Fish Kill on Lake Cumberland

[bassmaster]

Have a question for everyone on here......honestly....have you released a keeper striper (or stripers) just so you could catch another.......Not alot of difference (they could die, the chance is there). Just saying. It's not a matter of what we "can or can not do" but what we "should or should not do" (these will differ from person to person). Excellent info Duayne...this explains to everyone why we see floaters at all times of the year (keepers and throwbacks of different species as well) Have a good one.

God Bless and Good fishing!!

Tim
bassmaster

[coombro]

I for one am not an avid striper fisherman, however I find this discussion very interesting and informative not to mention entertaining. Can't you just "fizz em" (what ever that is) like the bass fishermen do when pulling up lg. mouths form the deep in the heat of the summer? Regardless of the species it's easier to catch the smaller ones than the bigger ones who have been around the block once or twice. After targeting the smaller strips like buckhrnbaser stated I generally change to a bait that will be less appealing to the smaller fish as to let there chance of survival increase. Its up to us to do what we can to help our fisheries strive. More and more people are fishing everyday. Do your part to help the fishieries survive. that's what I consider a sport fisherman. Just my opinion so let me have it, you won't wad my panties.

[apb]

Have a question for everyone on here......honestly....have you released a keeper striper (or stripers) just so you could catch another.......Not alot of difference (they could die, the chance is there). ...

Yep, sure have. During the months of the year when the water temps are cool and the stripers have a good chance of surviving. During the warmer months its been catch two (keeper or otherwise) and I'm done. That is what we are talking about here: targeting stripers when the water conditions are not good for catch and release.

I have not targeted stripers at Cumberland during June-Nov for over 6 years (probably more, don't remember for sure). End of Nov thru end of May I'll target them at night with plugs/jigs. If I get a keeper that I don't think will go back, I keep it.

...Can't you just "fizz em" (what ever that is) like the bass fishermen do when pulling up lg. mouths form the deep in the heat of the summer? ...

Not as far as I know. Different species, different problem.

Andrew

[HURRICANEBOB]

Yeah know, the best thing about this board is the variety of well versed opinions that get stated on any topic.

Couple more thoughts:
1. Fishing by its very nature is a predatory sport, it's not designed to make fish any better by putting sharp objects into their mouths. Fish, in no manner, ever benefit from fishing. It just doesn't make any fish better to be caught.
2. If you catch and release SOME die, if you catch and keep, ALL DIE.
3. We fish because we enjoy it. We fish because we eat fish. Either way, some fish will die. I agree, everybody who fishes does it for his own reason.

Striped bass have been introduced to many of the large reservoir impoundments across the United States by state game and fish commissions for the purposes of recreational fishing and as a predator to control populations of gizzard shad. I really don't think a driving force was to provide an alternative food source.

I'll admit it, when we fish for fun, the fish don't have any fun at all.

PS: My avatar is a dead bluegill, not a dead Striper, I promise. Trust me, I used to sell cars.

[Duayne]

Have a question for everyone on here......honestly....have you released a keeper striper (or stripers) just so you could catch another.......Not alot of difference (they could die, the chance is there). Just saying. It's not a matter of what we "can or can not do" but what we "should or should not do" (these will differ from person to person). Excellent info Duayne...this explains to everyone why we see floaters at all times of the year (keepers and throwbacks of different species as well) Have a good one.

God Bless and Good fishing!!

Tim
bassmaster

No, Tim, I haven't. I have a four keeper rule on my boat, regardless of how many people are on it, unless it's just me. Then, of course, it's two. Even if I release a keeper, the fish counts. Now, this rule has never applied to non-keepers and there may have been times fish were too close to call by looking and it could have been a released keeper. I fished the spring for them with a bucktail and this is when it became very apparent there was a problem with the larger classes. So I haven't fished for them since the water temp has been higher than 65. These are my preferences and i would never preach them as rules everyone should follow. Each person has to decide what fits within their philosophy. But it's hard to apply a philosophy from two years ago to today. I don't mean to skirt the question, but we have some major concerns about the fishery and that's why we might seem a little overly touch on this. I don't personally know any long time weekend striper fishermen who are targeting stripers due to the questions with the fishery. I am certain Lance Sasser has fished for them, but I haven't seen his boat out at all in the times I've been down. This is a guide that usually fished the lake as hard as anyone and makes a living doing it. Again, I wouldn't fault anyone for fishing them as long as they understand all the factors. I probably will pick it back up in a month or so. Hey, we may be totally off on the effects of the kills the last few years. We've been holding our collective breath this year and we might just make it without a kill. But I'm taking a, "better to be safe than sorry" approach.

I did do a little pre-fishing for some buddies that were in a tournament on Cumberland my last trip down. Caught 20-30 Smallies and Ky's, mostly on top in about an hour and a half. None under 12 inches and three smallies that I'm sure would have measured along with some football Kys. One mean mouth I classed as a Ky . I had a kicker 4+ smallie at the side of the boat that got off. I know, the one that got away. I also tried for Walleye and blanked but I've never been able to figure those critters out after the spring bank bite. Anyway, I've found some other things to do when I get down there. The next trip will be a boat maintenance weekend. Fun fun..