New striper lake

[JoeB]

I don't think the dept of F&W is going to be much interested in destroying their premier trout fishery for another striper lake. I'm not trying to get free, shameless advertising, but check out my web site photo page and what I'm catching from Cumberland this year. I'll be the first to admit that it's been a little tougher since the dam work began, but Cumberland is far from destroyed. www.conleystriper.com

[stripernut]

nice ones !

but....i dont care what ANYBODY says...cumberland is a pathetic hollow shell of the lake it used to be ! and i dont care to argue about it with photo albums !

[mhall]

nice ones !

but....i dont care what ANYBODY says...cumberland is a pathetic hollow shell of the lake it used to be ! and i dont care to argue about it with photo albums !

I totally agree. No offense to ANY and all guides but there is no way in Hell I would pay 2 or 3 hundred dollars to go out and catch 30 inch and down fish. I can do that on my own and it's two fish maybe 6 to 9lbs. Cumberland is in bad shape, very bad.

Laurel would make an AWESOME striper lake, but they are not going to do it, Trout is the main issue, amongst the other things related to competition with other species issues.

Cumberland needs help after the dam is fixed, alot of help with creel and size limits. The bass fishing has gone straight to Hell to if you ask me...

[stripernut]

yeah mark i too didnt mean to offend anyone either and sincerely hope i dont....but im frustrated with what seems to be an attitude of "oh well this is what we're stuck with so lets just go with it". no lets dont just go with it, lets be proactive and have a management plan in place for the time when the dam is repaired (did i say that out loud?) , it might mean a little sacrifice for awhile, and it will probably mean we wont "sell" as many striper trips for a bit, but we wont "sell" any striper trips if we continue on the road we're on. im talking to anyone who will listen....so far thats nobody. maybe as a crowd our voice is louder?

and yes i know there is the occasional 20 pounder, and the more rare 30 pounder and the 2 40 pounders a year....but look at half of the "customers" walking off the dock with a gallon freezer bag of fillets from a 6 fish limit and tell me all of them felt they got their moneys worth from the 'one of the countrys top trophy striper lakes" ? fortunaletly great guides with professional courteous friendly attitudes who work hard made the trip enjoyable for them, but its not what they really came for, i know some crappie guides who are an absolute blast to fish with....but they arent giving me a shot at a legitimate 35-40 pound fish either.

oops my soap box is leaning to one side, better get down now

[mhall]

Good stuff stripernut I totally agree. If the lake takes three years more to fix, the stripes won't fix themselves like some species, I think like you it needs attention now, but I'm afraid buddy we are a small minority that thinks this way.....

[Duayne]

There are a lotta people making up all sorts of explanations. "The smaller class is too large so we need to thin them out" is one. The bottom line is, the smaller classes did so well because the larger classes simply are not there in normal numbers for normal selection keeps the classes withing range. YES some made it the last two years. Enough? Hell no and that is obvious and we haven't even had the harsh heat this year. The information is overwhelming yet still people ignore it. IF these smaller classes continue to be fished out, the lake will be few and far between for three years to come. The striper guides will have nothing to hunt. Yeah, they'll get one or two here and there, but won't be anyone wanting to pay for that.

It's time to let these smaller classes have a full chance through the summer. In the fall, they will be worth chasing. Its a SMALL price to pay for the future trophies on this lake.

[Lowerider]

There are a lotta people making up all sorts of explanations. "The smaller class is too large so we need to thin them out" is one. The bottom line is, the smaller classes did so well because the larger classes simply are not there in normal numbers for normal selection keeps the classes withing range. YES some made it the last two years. Enough? Hell no and that is obvious and we haven't even had the harsh heat this year. The information is overwhelming yet still people ignore it. IF these smaller classes continue to be fished out, the lake will be few and far between for three years to come. The striper guides will have nothing to hunt. Yeah, they'll get one or two here and there, but won't be anyone wanting to pay for that.

It's time to let these smaller classes have a full chance through the summer. In the fall, they will be worth chasing. Its a SMALL price to pay for the future trophies on this lake.

Amen Duayne

A few fish were being caught b/w 50-60 feet last week - that's not good at all. I fear even the shorties will be floating before too long. We'll be back fishing with a landing net instead of rod and reel soon. The best thing that could happen IMO is for emergency regs to be inacted - catch 2 of ANY size and quit. That way the guides can keep fishing and the fish have a fighting chance. I applaud the dept for the emergency regs they put in place late last summer and hope to see them again soon.

[Oldlures]

I don't think the dept of F&W is going to be much interested in destroying their premier trout fishery for another striper lake. I'm not trying to get free, shameless advertising, but check out my web site photo page and what I'm catching from Cumberland this year. I'll be the first to admit that it's been a little tougher since the dam work began, but Cumberland is far from destroyed. www.conleystriper.com

JoeB, I looked at your site and I agree with you . . . why would we as a state, abandon a program that it has nurtured for well over 40 years? This lake has been established and eventually will be back to its normal elevations. Most likely, as all lowered or drained lakes, historically have been done before . . rebound leaps and bounds. Why would this not be the case here?
Most of the comments state that Laurel is a "dead sea" I think that it is very strange although I have not fished personally; have had friends and also read on Fishin.com reports from members all have had wonderful success this Spring.
We have alot of years invested on Cumberland why turn ones back on it? I am convienced the KYDFW will support this. Mel ,"Oldlures"

[JoeB]

I never said that Cumb. hasn't suffered as a result of the draw down, I simply said that it is not destroyed. I don't think the numbers of big fish that we were once spoiled with will return until the water is kept at it's historic levels. A couple of years after the lake is held at normal levels, I honestly think all will be forgotten and forgiven. As for mis-management, I don't know what anyone could expect KDFWR to do about the issue except wait it out like the rest of us. Their hands are tied too.

[FlyLie]

A little dated (Oct 2010), but here's KDFWS take on the status of LC:

http://migration.kentucky.gov/newsro...ss14102010.htm

[mhall]

A little dated (Oct 2010), but here's KDFWS take on the status of LC:

http://migration.kentucky.gov/newsro...ss14102010.htm

Read this before and I don't totally buy it. Do you really think the KDFW is gonna tell you the lake isn't worth fishing, they sugar coated this deal. Yes there is alot of truths to this article but there is some bigtime down playing in it to.

Look at the pics of the guides day in and day out, yes there is an occasional good fish caught but NOTHING and I mean NOTHING like it use to be. Again I'm not paying hundreds of dollars to catch 2 twenty four to 30 inch fish, no way. That is not a bust on the quality guides at the big C either that work their asses off daily so please don't take it or turn it that way.

[waterdog101]

even if they fix the dam and bring cumberland back to it's old self, it would still be a good idea to stock laurel with some striper or hybirds. I think two lakes in ky with striper in them would be great. everyone thinks they won't stock laurel with striper because of the trout. 20 miles from laurel lake is woodscreek lake and it is over stocked with trout. the hybirds would mix well with the trout in laurel, they stocked a lake in eastern ky, called fish trap lake with hybirds, and the hybird and trout fishing are both good in fishtrap. and it's a smaller lake than laurel.