lake cumberland dead fish floating everywhere

[mhall]

Bass numbers are down in the lake, the Department acknowledges this as I have contacted them. Shock surveys and other methods of recent research over the last three to five years have shown a decline in numbers of largemouth and smallmouth. Numbers are still good or about where they were on Spotted bass however the size of those fish have suffered some. Several years back Cumberland in the yearly fishing forecast booklets would always be rated as good to excellent. They are considering next year at only rating it at fair??

Now all that said, is the lake still full of good fish, sure it is. Also the numbers being down some are the direct result in bad year class spawns due to excessive lake fluctuation and especially bad timing of the up's and down's as well. The stripers have nothing to do with it, ask a fishery biologist and see if he doesn't agree. I would love to see a five year trial slot on Cumberland on smallmouth. If it doesn't work than it doesn't work, but it would I would bet the bank. The largeheads will come back in good numbers when the lake is filled back up, no doubt. I have been catching more largeheads on the west end of the lake the last few years than ver before, including some pretty good ones to, 3 to 4lbers' that look very healthy.

What would be the down side of trying a slot on smallmouth??? Also before you start slinging mud at me, they siad the numbers were down some, but they did not feel it was bad yet and certainly not even close to needing suplimental stocking, I'm not sure if I agree with this, but this is what I was told.

[Duayne]

I sure haven't been able to tell a difference in the SM fishery, but I certainly will take your word for it. The Ky bass numbers have been about the same but the size seems to have been down some. The crazy spring levels has to play a part in it. I thought I heard they were thinking of supplementing the LM hatch next year if it isn't a good spawn.

[apb]

Good summary info on that link Boone. Thanks for posting that.

Another study that I read a few years ago was done on Smith Mountain Lake in VA. The fisheries people had been stocking fingerling stripers in just one area of the lake. They found that many of those fingerling stripers were being eaten by bass. Had to modify their striper stocking to allow more of the fry to survive.

Andrew