Thinking I'll just try my hand at trolling for Walleye on LC

[FlyLie]

Well, unless you have been sequestered for the last few days, you know about the serious situation the Stripers are currently facing in Lake Cumberland . So, I need to find another focus for my fishing outings!

Thinking about trolling for walleye....never done it!! So, maybe I could use a little help.... First, where do I find them? Have read they like water temperature in the 68 -73 deg range, so with current conditions on LC, does that suggest trolling rapala type baits down at 40 foot or more in depth (do walleye suspend?), or do I need to bounce the bottom at 40 foot plus depths?

I'm thinking of fishing the lower end, Wolf Creek dam area, using a couple of down riggers, and maybe double stacking on them. So, any help will certainly be appreciated . Please PM, if you don't want to post to the world. Thanks.

[stripernut]

gary i hate to be the bearer of bad news....but the walleye have been belly up too, a ton of them have been going through the sluice gates below the dam, and man o man some hawgs have been floating down the river. the alarming thing is these walleye have been dead for a little while and they are getting sucked through the gates near the bottom...which means most of the dead walleye arent floating. i think i am going to take up catfishing! they will live for a week in a microwave!

[Duayne]

One thing is quite evident to me. Those who care about the Cumberland fishery are going to have to make some careful considerations once all the facts are in on this situation. Catch/care and release may be in order for many species when possible, and abstinence in times release isn't possible may also be in order.

I also do not understand the idea of discontinuing the stocking program. If the 3 year class and younger make it, then the sockings of next year wouldn't go through this for four years. Will we have four more years of this? Or are the younger fish taking a big hit too?

[know1]

Gary,
Maybe you'll have to try fishing walleye or maybe even Muskie in Green River Lake. It's not too far.

[FlyLie]

Gary,
Maybe you'll have to try fishing walleye or maybe even Muskie in Green River Lake. It's not too far.

Yes, Green River. Never fished GR, but was just starting to think about it a couple of days ago as an alternative to LC. Have already started looking at GR lake maps and ramp locations. From what I have heard, it's a pretty good fishery....and I've never fished for Muskie .

Might need a guide. I got the boat, if anyone got the time.

[Chubminnow]

Shhhhhh....quiet down a little bit fella's...you all are talkin' to loud.

[Redskeeter]

Shhhhhh....quiet down a little bit fella's...you all are talkin' to loud.

Yea Green River *****, there are no fish in there, dont waste you time too many jet skis and cabin cruisers running around plus the water is like sewage. Just kidding Boone, you will enjoy Green. If you are trolling stick close to the bouys at the beach by Lone Valley ramp. Hot n Tots in H01 will pulling two colors of leadcore should put you where the walleyes are now.

[FlyLie]

Yea Green River *****, there are no fish in there, dont waste you time too many jet skis and cabin cruisers running around plus the water is like sewage. Just kidding Boone, you will enjoy Green. If you are trolling stick close to the bouys at the beach by Lone Valley ramp. Hot n Tots in H01 will pulling two colors of leadcore should put you where the walleyes are now.

Thanks for the info Skeeter; made my first trip over the GRL a few days ago. Tried casting and trolling for walleye and muskie. No luck trolling, but caught my first musky casting a shad rap....it was a "short fish", only 32 inches, but a good introduction to muskie fishing. Being as I'm only a hour away, maybe I'll spend a little more time on GRL .

As a side note, haven't seen/heard much from you since last winter when we met on Dale Hollow chasing the FNF smalllies. Not wishing to rush things, as I enjoy fishing all seasons, but ......FNF rods are turned up for when the time comes .

[FlyLie]

gary i hate to be the bearer of bad news....but the walleye have been belly up too, a ton of them have been going through the sluice gates below the dam, and man o man some hawgs have been floating down the river. the alarming thing is these walleye have been dead for a little while and they are getting sucked through the gates near the bottom...which means most of the dead walleye arent floating. i think i am going to take up catfishing! they will live for a week in a microwave!

Man,that's more bad news! . Was thinking/hoping the eyes survived the water situation this time, as had not seen them floating above the dam. May take Know1s' advice and start fishing Green River, at least until the water/weather cools enough to start some small mouth FNF on LC .

[aceoky]

Boone in "my limited experience" the LC Walleye generally hug the bottom, walleye "do suspend" quite often (especially on Laurel River lake) but not so much IMO on LC for whatever reason(s).

This time of year you should do good on the flats with Bottom Bouncers and crawler harnesses (depending on how much the kill has effected things) you can use your "riggers" to get the ball "X" number of feet from bottom and troll cranks so far behind them to get near bottom (but keep a sharp eye out for depth changes unless you with to lose a ball or two :O)

I've always done great for 'eyes on LC, not so much on Laurel eyes but I'm still hammering away to figure those LRL walleye out LOL

IF you have planer boards you can run a nice spread to see where they are biting the best, if not you can still likely find them , will just take longer IMO

[FlyLie]

Boone in "my limited experience" the LC Walleye generally hug the bottom, walleye "do suspend" quite often (especially on Laurel River lake) but not so much IMO on LC for whatever reason(s).

This time of year you should do good on the flats with Bottom Bouncers and crawler harnesses (depending on how much the kill has effected things) you can use your "riggers" to get the ball "X" number of feet from bottom and troll cranks so far behind them to get near bottom (but keep a sharp eye out for depth changes unless you with to lose a ball or two :O)

I've always done great for 'eyes on LC, not so much on Laurel eyes but I'm still hammering away to figure those LRL walleye out LOL

IF you have planer boards you can run a nice spread to see where they are biting the best, if not you can still likely find them , will just take longer IMO

Thanks, Aceoky, just the kind of feedback I was looking for.

[aceoky]

My pleasure!

I just hope things haven't changed too much with the kill, and you hammer them. Not sure how you're "set up" for trolling but IF you have the space, rod holders etc. , with water temps on the fall a bit , might be a good idea to long line one crank for suspended "just in case" I doubt it will pay off big, but it might add an eye or even some that you'd otherwise not get? Most of the year "I" would not try that but things can happen in the fall, as they're putting on the feed bag heavy preparing for winter and less to eat then.....