Quote Originally Posted by JoeB View Post
Yep, I think two years after normal lake levels and you'll see a very noticable improvement. The problem isn't numbers of fish, it's quality fish. The smaller stripers (to 30 in) are doing just fine. There are TONS of them in the lake. These are 3 - 4 yr old fish. What I call quality fish are bass in the 20 + lb range. Two years after the lake is kept up, there should be plenty of 5 - 7 yr fish.

As for not being willing to shell out a couple of C notes for a few 24 - 30 in fish, well most other locals wouldn't either. Never would. But of course, that's not whom the charter community caters to for the most part. People living in Toledo probably wouldn't want to spend the money to catch a few keeper walleye. People in Cleweton laugh at us yankees for spending money to shiner fish for a few 6 lb bass. But for traveling fishermen, it's good fishing that they can't get at home. I happily pay the price to cast to tarpon every time I'm in the keys, and on most days, I don't catch a **** thing. I wouldn't miss the chance for anything though.
GUILTY i will spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars in florida during july chasing fish the locals sneeze at. and im certainly not syaing write cumberland off as a loss, i am saying exactly the opposite. as a fishing community we should be more active in the direction of the fishery . fisheries biologist(s) that i speak with immediately turn to the possible negative financial impact that manipulating harvest numbers might bring. the next statement is " the guides would have a hard time making a living if the limit were one fish per day". well sorry i misunderstood when the lake was built and subsequently stocked with stripers i didnt realize it was done to support a few individuals. there is a whole population out there that doesnt guide and they in no way should ever take a back seat to the guide community in the decision making process. not trying to step on toes but it will be hard to convince me that a guides annual salary is a critical factor in calculating size/creel limits.
and i truly hope that the 2 year rebound is a possibility, but the fact is the fishery was in decline from a comparative standpoint prior to the dam repair project. larger and larger crowds getting better and better at striper fishing in my opinion has been a major player in the striper game at cumberland
but then again i have my beliefs and others have theirs, i respect them all