Cumberland River Stripers

[jimmyjones]

Need some info on when to get those big cumberland river stripers........


Saw a show on Cable In Fisherman about catching those big un's........Would love to be geared up and ready when it is the right time to do this........

Any help would be appreciated...........Time of year and location would be great...........It was in fisherman tv show with Fred Mcclintock as guest guide.................Im pretty sure they were down in tenn somewhere..........

[PRO V LE]

Go with Randell and Greg of Ky.Trophy fishing guide service. I think there is a link on this site,check the fishing reports page.

[birdstrike]

The stiper runs are hard to predict in the river. I think they are much more predictable/ easier to locate in the lake. There certainly are a lot more guides to chose from. Plus you don't have the typical river hazards to deal with- shallow water, swift currents, rappidly changing water level and river conditions, poor ramps, etc... You'll find all the info a guy could ever want about the Cumberland Lake Stripers by searching this site. Good luck!

[jimmyjones]

Hey Thanks.But Im not looking for a guide... Just looking for the area location they were fishing and an approximate time of year to go

[PRO V LE]

That in-fisherman show was not a recent filming, I was told that McClintock even cacelled his river trips this past year. Due to the draught and river conditions.

[apb]

That in-fisherman show was not a recent filming, I was told that McClintock even cacelled his river trips this past year. Due to the draught and river conditions.

Yep, I took a trip with Fred in July. He gave me the oppertunity to cancel a few days before. Said a bunch of other trips had canceled. Worse year that he had seen in 19 years of fishing the river. Hopefully with a few more feet of water in Lake Cumberland this year they can keep some flow and cold water in the river to keep trout and stripers going.

Andrew

[Lowerider]

Need some info on when to get those big cumberland river stripers........


Saw a show on Cable In Fisherman about catching those big un's........Would love to be geared up and ready when it is the right time to do this........

Any help would be appreciated...........Time of year and location would be great...........It was in fisherman tv show with Fred Mcclintock as guest guide.................Im pretty sure they were down in tenn somewhere..........

The migration pattern is unpredictable, but traditionally the big fish don't show up in KY waters until April and stay through November. May and June usually produce the biggest fish. Historically the south end of KY waters were more productive for bigger fish, but with cold water issues I'm predicting they'll travel farther upstream to find cooler waters by summer or not make the journey at all. I launch anywhere from Donaldson Park in Celina (Obey) to Burkesville. Good luck, once you hook one you won't want to fish anywhere else...

2007 was not a good year for the big fish, Cordell Hull historically has year round average temps of 65 degrees which was perfect for the big brusiers but the C-land river hit 80 degrees in the southern part of the KY section this past year which had to be devasting to not only the trout but the giant stripes too. If it gets that warm again this year I'd fish the upper KY section or stay below the Obey. Anyway, I'd hit it hard this year because with the dam work projected to take another 5-7 years I doubt we'll have much of a trophy fishery much longer.

Also, with the decreased flow the river is extremely treacherous to navigate. The water was as low as I've ever seen it in many places last year and next to impossible to cover long distances without a jet-boat.

[Bobby Headrick]

There used to be a lot of very big strypers caught from the Ferry on the river at Turkey Neck Bend just south east of Tompkinsville. down to the Tenn line and beyond in the spring and fall, but like Lowrider said, things are changing on that river. Good luck and be careful.