can throw over the rail of a boat easily.

thanks Duayne, I have a 10' net, I have never been able to get it to fully open, but it opens enough to catch bait, I'll give it a try the next time I'm on the water, but looks like I'll have to wear my rain coat, but not a problem if it will get my net to open fully, looks like an easy way to get it done, thanks again for sharing the info.

[Duayne]

thanks Duayne, I have a 10' net, I have never been able to get it to fully open, but it opens enough to catch bait, I'll give it a try the next time I'm on the water, but looks like I'll have to wear my rain coat, but not a problem if it will get my net to open fully, looks like an easy way to get it done, thanks again for sharing the info.

You are welcome. I usually only "throw" in the late summer so getting wet is actually more desirable then. I have to say, though, I really don't get as wet as I thought I would. The net lays over my forearm and I keep my hands down until I am ready to throw. Still, any wet is too much when the temp is close to or below freezing.. LOL

[bsg2121]

Alright i finally got the dates and am going! Really excited. Got 2 going who have never caught a stripe and another who used to go with me a lot. Hoping to set everyone up with a little meat, photos and good memories.

So we will get there 3/10 and fish 3/11,3/12 and 3/13. Leaving 3/14. 3 solid days of fishing. As we get closer any helpful information would be appreciated. Will be pulling bait probably in the creeks. Thanks. BG

[bsg2121]

Alright i finally got the dates and am going! Really excited. Got 2 going who have never caught a stripe and another who used to go with me a lot. Hoping to set everyone up with a little meat, photos and good memories.

So we will get there 3/10 and fish 3/11,3/12 and 3/13. Leaving 3/14. 3 solid days of fishing. As we get closer any helpful information would be appreciated. Will be pulling bait probably in the creeks. Thanks. BG

Geeeez now i am starting to wonder how all this rain and flooding is going to affect the fishing. I still have 2 weeks and i am pumped!!!

[Duayne]

Geeeez now i am starting to wonder how all this rain and flooding is going to affect the fishing. I still have 2 weeks and i am pumped!!!

Which part are you fishing? Debris will be the biggest issue if the lake holds and drops slowly. Lots of wind and some dryer weather will be your friend. Having said that, fishing around debris fields can be frustrating but highly rewarding. Look for fish to move closer to the banks real soon. They were staging closer last weekend.