Lake Cumberland- Bait Situation

[FlyLie]

Been awhile, so how is the situation catching bait (shad) on the West end of the lake, i.e., Halcombs landing area, , Guffy Creek, Indian Creek, Greasy Creek...so on,,,so..on.?

AND BY THE WAY, ANY GPS LOCATIONS ON THE STRIPERS....

[FlyLie]

Hard to believe no one is fishing LC and catching/trying to catch live bait. Come guys, give it up?

[HURRICANEBOB]

Haven't been down since 2-5 May. But while we were down, any night 20-40 foot from any shoreline, especially redclay banks and straight up rock cliffs, you could drop a light over the side, wait about 20-30 minutes, kill the light and catch shad. Not always alewives, mainly threadfin, but if you went deeper with the net you would get some bigger threadfins and some alewives.

My gut tells me if you went in at Halcombs at night and just threw the net along the rocks at the dam maybe in 20-30 foot of water you'd get some. If not, hit a creek, head 1/2 back, drop the light and give it 30 minutes.

Last choice, and be darn careful with this, but if going in at Halcomb, run to Grider Hill Dock, and look for lights close to the water near the dock where no houseboater or guide is likely to take offense to you being there. Sometimes just pulling in and asking works, especailly since most guides seem to catch their bait in the early hours of the morning, if you were there at night, and asked, they might just let you give it a throw or 2.

Last, FYI, Jamestown and State Dock have shiners, so you can ramp in , run, and grab a cup of coffee while the fresh bait hits the baitwell. But check dock store hours, they are weird this time of year.

Last, don't forget Lake Cumberland Country Store on 127 head to the dam, just below the entrance to the state park. Sometimes this time of year they even have gizzard shad, mainly shiners, and on rare occassion suckers. (270) 343-2066

My favorite way to avoid interfering with guides or houseboaters, is to get a overnight slip at Jamestown, hit the boat at 4 am in the morning, pitch out a light while docked up, drink some coffee, and pitch the net a couple times. Just my preference....could do that at any dock.

[GeoFisher]

Haven't been down since 2-5 May. But while we were down, any night 20-40 foot from any shoreline, especially redclay banks and straight up rock cliffs, you could drop a light over the side, wait about 20-30 minutes, kill the light and catch shad. Not always alewives, mainly threadfin, but if you went deeper with the net you would get some bigger threadfins and some alewives.

My gut tells me if you went in at Halcombs at night and just threw the net along the rocks at the dam maybe in 20-30 foot of water you'd get some. If not, hit a creek, head 1/2 back, drop the light and give it 30 minutes.

Last choice, and be darn careful with this, but if going in at Halcomb, run to Grider Hill Dock, and look for lights close to the water near the dock where no houseboater or guide is likely to take offense to you being there. Sometimes just pulling in and asking works, especailly since most guides seem to catch their bait in the early hours of the morning, if you were there at night, and asked, they might just let you give it a throw or 2.

Last, FYI, Jamestown and State Dock have shiners, so you can ramp in , run, and grab a cup of coffee while the fresh bait hits the baitwell. But check dock store hours, they are weird this time of year.

Last, don't forget Lake Cumberland Country Store on 127 head to the dam, just below the entrance to the state park. Sometimes this time of year they even have gizzard shad, mainly shiners, and on rare occassion suckers. (270) 343-2066

My favorite way to avoid interfering with guides or houseboaters, is to get a overnight slip at Jamestown, hit the boat at 4 am in the morning, pitch out a light while docked up, drink some coffee, and pitch the net a couple times. Just my preference....could do that at any dock.

NO WAY in hell would I do that........NO WAY.

I good way to get shot, or a very good ass kickin if you ask me.

[HURRICANEBOB]

NO WAY in hell would I do that........NO WAY.

I good way to get shot, or a very good ass kickin if you ask me.

Okay...which one? Did ya note when I talked about lights around a dock I noted: "Last choice, and be darn careful with this", then "look for lights close to the water near the dock where no houseboater or guide is likely to take offense to you being there. "

To make the last statement clearer, I'm talking about lights that may be by a boat ramp, or lights that may be on a walk way leading to the dock, or a light near a dock where the slip is empty.

To be much clearer, I'm talking about respecting people's property and looking for a light where you can try to catch bait only after you think about it, you are pretty darn sure will not offend anyone. When in doubt, use plan "B", head to a 40 foot deep lake cove, drop a light, and relax with coffee till the shad request permission to enter your livewell,

[Duayne]

Throwing on other people's lights without prior permission is a shooting offense. If it's too much trouble to put your own light out, then buy shiners.

[HURRICANEBOB]

Throwing on other people's lights without prior permission is a shooting offense. If it's too much trouble to put your own light out, then buy shiners.

Duayne catching shad.

shooting fish - Bing Videos

WTF....for now on when I go for shad, I pack bandages and heat.

[GeoFisher]

Okay...which one? Did ya note when I talked about lights around a dock I noted: "Last choice, and be darn careful with this", then "look for lights close to the water near the dock where no houseboater or guide is likely to take offense to you being there. "

To make the last statement clearer, I'm talking about lights that may be by a boat ramp, or lights that may be on a walk way leading to the dock, or a light near a dock where the slip is empty.

To be much clearer, I'm talking about respecting people's property and looking for a light where you can try to catch bait only after you think about it, you are pretty darn sure will not offend anyone. When in doubt, use plan "B", head to a 40 foot deep lake cove, drop a light, and relax with coffee till the shad request permission to enter your livewell,

As others have said......those permits around the houseboats, and for dock space are CRAZY expensive......

I would not even ask.

[HURRICANEBOB]

AND BY THE WAY, ANY GPS LOCATIONS ON THE STRIPERS....

Man you crack me up. Where they were 20 minutes ago would do nothing more than give you a good place to go and drink coffee. CMON MAN! :-) They just are not nice enough to take up long term quarters, or sign leases.

[stripernut1]

while we are on the subject of dock lights..... just keep in mind the light you are seeing hanging off the dock didn't fall out of the sky, it was put there by somebody that had authority to put it there, usually a licensed guide that is paying BIG money not only for his slip where his boat(s) are docked, but also the electric plug in where he has other light positioned. Or the light may be owned by a slip customer who is paying BIG money for the fringe benefits of being a slip customer. Look at it this way, lets say you walk up to a new construction site and see a carpenter working on a roof, there is a skill saw laying on the tailgate of HIS truck, you say to yourself...."hmmm its just laying there, I don't think anybody will mind if I borrow it....and there it is , now he has no saw and can not continue to work that day. I know the argument is that the shad/herring are public property that belong to everybody, and I couldn't agree more! BUT the dock and more specifically the boat slip and the light are not, they are PRIVATE property and should respected as such. It is at best very poor etiquette to throw a net at someones light, and at worst very dangerous. some folks don't have a sense of humor over this stuff....just sayin. Bob is right, you may get TEMPORARY permission to throw at someones light when they are done catching bait, but don't take it as well I have permission forever. And remember don't take it personal when you are rejected or someone gets ill about the matter, youre not the first person to invade their personal property, it is overwhelming at times and people get fed up fast. The best way to avoid stepping on toes is to do just what bob said, go out on the lake, find a quiet mouth of a cove in at least 40 ft of water, put the light out, be quiet, and relax for 30 minutes, throw your net, get your bait and enjoy the morning, hopefully the only drama you will have will be whether or not you will be able to fit your fish in the net. Good luck, tight lines

[HURRICANEBOB]

while we are on the subject of dock lights..... just keep in mind the light you are seeing hanging off the dock didn't fall out of the sky, it was put there by somebody that had authority to put it there, usually a licensed guide that is paying BIG money not only for his slip where his boat(s) are docked, but also the electric plug in where he has other light positioned. Or the light may be owned by a slip customer who is paying BIG money for the fringe benefits of being a slip customer. Look at it this way, lets say you walk up to a new construction site and see a carpenter working on a roof, there is a skill saw laying on the tailgate of HIS truck, you say to yourself...."hmmm its just laying there, I don't think anybody will mind if I borrow it....and there it is , now he has no saw and can not continue to work that day. I know the argument is that the shad/herring are public property that belong to everybody, and I couldn't agree more! BUT the dock and more specifically the boat slip and the light are not, they are PRIVATE property and should respected as such. It is at best very poor etiquette to throw a net at someones light, and at worst very dangerous. some folks don't have a sense of humor over this stuff....just sayin. Bob is right, you may get TEMPORARY permission to throw at someones light when they are done catching bait, but don't take it as well I have permission forever. And remember don't take it personal when you are rejected or someone gets ill about the matter, youre not the first person to invade their personal property, it is overwhelming at times and people get fed up fast. The best way to avoid stepping on toes is to do just what bob said, go out on the lake, find a quiet mouth of a cove in at least 40 ft of water, put the light out, be quiet, and relax for 30 minutes, throw your net, get your bait and enjoy the morning, hopefully the only drama you will have will be whether or not you will be able to fit your fish in the net. Good luck, tight lines

Absolutely agree. Always start with the assumption permission is required, and be willing to take "no" for an answer. Quite frankly I feel guilty most of the time asking, and then feel like I was the one that did something wrong if I get a "no". You just catch more flies with sugar than salt. Reserve the salt only for the really obnoxious flies, and you'll always have some to spare for emergencies.

[Duayne]

while we are on the subject of dock lights..... just keep in mind the light you are seeing hanging off the dock didn't fall out of the sky, it was put there by somebody that had authority to put it there, usually a licensed guide that is paying BIG money not only for his slip where his boat(s) are docked, but also the electric plug in where he has other light positioned. Or the light may be owned by a slip customer who is paying BIG money for the fringe benefits of being a slip customer. Look at it this way, lets say you walk up to a new construction site and see a carpenter working on a roof, there is a skill saw laying on the tailgate of HIS truck, you say to yourself...."hmmm its just laying there, I don't think anybody will mind if I borrow it....and there it is , now he has no saw and can not continue to work that day. I know the argument is that the shad/herring are public property that belong to everybody, and I couldn't agree more! BUT the dock and more specifically the boat slip and the light are not, they are PRIVATE property and should respected as such. It is at best very poor etiquette to throw a net at someones light, and at worst very dangerous. some folks don't have a sense of humor over this stuff....just sayin. Bob is right, you may get TEMPORARY permission to throw at someones light when they are done catching bait, but don't take it as well I have permission forever. And remember don't take it personal when you are rejected or someone gets ill about the matter, youre not the first person to invade their personal property, it is overwhelming at times and people get fed up fast. The best way to avoid stepping on toes is to do just what bob said, go out on the lake, find a quiet mouth of a cove in at least 40 ft of water, put the light out, be quiet, and relax for 30 minutes, throw your net, get your bait and enjoy the morning, hopefully the only drama you will have will be whether or not you will be able to fit your fish in the net. Good luck, tight lines

I keep my boat in my slip now until I am ready the throw. I've gone down and had a mess all over my slip and water in a burnt out light where someone decided to help themselves. No, I am not humored at all when someone decides to help themselves to my stuff.