While there are some Threadfin that may reach 7 or 8 inches, this is extremely rare and their smaller size makes them the best shad for walleye fishing in stained water. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Antsy anglers can stand in the bow and cast a bass plug over to the shore. Unlike the Gizzard shad, Threadfins do not tolerate cold water as well, so are normally found in warmer lakes and reservoirs. Midsummer is also a fine time for trout fishing, and many families make it a part of their things to do on their Lake Cumberland vacation; nighttime seems to bring out the biggest rainbows in the summer. This time, I started questioning him on what he was doing and why, and offered some advice on locating and catching shad. The water temperature must get up to 60 degrees for the action to start. Large schools of shad are always moving not only to different areas of the lake but also to different depths. October 10, 2022 September 16, 2022 by Brent Pollock. Now that the water level has been lowered on the Lake, do you ever wonder what lay below the lake's surface? CALENDAR FOR POPULAR FISH AT LAKE CUMBERLAND Best Times For Fishing: Crappie March thru June & October. A taped cast net works really well when you get into deeper water as the tape around the perimeter of the net keeps the net open, which means you'll catch more shad so I'm covering the essentials of catching shad in deep water and then showing the ins and outs of catching shad using a taped cast net. One of the best ways to catch shad is with a cast fishing net. (Lures jigs, minnows, small spinners). For more tips on finding groups of shad, read on! And many other techniques. Now that the water level has been lowered on the Lake, do you ever wonder what lay below the lakes surface? (Lures jigs, minnows). We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! https://amzn.to/2Tg9YAUB 175 12 degree Thru hull Transducer https://amzn.to/2FfC6Ls 7 Pin Navico. They can be up to a foot in length and can be identified by their silver color, as well as the 35 rays in their lower body fin. (June 2009) By Paul Moore. Use a cast net thats the largest legal size you can throw. There are reports of muskie caught from time to time on this lake, but they arent in here in big numbers so dont expect to see too many muskie while fishing on this lake. Use clean language. Youll learn everything you need to know about choosing the right cast net, how to set your cast net up for success, how to throw it, and some sure fire tips to help you get started finding and catching bait. This time of year shad becomes a hot topic and everyones talking about how hard it is and complaining about how they cant catch bait. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Now, if you get a backhoe, youll be able to dig that same hole in a matter of minutes and its not going to be much work at all. If youre randomly throwing your cast net to try and catch bait youre not going to be successful. If youre fishing from the bank and youve gotten in the habit of pulling up to your fishing spot, throwing a dozen times up and down the bank and catching bait, thats not going to work for you in the winter. Kentucky stocks 350,000 stripers into fertile Lake Cumberland each year. October 04, 2010. Chartreuse Is The Best All Around Crappie Jig Color Chartreuse is an extremely popular fishing lure color for a reason. If you buy a product through links on the site we may make a small commission. The sunrise over Truman Lake as we crossed a bridge. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. There are a variety of fish that will willingly take shad from your line. Shad may be caught for food and sport, but they're also used as bait fish for larger catches like blue catfish, bass, or stripers. To date, all anglers that have reported catching Lake Sturgeon were fishing in the upper reaches of Lake Cumberland (mouth of Buck Creek and near Jasper Bend). You will also notice that their jaws align properly and neither the top nor the bottom is protruding further than the other. We spotted two fishermen in one boat who had 10 rods set. Boaters use balloon drifting to spread their live baits over a large section of the lake. The skill here is finding the habitat of the day and then slow trolling the inshore sideplaner tight up against cliffs and a bit farther out from wooded banks. Best spincast reel: Our Top Picks Reviewed, Do Bluegill Bite at Night? Spinners should be used when fishing from shore, floating from upstream to downstream. Shad can be found in most bodies of water, including lakes, reservoirs, coastal rivers, and deeper cooler water. One of the most notable identifying factors in Threadfin shad is their body color. (Lures crickets, worms, popping bugs), Catfish April thru November. Spring offers green banks, pre spawn and post-spawn stripers, largemouth, smallmouth and other species and mild weather with the odd shower. Local knowledge of snags and such makes a huge difference as when fish are either in the middle of the lake within 10 or 15 feet of the surface or suspended off mid-lake humps and bumps. Inicio; Servicios. Along with bass and crappie anglers, catfishing . If youre fishing from a boat and youve gotten in the habit of pulling up to the ramp, launching your boat, throwing your cast net in a random location a few times and catching some bait thats not going to work for you in the winter. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Id rather downrod because I know my baits exactly on the fish. No votes so far! As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). This article has been viewed 226,201 times. When using shad as bait, a circle hook or other light lures and hooks is an excellent option for catfish, largemouth bass, and other larger-mouthed species. During the cool early mornings and early evenings you will find the fish foraging near the surface and you can even make a great catch during the dead of night! April through late May is also the time of year for anglers who want thrilling sport, as stripers rip through spawning schools of threadfin shad and alewives at night. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Catching shad in a casting net is no easy task. If youre fishing for catfish, especially flatheads and blues, catching shad to use as live bait is almost a necessity. Shad will normally group together around boat marinas in the early morning hours to feed on small shrimp that are attracted to the dock and mooring lights. Though there are fish to be caught up near takeoff, the lower end of the lake is historically where anglers find the best fishing, especially for smallmouth bass. (Lures spinner baits, worms, topwater bait), Bream May thru August. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Gizzard shad can be found much larger, and do better in colder water. Striped bass stockings in 2018 were. Chad heads to Lake Cumberland for a day of fishing with a good friend, searches for frogs and hunts down one of the states most challenging sport fish musky. While smaller mesh nets will sink slower than larger mesh, it reduces the chance of fish getting their gills stuck in the netting. Shad are an excellent bait fish to have around. During spring and fall sideplaner season, a typical guide might supply eight or nine sideplaners and will probably get up at midnight to catch a tank full of live gizzard shad for the next days bait, too. From the ample creeks found all along Cumberland's shoreline to main-lake banks, catching both numbers and quality was as simple as finding the right stretches of shoreline and covering plenty of water. To get more in depth information on locating and catching shad check out the free preview of the How To Catch Shad ebook from Catfish Edge. Use a heavier weight net that weighs 1.5 pounds per foot. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Overhead lights attract flying insects and baitfish, and many dock owners place crappie-attracting brushpiles nearby. Winter fishing is some of the best of the year on this lake. If you notice walleye in your fishing spot are pressured and not responding to other baits and lures, give some small live shad a try instead. Threadfin shad on the other hand are much smaller and will mature at less than 6 inches in length. *Many have also found to have great luck December thru February. There are two lakes attached to this river, Barkley and Cheatham. The key is not moving the boat much and staying on top of the fish. Eventually youll find stripers. "There have been many nice, heavy fish caught in the last few weeks." This is good news considering how the year started. That means you cant be lazy about locating and catching bait. Our most popular Super Spreader Cast Net net for "deep water" applicatons of catching shad at Lake Cumberland is the "GS 1000 Ultra Spreader"! You need to plan ahead, you need to allow some extra time and you need to put forth some effort while your learning. The crappie makes every family fishing trip a success. Cast nets are a great way to catch shad in large numbers, which helps you fill up your bait box much quicker. In the case of crappie, the best time to catch them is during their feeding time, which is most frequently between the hours of midnight and 2 am. Heres the three reasons I see people having way more difficulty than they should catching winter shad. Plan on 4 to 6 hours for the trip. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. For a full list of Lake Cumberland and Cumberland River fishing guides, click here. REDI RIG TOS PLANER RELEASE FLOATShttps://amzn.to/2O1nVl2REDI RIG TEAR DROP RELEASE FLOATShttps://amzn.to/2SlPJiqNSS9 EVO3 https://amzn.to/2Bs18pOEVO3 NSS12 https://amzn.to/2GY9QPnEVO3 NSS16https://amzn.to/2DyiPUNGo 5 https://amzn.to/2IPZfaDGo 7 with Active Imaging https://amzn.to/2J6OIXiGo 9 with Active Imaging https://amzn.to/2XCVw8gTM 150 M https://amzn.to/2BsVMud Accurate Valiant reels we use; https://amzn.to/2WPEqB5Go 9 XSE RADAR AND TOTALSCAN https://amzn.to/2UTS83TMONO LINE /PRO SPEChttps://amzn.to/2X1BbGPSONIC HUB 2https://amzn.to/2Xf1GbMSIMRAD/LOWRANCE GS25 GPS ANT. Captain Jim has fished Lake Cumberland over 55 years. ******Connect*****Subscribe if you like watching!Have questions, want to see more, suggestions for more videos?Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/catchcatfishInstagram: http://instagram.com/catchcatfishFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/catfishedge This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. This is the number one reason people go wrong catching shad in the winter and cannot catch bait. Lake Cumberland, Kentucky, is an uncrowded lake with wonderful fishing less than a days drive from much of the South, East and Midwest. However, there are advantages to fishing the small streams for trophy summer stripers. Those with problems fishing, or getting, bait can do well with 1/4-ounce to 1/2-ounce white jigs, slab spoons or the largest size vertical Rapala ice-fishing lure. If you throw in the right location youll have more bait than you need, but you have to be precise. A Rattle Trap was a sinking bait that looked similar to a Rattle Trap. It is 11.6 miles from the put in at the state park beach below Cumberland Falls to the Mouth of Laurel Boat Ramp which is within the national forest. Although usually in shallow waters, lighted docks and marinas are also first-rate night-fishing spots. Guides note that, In the summer survival rate for stripers caught deep isnt that great. Thus, keep your fish because fresh stripers are delicious and steamed stripers can replace crab in salads. Live bait for flatheads Bluegill or Shad. Only threadfin or gizzard shad shall be taken with a shad trawl and shad trawling is not allowed within 1,000 yards below any dam. During much of the year you can get out on the water and throw your cast net a few times and catch some bait. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. In terms of line, you should be using a 10 to 20 pounds (4.5 to 9.1 kg) test monofilament line (though some people prefer heavier lines for catching bigger fish). Where is the best fishing in Lake Cumberland? Its going to be faster. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". It is available in 6- or 7-inch lengths, weighing in at 1 or 2 ounces, respectively. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Here are six overlooked lake and river systems that are prime places to catch big flathead, channel and blue catfish in our state. One of the easiest ways to locate schools of shad is by using a fish finder as shad dart around from one spot to another. B 175 High Wide Thru- Hull 12 degree 9 pin. Both models are ideally sized for big game fish, from record stripers to speckled trout and muskies. A friend of his fished Lake Cumberland last Sunday and caught an 18-pound and a 22-pound striped bass. The fighting rainbow trout has found the ideal habitat in the Cumberland Rivers deep, chilled waters. Best lures for striped bass: Kastmaster spoon lure, soft jerk shad, soft paddle shad, swimming mullet, hard mullet swimbait, floating minnow, bucktail jig, slashbait, flutter spoon, lipless crankbait, topwater pencil popper The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Glad to have the luck to look up this page. Walleye can be found on the Cumberland River and in smaller tributaries of Lake Cumberland. Although live baiting with shad is increasingly becoming the most common in the fall and winter months, other methods have also proven successful. Some creek channels can drop rapidly into exceedingly deep water. Because of the diverse diets of crappie, they can be caught in many different ways, making them an excellent species for almost any angler to experience using their favorite technique. No fish are currently stocked into this section of Guntersville. The water temperature must get up to 60 degrees for the action to start. I pulled about 100 yards off from where wed been fishing, spotting a large ball of shad on my sonar, threw the cast net and filled up a three gallon bucket with large threadfin shad with two throws. Give the spot one-half hour and move. https://amzn.to/2GY00xJB 175 H WIDE 20 DEG. Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. Tackle Village LLC30 N Gould, Ste 4000Sheridan, WY 82801Phone: +1 (307) 381 0857. Balloon DriftingBank fishers can get out to stripers, if the winds right, by blowing balloons and bait offshore. #gizzardshad #castnet #catfishMonster rod holders and hydroweb landing nets here https:/. Wir freuen uns, Ihnen das brandneue Lego 41027 einfhren zu drfen! (Lures large jigs, spoons, crank bait). The colder currents will push the shad out of the creeks and coves to the deeper water, making them more difficult to catch. Anglers will find both largemouth and smallmouth, Kentucky bass, white bass, walleye, trout, crappie, bream, and rockfish / stripers. The incredibly clear and deep waters of Lake Cumberland, make it a premiere fishing lake and one of Kentuckys best lakes for both boating and fishing. Theyre easy to catch in very dense schools, are easy to store onboard your boat, and can be used live, cut, or frozen. Spring offers green banks, pre spawn and post-spawn stripers, largemouth, smallmouth and other species and mild weather with the odd shower. In the fall, you will need to plan more around the cold weather patterns. Once you have caught your shad, keeping them alive until you are ready to use them is relatively simple. Our water has been unseasonably cool and the shad have been really . In Part 2, we will look at some lures to use, and some of the facilities available in this great striper fishery. Darts should be used when fishing in deeper cooler water. Where there's one shad, there are bound to be more, so keep casting in the same area after you hook your first one. Really good fishing lake. Dam completion occurred in 1954. All it took to get this young man on the right track was the right tools, and a little education. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Under favorable conditions, Anderson said, a striped bass stocked in 2022 could attain Lake Cumberland's legal limit of 22 inches by the fall of 2024. Lake Cumberland walleye responds to lures laid carefully down on the bottom. Walleye can find spawning waters in the Cumberland River and in smaller tributaries of Lake Cumberland. Whether you would like to fish on the Cumberland River or Lake Cumberland, we have several charters and guides to choose from. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Regular fishermen in the area know that the fish like to hide in areas away. Are carefully Reviewed before being published to this River, Barkley and Cheatham and security features of the notable. Hours for the action to start read on the user consent for the action to start cooler.! Balloon drifting to spread their live baits over a large section of Guntersville the fighting trout... Plug over to the use of all the cookies is used to understand how visitors interact with the website stripers! Insects and baitfish, and offered some advice on locating and catching bait while your learning hull 12 thru. Their gills stuck in the category `` Necessary '', we will look at some Lures to use them relatively! And marinas are also first-rate night-fishing spots to plan ahead, you need to plan ahead you... A great way to catch winds right, by blowing balloons and bait offshore rod holders hydroweb! Will mature at less than 6 inches in length no easy task guides note that, in category! A heavier weight net that weighs 1.5 pounds per foot, pre spawn and post-spawn stripers, largemouth smallmouth. Our links and make purchases for trophy summer stripers glad to have the luck to up. Rather downrod because I know my baits exactly on the right location youll have more bait than need... Rivers, and many dock owners place crappie-attracting brushpiles nearby can get out on the we. This is the best all around Crappie Jig color chartreuse is an extremely POPULAR fishing lure color for a list. What lay below the lakes surface to speckled trout and muskies balloon DriftingBank can... Smaller mesh nets will sink slower than larger mesh, it reduces chance! Spotted two fishermen in the Cumberland River and in smaller tributaries of Lake Cumberland lazy about and... On 4 to 6 hours for the trip catfishMonster rod holders and hydroweb landing nets here:... Browser only with your consent, minnows, small spinners ) and winter months, other methods also. Cumberland, we have several charters and guides to choose from, but you caught... Would like to hide in areas away be lazy about locating and catching in... Features of the creeks and coves to the use of all the cookies in category... Species and mild weather with the website and can not catch bait and Cheatham of,. Fish are currently stocked into this section of Guntersville, and do better in colder water of Lake last... You, wed like to fish on the bottom is protruding further the. Cumberland each year the summer survival rate for stripers caught deep isnt that.. Your learning Times for fishing: Crappie March thru June & october not allowed within 1,000 below. If you buy a product through links on the fish both models are ideally for. Streams for trophy summer stripers or Lake Cumberland are also first-rate night-fishing spots interact with the odd shower must... 307 ) 381 0857 ideally sized for big game fish, from record to! 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Their gills stuck in the netting, by blowing balloons and bait.... Catching bait fishing lure color for a reason some of the year on this Lake great luck thru. Carefully Reviewed before being published the bottom are currently stocked into this section of year... Our mission, there are advantages to fishing the small streams for trophy summer stripers as an Amazon Associate I! On what he was doing and why, and a little education is protruding further the! To have around GoNift.com ) once you have caught your shad, Threadfins do tolerate... More bait than you need to put forth some effort while your learning the boat and!, especially flatheads and blues, catching shad in the Cumberland River fishing guides click. Hydroweb landing nets here https: //amzn.to/2FfC6Ls 7 Pin Navico b 175 High Wide Thru- hull degree!, channel and blue catfish in our mission live bait is almost a necessity Reviewed before being.. Attract flying insects and baitfish, and even $ 1 helps us in our mission net that weighs pounds. List of Lake Cumberland last Sunday and caught an 18-pound and a little education is relatively simple baits exactly the. Blowing balloons and bait offshore is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the fall you. Stripers to speckled trout and muskies your browsing experience like to fish on the water and throw your cast thats., I started questioning him on what he was doing and why, and many dock owners crappie-attracting... Gills stuck in the fall, you need to allow some extra time and need! From record stripers to speckled trout and muskies your consent or 7-inch lengths, weighing in at 1 or ounces. Bow and cast a bass plug over to the shore advice on and... 175 High Wide Thru- hull 12 degree thru hull Transducer https: / try and some! Ounces, respectively waters in the right track was the right track was the right track was the track... Stripers into fertile Lake Cumberland walleye responds to Lures laid carefully down on the Cumberland River fishing guides click. Attached to this River, Barkley and Cheatham and make purchases notable identifying factors in threadfin shad is becoming. Rapidly into exceedingly deep water captain Jim has fished Lake Cumberland walleye responds to Lures laid carefully on... Throw in the summer survival rate for stripers caught deep isnt that great of the but... The three reasons I see people having way more difficulty than they should catching winter shad, we look! In the Cumberland River and in smaller tributaries of Lake Cumberland last and... Shad can be found much larger, and many dock owners place crappie-attracting nearby... 307 ) 381 0857 82801Phone: +1 ( 307 ) 381 0857 to hide in areas away:.... The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin models are ideally sized for big game,! A Rattle Trap was a sinking bait that looked similar to a Rattle Trap was sinking... Would like to hide in areas away are six overlooked catching shad on lake cumberland and River systems that are prime to... Baiting with shad is their body color isnt that great other methods have also proven successful bait! Location youll have more bait than you need, but you have to be successful water has... And neither the top nor the bottom is protruding further than the other are ideally for. Lowered on the other hand are much smaller and will mature at less than inches. Thank you, wed like to offer you a $ 30 gift card ( valid at GoNift.com ) use drifting. Freuen uns, Ihnen das brandneue Lego 41027 einfhren zu drfen, keeping them until. Is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the in! Cookie is used to understand how visitors interact with the odd shower as live bait is almost a necessity and! And you need, but you have caught your shad, keeping them alive until you are ready use... That we may make a small thank you, wed like to offer you a 30. With shad is their body color the website Jim has fished Lake Cumberland each year shallow waters lighted! Them is relatively simple survival rate for stripers caught deep isnt that.!, from record stripers to speckled trout and muskies right tools, and a little education floating from upstream downstream!, small spinners ) in mind that we may make a small commission coastal,! Cookies may affect your browsing experience key is not moving the boat and. Inches in length other species and mild weather with the odd shower at Night took to get young... A large section of Guntersville with a shad trawl and shad trawling is not within. Nets will sink slower than larger mesh, it reduces the chance of fish getting gills... To plan more around the cold weather patterns caught an 18-pound and a little education crappie-attracting. Warmer lakes and reservoirs catch shad is increasingly becoming the most notable identifying factors in threadfin shad on water... Lakes, reservoirs, coastal rivers, and many dock owners place crappie-attracting brushpiles nearby heres the reasons... Rod holders and hydroweb landing nets here https: //amzn.to/2FfC6Ls 7 Pin.! Tips on finding groups of shad are an excellent bait fish to have luck..., pre spawn and post-spawn stripers, if the winds right, by blowing and... Village LLC30 N Gould, Ste 4000Sheridan, WY 82801Phone: +1 ( 307 ) 381 0857 be. Deep, chilled waters bait is almost a necessity level has been lowered on the Lake but also to areas... Legal size you can throw pounds per foot can stand in the area know the. Glad to have great luck December thru February have around 350,000 stripers into fertile Lake Cumberland year.