Finally made it down to the Cumberland river this fall. This was our second trip ever down there, and it didn't disappoint.  We followed that nasty storm and rain that came in last Thursday, and it did have them buggered up a bit.  However, we fished from daylight till dark, and managed a few nice nice ones.  They did not pull much water at all until Monday morning, when we left.  We were going to just fish in the morning and leave at noon.  They were pulling, and we found an area by mistake where the fish were up feeding on a shallow shelf coming out of 60' of water.  They took avery rod we had out.  Just as luck would have it, the wind started ripping up the river, and made boat control impossible.  What a mess!  But it was a good mess! ;D  We caught fish, and at least one good fish every day.  Here are a few pics.





My good friend Jeff and some of his fishy's

Those are some dandy fish.

Looks like a great trip.

Man, that looks so good. What did that flathead hit on?

I think it was a 8" live gizzard shad ( Weedy's favorite snack ) . We had a variety of live baits out that we netted there. I also had some smaller 5" threadfin herring out too.

Cool pictures! Is this C&R or do you keep some? To me the best fishin' is during the fall. Ive caught more big fish in that time period than any other. h.h.

I was hungry,,dammit!! :p That flathead would have been released in my hot skillet! Good belly meat on that big boy!

Very cool trip. Gotts try that sometime.

We keep VERY few pure stripers. Let them grow up and get big. We will keep a small fish 10lb and under once in a while, and any deep/gut hooked fish. If they can swim off on their own, we usually release them. It does not take many to have a freezer full of filets. Usually stock up on the hybrids when we do. The flatty got released in the WATER Weedy!!!

Yaz, quite a few years ago a guide on Cumberland said if I wanted to catch some stripers on top water I had to get down there in either late January or February. Never tried it but always been something in my mind. Have you ever got them on the top?

Nice fish, looks like a good time.

Dave,

Hitting them in "the jumps" is very seasonable. It happens twice a year, when the water temps are just right. Occasionally, they will come and bust bait on top throughout the year, but you have to be right on top of them, as it is very short lived. I have caught them on top with spooks, and slivers. On Cumberland, in the early spring the alewives come up on the shale banks at night to spawn. Night fishing for them casting top waters is very productive.

Yaz. You got the name of a guide down there that you'd recommend? If he could call when the time was right, I could do it in 24 hours notice.

I assume you want to go casting for them. I have two very good friends that guide on lake Cumberland. One is primarily a live bait guy like me. The other guy can/will take you out on the jumps. Last I talked to him (as of a week ago) the fish on Cumberland are about done on top till spring.

I have a couple good friends that guide on Norris, and Cherokee lakes. Those are about a 5 hour drive. They are chasing the gulls diving on bait as we speak. It is VERY good down there.

PM sent Dave. Its GOOD in TN right now.

Thanks much Greg. Looks like it will be on.

He!!.......I've about talked my own self into going back again!!!!

Those are some biggins'

Good luck! My dad and I are hitting the river this Thursday! I hope to get some drag screamers on!

Dave, just got a report.......gulls crashing, giving away feeding fish. Lots of 30" to 33" stripes, and a few buster hybrids being caught...Better DO it!

What to do....what to do....biting my fingers off now!!!!

What time do we leave Yaz?? :rolleyes:

If he calls and says Friday, I am headed!

+1

Yaz, I'm actually afraid because if these things do hit top water, there just isn't going to be enough time between them and steelhead and kings in the fall AND hunting. Something will have to go!

Dave,

A lot of times, it sounds and looks like somebody dropped a bowling ball off a cliff when they hit!!! Then, after it pulls over a 100' line off the reel on its first run, and you finally get it to the boat, and its "just" a 15lber, you'll be hooked!!!!!

Just a preview. Take a good look. That's where you'll be if they are still on it. That was today I believe. No need for a fish finder when that is going on.

Just hoping the phone rings. Gotta be a good time. Spinning rods with 20 lb and fly rods with sinking line and 20/30 lb leader are ready. Just need the wife to catch 1.

Yaz, Friday! It's on. Can you send me lure recommendations again. I've got the streamer deal covered.

Dave,

Honestly, I cannot give you the specifics on what they like at Cherokee. However, Zara Spooks and pencil poppers are always go to lures. Any big chugger, or popper that make a lot of noise. I'd say 4" to 5" this time of year. Whites, red/white, chromes, metallics. I like large Redfins, and jointed Redfins also. Slivers and large buck tails with curly tail grubs., for shallow subsurface work. I'm sure he will have some lures on board that work on that lake. Good luck! I'll be looking forward to your report, and tell Ezell Hello for me.

Thanks much. He said 9 inch lures and streamers. Heck, it'll be good regardless of outcome. Just hoping for one for the wife. My guy in Michigan called tonight and said the steelhead are still going crazy.

Good luck Delaney......im on my way to fish for some hybrids this am......I'll be throwing some top water action at them!

Dawn, good luck. You and Greg are more so pros at this stuff so I'll do my best but hopefully you get a picture or two up later today.

Thats why he's the Pro Dave. I wouldnt have guessed lures that big this time of year. Big sluggo's and flukes would work then! Good luck!

Good luck DP!!!