Stripers are not a lab made fish.They are a salt water fish that moves into coastal river in spring/early summer to spawn.Not going to get into a peeing contest on pro/con of stripers in Lake Cumberland.

There are a bunch of factors as to "supposed decline" in bass fishing on Lake Cumberland.This post pertains to smallmouth,can't speak much about largemouth.

USACE controls water level,lake was impounded for flood control/power generation.Fishing is NOT high up on their list of priorities!Dropping water during spawn has an effect on spawn success.

Cumberland is always compared to Dale for smallies .Cumberland will never be the smallie fishery that Dale is !While both lakes have some similar traits,Dale has more varied habitat for smallies-deep water,grass beds everywhere,gravel flats,islands all over lake.

Some have commented on the effect of alewives in Cumberland.They are in Dale also.Haven't hurt smallies in Dale.A lot of anglers don't realize that in summer months a lot of bass will move off shore and follow schools of shad/alewives out into middle of lake feeding on them.

Fishing pressure--Been fishing both lakes for over 40 + years.I can remember in 70's/80's fishing even on weekends,hardly every seeing over a dozen boats.Now you can't fish anytime of year and not see a bunch of boats.Lots more of us competing for a piece of the fish pie.With the advent of internet,information is much eaiser to obtain to become a better angler.With the vast array of electronics available,anyone can locate structure that in early years it took lots of trips to find.All these factors make it easier for us to locate structure/fish.Result-hugh increase in pressure on the resource.

I believe KDFWR needs to make some regulation changes on bass in Cumberland.Possible size increase/creel reduction.Be very carefull what you wish for-If striper population declines past a certain point,people that normally only fish stripers will switch to bass/whatever that will bite!



I make my living off stripers/smallies in Cumberland,smallies on Dale,trout and stripers in Cumberland River.Does it have an impact on fishery?YES.If you fish bass tournements,does it have an impact?YES.If you are a casual angler does it have an impact?YES.Do recreational boaters have an impact on bass fishery? YES.Any time you are on Cumberland you have an impact.No,I an not a tree hugger,just stating an honest fact!

Lots of factors effect the quality of bass fishing in Cumberland beside stripers,just keep an open /objective mind to the problem and for possible solutions.