Questions/Advice on the Cumberland River

[mkspw]

just got back from fishing the Cumberland river at the dam and down at Burkesville. The water goes up and down quiet a bit most days. They have a schedule on the entrance to the Kendall campground when they will release water. you can catch walleye and sauger on the far bank from the red danger sign to where the wall from the dam starts. Husky jerks in the clown color works on the walleyes and saugers 1 1/2 hour before dark till a little bit after dark seems to be best. Small long bill shadraps in the shad color works ok. around Burkeswille run slow or you might run up on a sandbar or hit something underwater.

[Chubminnow]

You should get yourself a map first (or hire a guide first), or a combination of the two...I have two maps, one of which I got from Traces on the Cumberland. Yes, from Burkesville on down to the Tennessee line the water is a lot more stable but even that far down the river still runs pretty fast and it's still pretty cold.

I don't see a lot of fiberglass boats on the river but I have seen a few, small aluminum john-boats or v-bottoms are more the norm than anything else...although believe it or not I have seen a pontoon on the river before. My feelings of boating on the Cumberland River are the lighter and easier the boat is to handle the better off you are, but this is just my own opinion.

Always remember, safety first! Have life jackets handy or better yet, wear them. I also suggest that you do not throw out an anchor or try tying off onto any limbs as both of these idea's could turn real bad real quick.

You didn't mention what you were wanting to fish for...if you're wanting stripers the last I heard on these fish was fishing for Cumberland River stripers is ok if all you want to do is take a boat ride, in other words catching a striper in the river would only be a bonus...this was about three weeks ago.

Good luck to ya and please post here and tell us how you did.