Lake Cumberland

[Mustangwilliam]

Planning on trying out Cumberland this Friday. Putting in at Lee's Ford. The weather might be a little iffy...Does anyone have any input about being able to get on some fish and the particular pattern to use in this weather. Any help would greatly be appreciated. I will post results of trip on Saturday.

Jeremy

[procraft123456789]

I would put in at cumberland point or farther down the lake... water is still pretty MUDDY! in fishing creek.... and the smallmouth are biting like crazy down the lake!

[silverbuddy10800]

Are the west end Creeks muddy ?

[mooseknuckle]

The west end had color in the creeks. The three creeks I fished did, at least. It was a good thing. I would say that Fri. will be even better. You don't want to be in the heads, anyway.

[Mustangwilliam]

What do you mean in the heads of creeks??? Are talking about being up in the creek?

Are they catching smallmouths on crankbaits? Would burnside be a good place to put in?

I thought it was good for the water to be stained?? Is it bad muddy or just stained?

Thanks...Can't wait to get on the water.

Jeremy

[mooseknuckle]

When I say "head of creeks", I mean all the way up where the water is coming in. The fish aren't there right now. And, Burnside is not a good place to put in, at least it wasn,t two days ago. Your best bet will be down lake, like Jamestown. It depends on what you're trying to do. If you're looking for smallies, then, fnf in middle of creeks. Spots seem to be more close to cover. LM's I've not figured out yet. Trust me when I tell you to go down the lake, though. I'm going Sat. and you will find me in some "big creeks" on west end. Hope this helps.

[jigman73]

IMO Mooseknuckle is right on the money from what I've experienced since the rains. If you are wanting smallmouth then the lower end is the your best bet. If you don't want to go that far, then you might want to consider putting in around cumberland point or fall creek and fishing mid-lake down. Look in the long hollows about midways on points and in small cuts. With the weather that they are forecasting for this weekend the FNF in any clear water is going to be the best bet. Wood seems to be a bonus if you can find some with the right depths around it.

[Mustangwilliam]

Thanks for the info. FNF is something that I have never done and I am not set up to do. What would you recommend then if I am not FNF? Or can you make shift FNF?

Thanks so much.

Jeremy

[mooseknuckle]

Your best bet, if not fnf, is cranking. Crawdad pattern cranks{8-12 ft} are working. Also, a suspended jerk in pockets has had some success since the rains. The fish are in a holding pattern to me. Depending on the conditions, those damned fish are suspending more than anything. right conditions, they move shallower, wrong conditions, they move deep. Sound familiar? The water temp. Monday in the middle of creeks{west} was 46 degrees. Don't forget the jig @ run-ins, either. I'm going Sat. and I'll post how it was. Hope this helps.

[eatsleepfish]

The FNF approach is not that easy to makeshift. The long FNF rods give you easy castabillity and present these flies in a way that a slip-bobber rig just cant compare. Shinners are always a tried and true way of catching a good quality smalljaw in the winter. Try a small splitshot (BB size) first thing in the morning and gradually upsize that shot throughout the day until you find the depth and rate of fall that they will eat. Experiment with different sizes of your shinners also. I have found that if the water temp is below 48degrees that the smaller shinners work best. Pick a major creek arm on the lower end of the lake and watch your water temp for changes as you idle. If the temp is getting colder as you proceed up the creek arm, turn back towards the mouth and try there. I am on call for work this weekend, please post back again and let me know how you did.

remember..eatsleepfish

[Mustangwilliam]

Thanks for the info. I believe my partner wants to stay up toward fishing creek, so I don't think there will be much smallmouth bite up that way. But when I get the chance I want to give it a try. Thanks for the helpful info.

[kistler67]

Now I have not been down this winter but in the past I have found good smallmouth in the stained water on crankbaits. Some of the best days I have had with my Uncle who lives on the lake has been from Conley Bottom to Fishing Creek cranking main lake points and pockets where the water ist stained.

I know everybody is on FNF kick and I know it works but when the water stains fish go to the banks. I have seen it time and time again. I am not talking Muddy water but stained. Visibility 6 in -1 ft.