Cumberland Stripers

[HURRICANEBOB]

Saturday, 4 May, left J-Town not until 11 am, scouted around some. Lilly Creek first 2 bends looked like a log yard surplus sale. Decide on Caney. Started pulling boards around noon, and pulled Caney all day long with shiners, boards, with baits free line level to 40 foot. 1 Catfish and one short Striper after pulling boards to 8 pm. Work banks for a couple hours that night with little shad activity noted and few Striper pops to zero in on. Same on walls outside J-town that were crazy hot last night but were now quiet.

Creek junk report:
1. Wolfe is clear save a little bit of junk at the mouth and just a bit up around Cave Springs Marina.
2. Lilly is junked up
3. Caney is 90-95% clean water to work, little drift.
4. Greasey Pumpkin and Cliffy were nearly drift junk log free.

All that said, with rain we got Saturday, and all day Sunday, and shifting winds, all that can change in a few minutes. So be careful, there is some real big crap floating out there, and some of it is just about 90% sunk by now. The twig you see at the surface maybe attached to a partially sunk redwood tree.

Bald Eagles still very visible on farside across from Campers Point.

Special thanks to Allegator 2 folks that found us a bottle of propane for the boat heater Saturday night, and made fresh coffee. This dock still ranks as one of the best customer oriented and helpful staffs on the lake. By contrast Cave Springs as 8 pm had no store open, and had noting to sell as they facility weas open only to slip owners who attended their Derby party.
Bait: Jamestown and State Dock have shiners, belive it or not, Alligator 2 does not.
Jamestown Marina Restaurante is open Fri-Sundays now.

[thunderstorm]

Thanks for the info.

I don't see how the new marina is going to make it. No activity at all when we are around.

[HURRICANEBOB]

Thanks for the info.

I don't see how the new marina is going to make it. No activity at all when we are around.

I think they cater to their slip owners. Us fisherman, me thinks, are not who dey seek to satisfy. Oil well.:-)

[thunderstorm]

I'm very close to them by land or by sea. They could potentially get some of my $$$$$$.

[bsg2121]

Heading down next weekend 5.17/5.18 for nite bite. Any updates?

[fishincreek]

Thursday night on the lower end was pretty much a bust for me. Water at 67 and clear. Shad up a little after dark, but sporadic. Found one dark pocket of great shad numbers, but only a walleye or two in them. heard 4-5 stripers for the night. Not what I would have expected.

[adam7456]

Any guess as to what is going on with the Stripers this year? The warming weather was over a month late during which time they raised the lake. Are the shad just behind spawning? Are the shad spawning deeper since there is more cover? Does the larger surface area of the lake have the fish more spread out which is why no one is seeing large groups of stripers busting the surface? Usually the night bite gets going strong in April all the way through June, starting later each night as the water warms. It sounds like the night bite might just be getting started now.

[BKGOOCH]

fished sat nite lilly -wole area till 12.30 no shad no surface action at all.had 1 bite caught a 23 incher,that is it.went back sun nite at the dam ,fished till 4-00 am no shad no surface action,had 1 hit ,got a 22 incher and that's all.2 bad tough nites.

[thunderstorm]

Thanks for the info guys.

[bsg2121]

Yes thanks for the help. If there are any more updates please post. Thanks!

Now that the lake is up does anyone have an opinion as to whether the brush banks versus the rock walls or non brush banks are better for night bite? Just wondering if the shad or fish are used to the non brush banks since they have not seen this much brush in years. I know I am probably reaching and it probably doesn't matter but I only have 1 weekend for night bite this year and am hoping to make the most of it. It does seem based on the post that this year is different than years past. Is it probably more related to the increase in the lake water level?

[kstonich]

I've never fished Cumberland at night yet ,but will be there 5/22-5/25 hoping for some level of success, I was wondering if the fish are not on the shore chasing bait would another option to fish under lights at night, is this an effective technique on Cumberland? I have generator as well as 12volt submersible lights. If so any pointers would be appreciated.

[stripernut1]

You can talk about it until the sun comes up, you can discuss the wheres, whens, and hows, but NOTHING beats casting and casting and casting. it doesn't hurt to listen to the shad and the fish instead of fishermen either all im saying is what they did last night means absolute squat tonight. just go fish