I fish the Cumberland quite a bit and agree totally. If I am going to pay extra for my trout stamp and pay my taxes, I would like a few trout for my smoker. I think they should lift the slot limmit due to the mortality rate of a trout. I fish cranks a lot down there, and it is very hard to get those treble hooks out without hurting those fish. I feel that a five fish limit, but nothing over 20 in. may be kept at all would be the ticket. This would keep the large fish that are already there in the river, and keep the angler who wants to eat a few happy. Just my opinion.
By the way, what pattern did you catch your trout on?