Cumberland report

[mhall]

Fished Sunday and Monday from dark thirty till 2.00 or so each day. Fished west end of lake both days and never found water above 52 degrees anywhere. Most of the time it was running 50 degrees or slightly above. Water was clear on main lake and some color in the creeks and almost murky to muddy in the heads of some creeks. First fish came way before daylight Sunday morning on a spinnerbait, a little over an 18 inch smalljaw. Caught 10 for the day with the best being a 21 inch brownie that only weighed 4lb 4oz., looked like she had spawned out. Lost another one right by the boat fumbling for the net that was the twin sister to this one about 21 inches. Caught some dandy spots also. Monday began by frustrating the daylights out of me. I must have had 20 bass maybe more chase my jerkbait to the side of the boat doing everything but getting hooked. I had a nice five pound or so largemouth and an absolute pig smallmouth almost run into the side of the boat chasing that jerkbait. I know what you are thinking slow it down, but when I did they wouldn't even look at it all. Tried alot of other baits and just wasn't cutting it. At 12:00 noon I had three fish to my name, so I decided to scrap my smallmouth plan and went fishing. I went to the head of a creek that a thought would be murky and sure nuff it was, went to spinnerbait and crankbait and starting wackin'em. I caught 14 bass over the next couple of hours with several misses. No heavyweights but some real nice football 16 and 15 inch Kentucks and several smallmouth from 13 to 15 inch. Had to leave but managed to scratch out a pretty decent day. Wind was unreal and Sunday I almost froze my cohonas off, it blew water sideways from the time I left until almost dark down there and then it just flat out rained. Good luck if you go, it's fixin to explode if this weather will straighten out some. I can't wait for the topwater bite this year, I have found alot of areas at the present water level with huge amounts of submerged stumps on points, YeeHaa.

[Chubminnow]

Thanks for the nice report Mhall, sounds like you had a great time indeed!

As for the water temps...This week we're seeing a warming trend, plus maybe some warmer rains mixed in with it. Usually Cumberland is the last lake in Kentucky to turn on as far as water temps are concerned just because of it's size and depth. This year it's not quite so big due to the draw down so it hsould be warming up a little quicker...if the warming weather pattern continues to stay on track how do you think things would be looking down there next week?

Also, how were things at the ramp you put in at?

[mhall]

Thanks for the nice report Mhall, sounds like you had a great time indeed!

As for the water temps...This week we're seeing a warming trend, plus maybe some warmer rains mixed in with it. Usually Cumberland is the last lake in Kentucky to turn on as far as water temps are concerned just because of it's size and depth. This year it's not quite so big due to the draw down so it hsould be warming up a little quicker...if the warming weather pattern continues to stay on track how do you think things would be looking down there next week?

Also, how were things at the ramp you put in at?

I put in at Halcomb's Landing by myself and it's a piece of cake, just be careful where you park as people will block you in. Not much parking lot right now. This past weekend though I think I saw 7 or 8 boats in two days, weather I suppose. The bite is decent to good right now, and it's gonna get better as these water temps get to the high fifties to around 60 degrees. I personally feel 57 to 60 degree water is the sweet spot for the brown bass. If I look at my temp gauge and see this my confidence level goes way up. Get down there Chub, pretty soon with the weather warming the bite will go to strickly night and the wave makers will be out in force, good luck and report if you go.

[STONEWALL]

Don't slow down the jerkbait, speed it up they are getting to good of a look at it. I had the same problem and was told to speed up the retrive, it works never had many onlookers after that.

[mhall]

Don't slow down the jerkbait, speed it up they are getting to good of a look at it. I had the same problem and was told to speed up the retrive, it works never had many onlookers after that.

You know I tried that and I agree normally it works, but not yesterday for some wierd reason. Last year around this time of year I was ripping the jerkbait so fast and furious I had to almost rub down with Ben Gay after an all dayer and they were ripping the rod out of my hand. Sometimes I fish it like I'm trying to keep it away from them but yesterday it was to no avail. Oh well still squeaked out a pretty decent day I guess. I did watch that 21 inch come up and smash it though with three feet of line off the end of the rod, can't believe that fish didn't break me off, she went to China when I set the hook.

[ekubassfsher]

yea throw that spinnerbait. caught around 30 saturday on it in our EKU tourny. had limit by 9 and ended up with 16.5 pounds. with 2 kentuckies. fish are bitting well at cumberland right now for sure.

[mhall]

yea throw that spinnerbait. caught around 30 saturday on it in our EKU tourny. had limit by 9 and ended up with 16.5 pounds. with 2 kentuckies. fish are bitting well at cumberland right now for sure.

Did you guys fish East end or West end just curious, seems like I got bit better in the off colored water than the real clear water.

[elnutsmalljaws]

You may try tweeking you color a bit on the jerkbait. I found when fish will barely be hooked or follow it to the boat the color is just a bit off and they don't hit it or barely hit it. If you had another jerkbait similar but not the same color, maybe that would have worked.

[Duayne]

You may try tweeking you color a bit on the jerkbait. I found when fish will barely be hooked or follow it to the boat the color is just a bit off and they don't hit it or barely hit it. If you had another jerkbait similar but not the same color, maybe that would have worked.

Good point. Also, you can down size. Try using the Gizz 4 like a jerk bait. SM love them.

[ekubassfsher]

bigger fish came in clear water. accually all my fish did. was down towards the dam.

[apb]

Sounds like some good fishing to me!

Andrew

[mhall]

Sounds like some good fishing to me!

Andrew

Twern't bad I guess.