Technically the best time and place would be to fish the Cumberland River on the full moons of April, May and June when the Stripers make their false spawning run back up the river towards the dam. With to low water the last couple of years they have not been making it all the way back to the dam but according to Fred McClintock, who has caught more trophy stripers than any many alive, these 3 months on the full moon on Cumberland River are the best. He has been fishing Cordell Hull and the river section as far north as he can go the past couple of years with success. Good luck in booking him for he is booked 3 years out for these 3 months and only has a few days period open all of 2009 and they are in August. He will be fishing Cordell Hull then with downriggers. But if you dare to wreck your boat and have a nice cold swim then the river is actually the best place to catch a 25-60 pounders and I would say the section between Burkesville Ky and Celina TN would be your best bet. I have wanted to try it for 3 years now but too chicken to try it for I don't know the river and love my boat too much plus not very interested in swimming that cold water that time of the year.