New striper lake

[mhall]

Joe you really think two years?? That would be an awful fast rebound for quality don't ya think. I think we are mostly referring to good fish, not these little shorties and small keeps people are getting right now. Again I value your opinion and I'm not trying to be a smart ass, I just think two years with the water high isn't gonna have quality rebound that quickly, I hope I'm wrong and you are right.

[JoeB]

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.

[mhall]

I hear ya Joe, some good points Bro. Like I said I agree it's a quality issue, the lake is breamin with shorties. I forget sometimes that novice fisherman especially from ''OHIO'', I'm sorry Lord for that one would gladly pay to catch small keeper stripes. For that I am grateful for you and your fellow guides and for the state's commerce.

Have a good day and good fishin.

[stripernut]

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

[Mean Morone]

I hope that the fishery recovers in two years, but I find that hard to believe. Until the dam is fixed and the fish have a few years to recover, I will fish further south. I feel bad for the guides, this is how they make their living. I know striper guides on LC and hate to see them go through this. Norris Lake had a fish kill in '03 I think it was and it is still trying to recover. Norris will fully recover to trophy status before LC in my opinion. For those that think a 20 lb striper is a trophy, they haven't fished elsewhere. Just a little further south and a 20 lber is just another good fish. For those that think Ohio fisherman are desperate fisherman, I resemble that remark.

[JoeB]

I hope that the fishery recovers in two years, but I find that hard to believe. Until the dam is fixed and the fish have a few years to recover, I will fish further south. I feel bad for the guides, this is how they make their living. I know striper guides on LC and hate to see them go through this. Norris Lake had a fish kill in '03 I think it was and it is still trying to recover. Norris will fully recover to trophy status before LC in my opinion. For those that think a 20 lb striper is a trophy, they haven't fished elsewhere. Just a little further south and a 20 lber is just another good fish. For those that think Ohio fisherman are desperate fisherman, I resemble that remark.

You mis-read something somewhere. I never said a 20 lb fish was a trophy, I said it was a quality fish. Big difference. And thanks, but I certainly have fished "elsewhere".

[Mean Morone]

You know, typed words can be read anyway they want to be read I guess. I'm sorry you thought I some how was trying to offend you. I was stating my opinion. I'm sure you have caught way more stripers than I will ever think about catching. Obviously you are a guide that is in defense mode right now. I don't blame you one bit. I hope the best for you. Matter of fact, If I knew you I would try my best to help send business your way. Good luck to you.

My opinion is that Lake Cumberland is my favorite lake. I have caught stripers up to 24 lb and smallies up to 5 lb mostly casting lures. I would love for the lake to produce half a dozen 10 to 20 lb stripers in a fall night like it used to. Those are quality fish. Until then I will fish elsewhere. Lets all hope that it will recover in a couple years after the dam is fixed.

[cindave]

Just the other day I was thinking about how disappointing it would be if the KDF&W did not restock our lake anymore. I read on here the other day that it was a real possibility. I believe that any product is only as good as its managed or produced. I'm not sure the reason that the KDF&W is not planning on restocking Cumberland but if it is merely a money issue, I feel that a striper stamp, similar to the trout stamp should really be taken into consideration. I know that I wouldn't mind shelling out an extra $25.00 if it would help to preserve and better manage our precious resource. Wake up KDF&W and deal with the problem at hand and stop blaming all of the issues on a leaking dam.

[Duayne]

I thought they were stocking more, not planning to not stock any..

Folks, the amount of rain we are getting the last few years has as much or more to do with this issue than the dam. The fact is, attempting to hold the levels should HELP bass spawns, not hurt it. Of course pulling it hard hurts, but they wouldn't have had to pull it this hard if it wasn't for all the water. I think they are doing as much as they can. The dam had to be fixed so it ends up being that it is what it is.

The guides do need to make a living so putting the mandatory keep regs in place should happen. The smaller fish are better table fair anyway. Or at least the 24" fish are better than the 30". But that doesn't mean that us recreational fishermen can't give those up and comers a break until the water cools. The lake will be STACKED with keeper fish this time next year with heavy classes behind that. If a few of the bigger fish make it, then we'll also have some 20 lb fish then or soon. Right now, Its my opinion that the best thing to do is leave em be if at all possible.

[mhall]

I hope that the fishery recovers in two years, but I find that hard to believe. Until the dam is fixed and the fish have a few years to recover, I will fish further south. I feel bad for the guides, this is how they make their living. I know striper guides on LC and hate to see them go through this. Norris Lake had a fish kill in '03 I think it was and it is still trying to recover. Norris will fully recover to trophy status before LC in my opinion. For those that think a 20 lb striper is a trophy, they haven't fished elsewhere. Just a little further south and a 20 lber is just another good fish. For those that think Ohio fisherman are desperate fisherman, I resemble that remark.

Sorry Scott, you obviously are a good fisherman...

[agreynolds]

well I see that you guys aren't getting it. Perhaps you all should put some Wheatie Balls on your umbrella rigs and catch some yellow stipers instead of white carp.

[stripernut]

well I see that you guys aren't getting it. Perhaps you all should put some Wheatie Balls on your umbrella rigs and catch some yellow stipers instead of white carp.

hahaha....did that last year one afternoon with the wife.....the most fun ive had since coyotes ate my brother!