Lake Cumberland Spring Striper Night Bite with a Full Moon

[apb]

I generally do not like a full moon for stripers. However, you can still have productive nights. Just gotta find the dark banks and concentrate there or hope for cloud cover. Like Duayne noted, the last few years have been hit or miss at night for stripers. Last year, most nights were pretty good. Personally, I like the topwater action, though will mix things up and throw both surface and subsurface baits. If the stripers are really keying in on one type, I'll stick with that. Generally if I am hearing stripers busting alewifes on top, then a slow waked swimmer on top will get eaten. I've also hit areas after the bite seems to be over (no, or few, blow ups) with subsurface plugs or bucktails and caught a few that we never knew were there, right up against the bank.

May be shoot for the first week in May?

Andrew

[Duayne]

Didn't it stretch more into late May early June last year?

[mhall]

Didn't it stretch more into late May early June last year?

Yes...

[apb]

Didn't it stretch more into late May early June last year?

Heard some reports of June topwater action last year, but was not in on it myself. Before the dam issues you could count on topwater action into June, though a shorter window each night. Don't think I would plan a trip on it though. Much better chance at topwater action earlier in May. Also have smallie action during the day more so in May than June, just in case you want to chase something without stripes.

Andrew

[nitro929]

Doesnt it depend all on water temp. Last years warm spring seem to start the nite bite early. Seen guys posting on here in early april with limits every night. I was down in late april with the water temps in the mid to upper 60'sand had a blast. went back down in late may with water temps in the 70's and caught them but the window was alot smaller. I only get to go a couple times a year so i am no expert.

[Duayne]

They move up shallow to take advantage of the alewives spawn so water temp is critical.