Any info on Cumberland River?

[RVogler]

Been doing my fair share of reading up on the river, but hoping someone could help some more. We are heading down tomorrow and staying at a campsite near Wolf Creek Dam. Fishing for everything that will bite, but I need some info on striper fishing. We are pretty pumped about trolling for stripers, but have no idea where they would be? I have read the Dam area is pretty shallow at times and the trout are plentiful, but where do the stripers hang out? And the smallies?

Thanks,

Ross

[scragley]

While trout fishing once below the dam, we drifted over three or four stripers.. I have never tried for stripers in the river, but seem to hear about them being further down stream.. Burksville has some deeper water, and I've heard about some good catches towards that end..

[RVogler]

That's kind of what I was thinking all along. I will probably just hold off and talk to the locals. I appreciate your thoughts.

[PRO V LE]

RV, if you are serious about Striper fishing the river this is what we use. Saltwater rods and reels 40# test min. 60# is better, the largest bait you can get 10 inch to over 16 inch. The river is much different than the lake, snags etc. and big fish. I would go to Strange bait and tackle for up to date info. in Burkesville.

[birdstrike]

The only time you'll find stripers up by the dam is after a prolonged period of heavy water release. You would be much better off fishing the lake .

Good luck

[RVogler]

Thanks for the info, Pro V LE. Althought I'd love to tackle a 40+ striper I don have salt poles anymore and I'm only using 20 lb. test. I've tried to call Strange 5 times, but no answer or machine. I will probably drive over to B'Ville on the 5th and get the local scoop after I lounge by the fire eating fresh trout all day for the 4th.

Birdstrike, I might head up to the lake if the partiers aren't waving it up too much. I have a 16footer and a small 9.9...we'll see where it takes me.


-Ross

[LarryG]

The river is at its lowest point that i have seen, and i have been fishing it for the past 12 years out of burkesville. I dont even think about putting my boat in at the dam, its very shallow. But if you have 4 wheel drive and 17" wheels, you may be able to do it. As for stripers, If you are lucky enough to catch a skip jack or two, they are the bait for large stripes. I have caught a few small stripes below the dam, but that was a couple of years ago, while they had two generators running, I'm sorry for raining on your parade, but the lake is going to be a zoo, If you go to burkesville, you may want to try some large shiners, and stay in the deeper water, most of the deep spots that i know of, are about 13+ ft. I dinged my prop monday in water that I had fished just a week ago, so be carefull.If you go the shiner route at burkesville, get your bait there, it wont travel well because of the warm weather, the river temp at burkesville was 68.7 monday, and the water is dirty. I got skunked, using jigs and rapalas, but did see a few guys fishing bait. Good Luck!

[RVogler]

Okay, thanks for the info everyone. We stayed mostly up by the dam and had a blast. I got my fill of rainbows and will be content if I don't see another for awhile. Caught about 8 white bass and 2 sauger. A couple of people were pulling in walleyes off the deep holes. What's up with the browns? No one caught any that I spoke with. Anyway, we headed down to Burkesville on our way back home. We had no luck with anything. The water was really low and dirty. Even if they do have good fishing, or not, I will never go back to that town. I'm sorry folks, but I heard the "duelin' banjos" song the whole time I was there. Also, I think whoever built the ramp there should be fired. I think a 55 degree incline is a bit much! Every car in the town had some sort of a large, flashy sticker/decal in the window saying Git r' dun or Redneck. Okay, we all had our fair share of em', but that was enough to last a lifetime. I will stay close to the WC dam from here on out.

[birdstrike]

It might look a little rough down around Burkesville but I got to tell you, those are some of the kindest people you will ever meet. Same goes for most of rural Ky. You'll know the day a complete stranger gets you out of a bind. Really, they're good folk down there. Glad you enjoyed your trip. Browns hit nightcrawlers pretty good, but you catch a lot of small ones that way. Also, if you're fishing canks, try riping it as fast as you can through logs and tree branches.

Take care

[muskytooth]

[QUOTE=RVogler;332519]Okay, thanks for the info everyone. We stayed mostly up by the dam and had a blast. I got my fill of rainbows and will be content if I don't see another for awhile. Caught about 8 white bass and 2 sauger. A couple of people were pulling in walleyes off the deep holes. What's up with the browns? No one caught any that I spoke with. Anyway, we headed down to Burkesville on our way back home. We had no luck with anything. The water was really low and dirty. Even if they do have good fishing, or not, I will never go back to that town. I'm sorry folks, but I heard the "duelin' banjos" song the whole time I was there. Also, I think whoever built the ramp there should be fired. I think a 55 degree incline is a bit much! Every car in the town had some sort of a large, flashy sticker/decal in the window saying Git r' dun or Redneck. Okay, we all had our fair share of em', but that was enough to last a lifetime. I will stay close to the WC dam from here on out.[/QUOTE

Hope you don't choke on a trout bone you *******. Fish somewhere else.

[RVogler]

Yeah, Birdstrike...very nice folks down there.

I guess I upset one of them (muskeytooth) . I hope you have enough teeth to chew up the trout bones.

[muskytooth]

Yeah, Birdstrike...very nice folks down there.

I guess I upset one of them (muskeytooth) . I hope you have enough teeth to chew up the trout bones.

I'm gonna make you squeal like a pig fat boy. Weeeeeeeeeeee!!!