New striper lake

[HARDROCK]

With all the issues concerning stripers on Cumberland how about stocking them in another lake? Laurel would be perfect. Deep cool water with lots of Shad. Has never had the problems that have plagued both Cumberland and norris over the years with 02 and temperature. Would be a boom for the local economy. Bass fisherman probably wouldn't like it but the striper effects on bass are highly exaggerated. Plenty of shad to go around.
Trout excuse not a good one either. The fish hatchery is likely closing and people don't fish for them on laurel like they used to.

[stripernut]

but i would have to relocate to laurel if they put stripes in there

[Tim_T]

My only question is Laurel big enough to hold a viable population of them?

[waterdog101]

if we're voting on it, I say stock laurel with stripers. and the sooner the better. laurel isn't the size of cumberland, but it would make a great striper lake. Tennessee has several striper lakes, I think ky should have at least two. the work on the dam, has killed cumberland. and laurel has a nickname { the dead sea } stocking laurel with stripers, may bring it to life again. I fish laurel once in a while, when I don't have much time. but if I have all night to fish, I don't want to wast it on two dead sea's. I take my fishing dollars to tennessee, where the fishing is so much better.

[agreynolds]

Gee wizz why don't we put them in Jacobsen park too, and maybe cave run so the muskies can have a new menu item, and then there is plenty of room in taylorsville, how about there as well. In case you guys don't know it is extremely hard to fix what we mess up. Go to the river it is full of big head and silver carp, they fight as good as a stiper and by all accounts are tasty too.

[Scum_Frog]

my vote is yes, i would love to see them put stripers in Laural lake, whitch is call the dead sea,,& ur all right instead of ppl taken there money to TN. it would be nice to have our money left here. or hybrids would be fine,very fun fish to fish for, there so maney hybrids in Cherokee lake, they call them (The Cherokee Bass) but eather way lets call Laural Lake some else besides the dead sea. & call Hybrid Heven...or something that the Ohio Navys afraid of,,,lol

[JoeB]

I don't think the dept of F&W is going to be much interested in destroying their premier trout fishery for another striper lake. I'm not trying to get free, shameless advertising, but check out my web site photo page and what I'm catching from Cumberland this year. I'll be the first to admit that it's been a little tougher since the dam work began, but Cumberland is far from destroyed. www.conleystriper.com

[stripernut]

nice ones !

but....i dont care what ANYBODY says...cumberland is a pathetic hollow shell of the lake it used to be ! and i dont care to argue about it with photo albums !

[mhall]

nice ones !

but....i dont care what ANYBODY says...cumberland is a pathetic hollow shell of the lake it used to be ! and i dont care to argue about it with photo albums !

I totally agree. No offense to ANY and all guides but there is no way in Hell I would pay 2 or 3 hundred dollars to go out and catch 30 inch and down fish. I can do that on my own and it's two fish maybe 6 to 9lbs. Cumberland is in bad shape, very bad.

Laurel would make an AWESOME striper lake, but they are not going to do it, Trout is the main issue, amongst the other things related to competition with other species issues.

Cumberland needs help after the dam is fixed, alot of help with creel and size limits. The bass fishing has gone straight to Hell to if you ask me...

[stripernut]

yeah mark i too didnt mean to offend anyone either and sincerely hope i dont....but im frustrated with what seems to be an attitude of "oh well this is what we're stuck with so lets just go with it". no lets dont just go with it, lets be proactive and have a management plan in place for the time when the dam is repaired (did i say that out loud?) , it might mean a little sacrifice for awhile, and it will probably mean we wont "sell" as many striper trips for a bit, but we wont "sell" any striper trips if we continue on the road we're on. im talking to anyone who will listen....so far thats nobody. maybe as a crowd our voice is louder?

and yes i know there is the occasional 20 pounder, and the more rare 30 pounder and the 2 40 pounders a year....but look at half of the "customers" walking off the dock with a gallon freezer bag of fillets from a 6 fish limit and tell me all of them felt they got their moneys worth from the 'one of the countrys top trophy striper lakes" ? fortunaletly great guides with professional courteous friendly attitudes who work hard made the trip enjoyable for them, but its not what they really came for, i know some crappie guides who are an absolute blast to fish with....but they arent giving me a shot at a legitimate 35-40 pound fish either.

oops my soap box is leaning to one side, better get down now

[Oldlures]

I don't think the dept of F&W is going to be much interested in destroying their premier trout fishery for another striper lake. I'm not trying to get free, shameless advertising, but check out my web site photo page and what I'm catching from Cumberland this year. I'll be the first to admit that it's been a little tougher since the dam work began, but Cumberland is far from destroyed. www.conleystriper.com

JoeB, I looked at your site and I agree with you . . . why would we as a state, abandon a program that it has nurtured for well over 40 years? This lake has been established and eventually will be back to its normal elevations. Most likely, as all lowered or drained lakes, historically have been done before . . rebound leaps and bounds. Why would this not be the case here?
Most of the comments state that Laurel is a "dead sea" I think that it is very strange although I have not fished personally; have had friends and also read on Fishin.com reports from members all have had wonderful success this Spring.
We have alot of years invested on Cumberland why turn ones back on it? I am convienced the KYDFW will support this. Mel ,"Oldlures"

[JoeB]

I never said that Cumb. hasn't suffered as a result of the draw down, I simply said that it is not destroyed. I don't think the numbers of big fish that we were once spoiled with will return until the water is kept at it's historic levels. A couple of years after the lake is held at normal levels, I honestly think all will be forgotten and forgiven. As for mis-management, I don't know what anyone could expect KDFWR to do about the issue except wait it out like the rest of us. Their hands are tied too.