Fished Lake Cumberland the last 3 days, and did not do well. But I thought that it would be helpful to report anyway. Conditions were windy, cool, and it spit rain pretty much for 3 days. And the water is way down on the lake.
Temps:Water temps were 75 degrees from the main lake all the way up the creeks until about the last bit of the creek, where the temps dropped to 74.
Bait: Shad were easy to get in the very backs of the creeks. The thread fins were small (3-5 inches), but there were some really good gizzards that were pretty easy to get. The bait was just stacked from about 2/3 of the way back the major creeks, all of the way to the back. Put a light out at the marina, and saw no bait the first night - then saw some small bait the next night. Definitely better to go to the backs of the creeks and throw a net.
The Fishing:
STRIPERS:We pretty much stunk the place up. Fished for stripers with live bait on the main lake at Indian Creek. Bait and fish showed on the electronics pretty much at the 35 foot level, plus or minus 10 feet. Sometimes bait was up and down the entire water column. I found more bait and fish showing in the mouth of Beaver & Otter too. RESULTS: not a tap! Spoke to a guide friend who fished live bait, then downrigged curly tails, then pulled umbrellas. RESULTS: not a tap! Also fished one day towards the back third of the creeks where all of the bait was. RESULTS: not a tap!
BASS: Not too hot with these guys either. A few spots were caught on small shad color crank baits off points. I saw/heard of some being caught with live bait off the points also.
WALLEYE: We accidently caught a couple of walleyes. On the points (try Buffalo rock in Beaver) using jigging spoons and silver buddies. Sat on top of them with live shad, and got nothing. But they were definitely there. Probably a good walleye fisherman would do better.
SUMMARY: Spent 3 full days and about $100 worth of gas on the lake. Bait is stacked in the back third of the major creeks. The water is "active", as you see and hear fish jumping around. But the bite was just lethargic at best. You may apply all of the usual excuses.
QUESTIONS:
1- I got the feeling that the fish were moving up the creeks, even thought the temps were 75 degrees. Does anyone else see evidence of that?
2- Did anyone else have good luck these past 3 days?
3- Why is it that if bait is easy to get, the fishing#####? Is it a universal law of nature?