KDFW has actually come on here and commented about considering seasonal regs but continue to decide against it. Maybe they want more of the smaller fish removed in the summer, even if they aren't being eaten and that is why they do not change it?

One thing you can do is fish with larger baits like med sized bluegill or larger gizzards. I haven't had a small striper hit a decent bluegill yet. You will get fewer bites (obviously) so you need to be secure in the areas you fish them. To be honest, I prefer the 24-30 inch fish for eating more than the larger ones anyway. But the best advise on this thread so far is to stop or move if you are getting hit by under sized fish.

As for a winter seasonal limit of 36, I think that would be a long term goal, but it would be best to start at 30. The guides do need to be able to bring fish in to clean for their clients. and I can't help but think that a 36" limit would mean they would have to throw back too many at the start. Bottom fishing is a key method at these times and deep hooking is always possible with decent fish. It could very well shift the needless release of doomed fish from summer to winter. Anyway, these were part of my considerations when offering a 30" winter limit. If there became an over abundance of 36 plus fish, they could work the size limit up as needed.

Cumberland was, at one time, a major trophy striper lake. The lake was younger and they stocked it with trout then. Largemouth were also huge then too. New lakes age and become less fertile. It's just how it is but I certainly feel strongly that the largest contributing factor in the size reduction was the discontinued stocking of trout. With the smaller baits they feed on and the engery needed, I do not think it would be possible to extend the seasonal grow rates much more than they are on alewives or threadfins. Gizzards are another possibility but I don't think Cumberland will ever become a huge gizzard shad lake and they do not populate enough of the lake to rely on them as a lake wide source. KDFW has increased stockings due to findings that stripers actually use more of the lake than they once thought. Following this theory, and considering that the larger fish will take larger baits, it might do someone some good to consider the areas where gizzards live for larger fish. I've seen the best guide on the lake (IMHO) go out with his wife and another couple and come in with two coolers full of fish, all 25#s or larger. This was in the heat of the summer in the middle of the day. The larger fish are there, they just aren't were most people think they are..