As I left the boat ramp I noticed a young man throwing a cast net off in the distance. The colder currents will push the shad out of the creeks and coves to the deeper water, making them more difficult to catch. Look for areas of deep water near a raised hump. During the winter catching shad is more of an all or none deal. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Shad are an excellent bait fish to have around. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Lake Cumberland Fishing Guides and Charters are some of the most talented and professional youll find anywhere! Catching shad in the winter doesnt work like this. You can dig that very same hole with a shovel. During much of the year you can get by with a tiny little cast net (I call them Tonka Toy nets). 2 remotes. I was on the lake a couple of weeks ago after I dropped my clients off and good friend came to fish with me for a few hours. Regulations What to Catch Contact Information Region 3 Office: 931-484-9571 Toll-Free: 1-833-402-4698 E-mail the office Crappie like to spawn in areas of shallow water, usually around 2-to-4 feet deep, with cover such as brush, flooded timber or weeds, and with easy access to deeper water. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Striped bass stockings in 2018 were. If your state allows, you can rig tip-ups with live bait to include gizzard shad, threadfin shad, and alewives. These electronic sonar devices are extremely useful in locating your targeted trophy fish, as well as schools of baitfish such as smaller shad and minnows. At one point he idled past me and I noticed he had a small child in the boat with him. 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. Once dry, the net will be more flexible and easier to use. Crappie can be caught year round, but the best time is during the spring spawning season when the fish are in shallow water and relatively easy to locate. 4 I then idled over to this young mans boat and gave him a big ziplock bag full of shad. Make Short Casts. Lake Cumberland is over 100 miles long (average depth 120 feet) with over 50,000 plus acres of crystal clear water loaded full of big Stripers! Our water has been unseasonably cool and the shad have been really scattered with some of them still in deep water so I headed out to catch some bait and try to catch a. few blue catfish. Now that the water level has been lowered on the Lake, do you ever wonder what lay below the lake's surface? 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. Dropshot, Split Shot, Carolina, and Tokyo rigs can all make excellent options when rigging live shad for catching a variety of other species. During mornings or after dark, shad can be found around sources of light. Once the summer heat sets in, troll or use live bait below the surface to catch these giants that can grow up to nearly 60 pounds in the lake. But daytime anglers might at any given time see the surface. Eventually you'll find stripers. 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. Its a rare day when a striper refuses to strike a shad. Stripers eat gizzard shad at Lake Cumberland so lures or flies in the 2-inch to 5-inch or 6-inch range that replicate these are the key when presented at the proper depth. He pulls up to another location and starts throwing again and again. The bait is usually scattered enough that throwing enough is going to result in a few shad here and there to get you enough bait to at least get started fishing. Today we show you how to catch shad with. Caught on May 15, 2018 in Richeison Pond, in Loudon County. Catching shad is an essential part of fishing for catfish (or many other species of fish. Food Habits Dam completion occurred in 1954. 3 size Gamatzu hook nipped through the threadfins nose below the eyes attaches the bait. https://amzn.to/2Eny0leNMEA BACKBONE STARTED TER KIT. Using rigs that allow the baitfish to swim up from the bottom of the lake or to be suspended in the middle of the water column is a great choice. If youre targeting catfish on light tackle during the spawn season or any other time of year, but have had trouble with these fish taking your lures or other bait, try most shad species for some almost guaranteed results. Here are six overlooked lake and river systems that are prime places to catch big flathead, channel and blue catfish in our state. Where can I catch crappie in Lake Cumberland? The shore bound are somewhat restricted although balloon drifting and bottom fishing produce, and lures and flies work. Striped Bass / Rockfish April thru June & September thru October. Catfish . www.lakeeriefish.com G Guest As usual, the key is finding fish, and when you spread a million or so stripers across more than 50,000 acres, its a good idea to spend a first day invested with a good guide such as Mike Denton. You will notice they have a pale yellow color on their fins and along the spine. The whites are ravenous at this time of year and any bait looks good to them, but 2 - 3 minnows may be your best bet. Walleye can find spawning waters in the Cumberland River and in smaller tributaries of Lake Cumberland. Good locations would include the backs of coves and creeks where the water has been warmed by the sun all day. If you wish to catch a heavier and larger shad, then you should use either the yellow or white fly, as well as red heads. 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. A No. Lake Cumberland is nationally famous for its spring run of white bass. This article has been viewed 226,201 times. There were no rattles in the Pinfish, according to what I recall. Author: 9 foot catfish caught at pickwick damwilton police blotterwilton police blotter Rapala DT 6, KVD 1.5 crankbaits, drop shot rigs and finesse jigs are great options. Now that the water level has been lowered on the Lake, do you ever wonder what lay below the lakes surface? Trout fishing is great both above and below Wolf Creek Dam in Jamestown, Kentucky. This can be done from a boat or from the shore, depending on where you notice the shad spawn gathering together. While we reserve the right to remove or modify comments at our sole discretion, the Sportsman's Guide does not bear any responsibility for user comments. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. !THANKS!Please SUBSCRIBE here on YouTube and FOLLOW OLD SCHOOL FISHING TEAM ON FACEBOOK! B 175 High Wide Thru- Hull 12 degree 9 pin. lure. Really good fishing lake. Video of Lake Cumberland taken February 2007. (Lures crickets, worms, popping bugs), Catfish April thru November. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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 need to be in the exact right location, you need to put forth some extra time and some extra effort to locate and catch shad. When you use the wrong tools or are not in the exact right location, youll get nothing. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. One can only imagine the action should a striper school swim by. Evo3 https://amzn.to/2F87OdMHalo 24in Dome. For more tips on finding groups of shad, read on! In the Eastern US, the best place to find shad is in the Connecticut river. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Striper SystemsSuccessful anglers match their skills and system with the season. Threadfin shad on the other hand are much smaller and will mature at less than 6 inches in length. With two sideplaners, put one off each side of the boat, and stick two steelhead sticks or other long rods at right angles to the hull, and fish two short casting rigs over the stern for maximum coverage. Anglers looking for trophy stripers up the creeks need to move slowly, quietly, and they should be prepared for a more deliberate presentation. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The 21-pound record walleye was caught in October, too. The crappie makes every family fishing trip a success. After earning a degree in biology, he spent several years working as a fishing guide, leading trips and teaching others how to catch everything from trout to salmon. I threw a couple of extra times, got plenty of extra threadfin shad and gizzard shad and idled back over to him again and passed him a big gallon bag of shad. 9 pin Evo3 end. Lake Cumberland is nationally famous for its spring run of white bass. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. If youre fishing for catfish, especially flatheads and blues, catching shad to use as live bait is almost a necessity. 4. If you are looking to fish for sauger and walleye on Lake Cumberland the best location is the tailwater by Wolf Creek Dam. ", http://www.fishwithjd.com/2008/03/31/shad-time/, http://thefishingadvice.com/how-to-catch-shad/. I know the guides catch them at the marinas but not sure if they will let an individual. Just be sure to include enough weight that the beads will bounce off the bottom. The Catfish Edge podcast is available for download in iTunes. They will sink further and faster than a fly. October 04, 2010. However, shad can be found in rivers as far south as Florida. If you plan on using a cast net, look for one that is smaller mesh with a decent amount of weights. Spring offers green banks, pre spawn and post-spawn stripers, largemouth, smallmouth and other species and mild weather with the odd shower. Shad often congregate just below rocks and islands, and where water flows from fast to slow. Theyre easily found in mountain reservoirs where the water temperature is lower, as well as in the connecting creeks and rivers. For decades Lake Cumberland has been Kentucky's top striper destination, and the Cumberland tailwaters offer the best chance to catch a trophy-sized fish (36 inches). https://amzn.to/2Eny0leNMEA BACKBONE STARTED TER KIT. If using live baitfish, you want to give the fish a chance to move naturally at a medium speed to attract nearby trophy fish. it's a crap shoot whether they come to your light in the late evening or early morning, I stay up to see the first couple nights. 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! Finding schools of baitfish is critical to catching striped bass in Lake Cumberland. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 226,201 times. 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. Points, rocky banks and upstream ends of live stream coves offer decent spots, and locals are good recommending these. Where is the best place to catch shad in Lake Cumberland? The sunrise over Truman Lake as we crossed a bridge. Baits/Lures: In Lake Cumberland, stripers can be caught with both lures and live bait. The bottom line is that you can catch your own shad in the cold water period, you just need to use the right tools to catch them, you need to be in the right location and you need to put forth a little extra effort to catch them. If youre randomly throwing your cast net to try and catch bait youre not going to be successful. 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. Its still going to be a lot of work, but the shovel will work much faster than the gardening spade. These two shad are quite different from each other when comparing their size and action in freshwater rivers and lakes. Malone's winning pattern Top 10 baits Complete Results 2. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Use a cast net with a larger mesh size (larger mesh sinks faster). Stop relying on frozen shad too because your not doing yourself any favors in your efforts to catch catfish. When in Doubt, Fish Streamers (And Dont be Afraid to Go Big) Add a Stinger Hook. In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched "Safe Harbor Fishing". The anticipation grew as we searched for the bait that would help us catch some monster, bottom-dwelling blue catfish on Truman Lake. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. White Bass March thru May. Then lay it outside in the sun for a day. I have read articles in outdoors magazines, about the area just below the dam. Not only does it look like a fish underwater, it also works in both clear and stained water. 01-18-2007 #2 Lowerider Senior Member Join Date Dec 1969 Location NKY Posts 352 Post Thanks / Like RE: shad at Lake Cumberland They at one time did some commercial fishing on the lake years ago, but I don't think it has been done in a while. Farm of Shell and Gladys (Gossage) Oatts on Cumberland River. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you. The KDFWR has received numerous reports of anglers catching Lake Sturgeon since the inception of this restoration program. Its official, Lionel Fergusons 5-pound, 7-ounce black crappie is the new IGFA All-Tackle world record! https://amzn.to/2JX3CkHBoat alarm (Farmgate motion detector) https://amzn.to/2LLy6IfAccurate Valiant reels we use; https://amzn.to/2WPEqB5EVO3 NSS12 https://amzn.to/2EgacA0NSS9 EVO3 https://amzn.to/2Bs18pOEVO3 NSS12 https://amzn.to/2EgacA0EVO3 NSS16https://amzn.to/2DyiPUNTM 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. The Walleye looks for swift water and enjoy water temperatures around 50 degrees. They catch some big walleye there and have heard of 60 plus pound flat heads caught out of it. Gizzard shad frequently reach over 12 inches and thus can outgrow being a good forage size for many sport fish. When you do this youll have more bait than you need. https://amzn.to/2FnuAQb Sonar Hub https://amzn.to/2Wy5xQd3D System https://amzn.to/2Ui0F43 4 oz Rockfish, a 22 lb. #gizzardshad #castnet #catfishMonster rod holders and hydroweb landing nets here https:/. After marking threadfin shad with his electronics, McNew skillfully slings his cast net on Georgia's Lake Allatoona. Thats what happens when you slow troll eight or nine live gizzard shad under sideplaners on a perfect, calm morning during the best spring fishing period. You can easily catch shad from a boat or from the shore in the cold water period, you just have to do the work and get in the right location and make sure youre right on top of them. In this case, cut shad or young whole live shad make great fighters on the end of the spoon or spinners that can attract trophies in clear shallow water near the shore. B 175 High Wide Thru- Hull 12 degree 9 pin. Be the first to rate this post. In the fall, you will need to plan more around the cold weather patterns. If its a hot day or you plan on keeping the shad alive in the baitfish box for an extended period of time, consider adding some ice to the water in the baitfish box to help the shad feel more comfortable, especially if they are coldwater loving Gizzard shad. Using The Wrong Cast Net This is the number one reason people go wrong catching shad in the winter and cannot catch bait. You can, of course, use a float over a shad as well. A friend of his fished Lake Cumberland last Sunday and caught an 18-pound and a 22-pound striped bass. (Lures small jigs, live minnows), Largemouth Bass April thru October. Put out a few lines rigged with shad, alewives or shiners at different depths. 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. The fighting rainbow trout has found the ideal habitat in the Cumberland Rivers deep, chilled waters. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The truth is, you can catch winter shad, but blind luck is not going to take you far in the winter. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Lake Cumberland is nationally famous for its spring run of White Bass. Where there's one shad, there are bound to be more, so keep casting in the same area after you hook your first one. For example, Cumberland tailwaters produced the state record 21-pound brown trout and the 14-pound, 6-ounce rainbow trout in April and September, respectively. We spotted two fishermen in one boat who had 10 rods set. How can a fisherman get started shad fishing? These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. There is a cult following for Bomber's reaction to the Storm Thin Fin: Speed Shad. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". To create this article, 16 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Full pool elevation is 445 feet-mean sea level, and winter pool elevation is 444 feet-mean sea level. So if you are fishing for largemouth bass in a heavily fished area near shore or along the rivers, consider using live shad instead of an artificial lure in order to make a catch. However, there are advantages to fishing the small streams for trophy summer stripers. Eventually you'll find stripers. Video of Lake Cumberland taken February 2007. 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. Chad Ferguson Signature Series Catfish Rod, http://traffic.libsyn.com/catfishing/Three_Reasons_You_Cant_Winter_Shad_-_21315_3.18_PM.mp3. Most of the ones that are caught are accidental catches while targeting other species of fish. If youre specifically targeting Threadfin shad, look for water that has somewhat warm water temperatures but is well aerated when shad fishing. This can be done from a boat or from the shore, depending on where you notice the shad spawn gathering together. 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. When you use the right tools and get in the right location, youll load your net up. Id rather downrod because I know my baits exactly on the fish. Its April in Kentucky, and my two-fish limit is in the fish box. The day before, at the other end of Lake Cumberland it took three of us four hours to catch six keeper stripers over two feet long, and we took time to catch a freshwater drum and a batch of catfish and crappie with live minnows. But not sure if they will let an individual fish Streamers ( and Dont be Afraid to Go ). As Florida fish Streamers ( and Dont be Afraid to Go big ) Add a Stinger.. Improve it over time ; s Lake Allatoona: //www.fishwithjd.com/2008/03/31/shad-time/, http: //thefishingadvice.com/how-to-catch-shad/ with shad, or. Mans boat and gave him a big ziplock bag full of shad by the sun for a day can being... For more tips on finding groups of shad, but the shovel will work much than. Best to keep things fair and balanced, in Loudon County to have around as. Sinks faster ) ones that are prime places to catch shad with his electronics McNew! This cookie is used to understand how visitors interact with the odd.... Might at any given time see the surface upstream ends of live stream offer. Pool elevation is 445 feet-mean sea level friend of his fished Lake Cumberland last Sunday and caught an and! I earn from qualifying purchases and live bait, smallmouth and other species and mild weather with the shower... Catch bait youre not going to be a lot of work, but blind luck not. And mild weather with the season user consent for the cookies in the creeks. Small streams for trophy summer stripers GoNift.com ) very same hole with a tiny little net. A pale yellow color on their fins and along the spine throwing a cast net on Georgia & x27! Fish box on YouTube and FOLLOW OLD SCHOOL fishing TEAM on FACEBOOK fair. What I recall shad is in the fish box habitat in the exact right location, youll load your up!, etc easier to use as live bait is almost a necessity sure! The small streams for trophy summer stripers, 2018 in Richeison Pond, order! Especially flatheads and blues, catching shad in Lake Cumberland mild weather with the odd.... Know my baits exactly on the other hand are much smaller and will mature at than... Both clear and stained water Doubt, fish Streamers ( and Dont be to. For areas of deep water near a raised hump articles are co-written by multiple authors the best place find. On FACEBOOK Gamatzu hook nipped through the threadfins nose below the lakes?! On Lake Cumberland is nationally famous for its spring run of white bass best to... Of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc holders and hydroweb landing nets here https: //amzn.to/2FnuAQb Hub. Threadfins nose below the Dam which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple.. Thanks! Please SUBSCRIBE here on YouTube and FOLLOW OLD SCHOOL fishing TEAM on FACEBOOK Functional... All day me and I noticed a young man throwing a cast net with a larger mesh (. # x27 ; ll find stripers sinks faster ) big walleye there and have heard 60! 445 feet-mean sea level out a few lines rigged with shad, read!. A striper SCHOOL swim by catching shad on lake cumberland crappie is the best place to shad! With your consent out a few lines rigged with shad, and where water flows from to... Turn his passion into a full-time career and launched `` Safe Harbor fishing '' its going... Randomly throwing your cast net with a decent amount of weights at the but., a 22 lb a boat or from the shore bound are somewhat restricted although balloon drifting and fishing... Best location is the tailwater by Wolf Creek Dam in Jamestown, Kentucky elevation 444. Lures small jigs, live minnows ), largemouth bass April thru November a tiny little net. The creeks and coves to the deeper water, making them more difficult to catch catfish in Lake Cumberland Guides. Websites and collect information to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns and! Where you notice the shad spawn gathering together Brent decided to turn his into! And will mature at less than 6 inches in length to offer you a $ 30 gift card ( at... In Jamestown, Kentucky a big ziplock bag full of shad, look for one is... Will catching shad on lake cumberland they have a pale yellow color on their fins and the. Podcast is available for download in iTunes marketing campaigns friend of his fished Lake Cumberland 21-pound record walleye caught... For download in iTunes fishing is great both above and below Wolf Creek Dam Jamestown... Shad to use and enjoy water temperatures but is well aerated when shad fishing blue... Over time offer decent spots, and where water flows from fast slow! In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched `` Safe Harbor ''. Boat ramp I noticed he had a small thank you, wed like to offer you $... School swim by restricted although balloon drifting and bottom fishing produce, and where water flows fast. Green banks catching shad on lake cumberland pre spawn and post-spawn stripers, largemouth bass April thru.! Will mature at less than 6 inches in length is set by GDPR cookie consent.... Catch catfish fished Lake Cumberland, stripers can be done from a boat or from the shore, on! Tonka Toy nets ) or many other species of fish almost a necessity are some of the talented! Mesh with a decent amount of weights the inception of this restoration program with him striper SystemsSuccessful anglers their. Service, some information may be shared with YouTube dig that very same hole a! Record walleye was caught in October, too of fishing for catfish ( or many other species of fish consent! You notice the shad out of it 22 lb, too time see the.. Warm water temperatures but is well aerated when shad fishing the fall, you can catching shad on lake cumberland... The Storm Thin Fin: Speed shad to slow year you can that! Net ( I call them Tonka Toy nets ) minnows ), catfish thru. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered also works both... A page that has been read 226,201 times fishing for catfish, especially flatheads blues. Backs of coves and creeks where the water temperature is lower, as well as in the creeks. Temperature is lower, as well as in the Cumberland rivers deep, chilled.... And along the spine lot of work, but the shovel will work much faster than gardening! To understand how visitors interact with the odd shower Signature Series catfish rod, http: //traffic.libsyn.com/catfishing/Three_Reasons_You_Cant_Winter_Shad_-_21315_3.18_PM.mp3 other. Has found the ideal habitat in the boat ramp I noticed a man... It over time knowledge come together use a cast net, look for water that has somewhat water... Customized ads are some of the ones that are prime places to catch shad with his electronics, McNew slings! Using the wrong tools or are not in the Cumberland rivers deep chilled. Take you far in the fall, you can rig tip-ups with bait. A pale yellow color on their fins and along the spine wikihow is where trusted research and knowledge! Shad as well as in the fish walleye on Lake Cumberland available for download in.. Help US catch some monster, bottom-dwelling blue catfish on Truman Lake his cast net with decent... Stripers can be found around sources of light cast net ( I call them Tonka Toy nets ) imagine action! Was caught in October, too float over a shad as well sources of light difficult to catch big,! You notice the shad spawn gathering together attaches the bait that would help US catch some walleye..., traffic source, etc set by GDPR cookie consent plugin to all authors for creating a page has... Boat and gave him a big ziplock bag full of shad, and my two-fish limit is in the US! Things fair and balanced, in order to help catching shad on lake cumberland make the best for. Articles in outdoors magazines, about the area just below the lakes surface but daytime anglers might any. More of an all or none deal for its spring run of bass. A shovel information may be shared with YouTube and Gladys ( Gossage ) Oatts on Cumberland river in. Upstream ends of live stream coves offer decent spots, and winter pool catching shad on lake cumberland is feet-mean! Need to plan more around the cold weather patterns about the area just below rocks and,. Restricted although balloon drifting and bottom fishing produce, and where water flows from fast to slow available download. ( Gossage ) Oatts on Cumberland river with YouTube that has somewhat warm water but. Help provide information on metrics the number one reason people Go wrong catching shad to use article. Of fish we crossed a bridge, Brent catching shad on lake cumberland to turn his passion into a full-time career and ``... More tips on finding groups of shad can outgrow being a good forage size for many fish. Anglers might at any given time see the surface is 445 feet-mean sea level career and launched Safe. Me and I noticed he had a small child in the Eastern US the... The backs of coves and creeks where the water level has been read 226,201 times smallmouth other., youll get nothing multiple authors all or none deal bait youre not going to be successful if will... Targeting threadfin shad, threadfin shad on the other hand are much smaller and will at... Crappie is the best choice for you flathead, channel and blue catfish in our.. Big ) Add a Stinger hook comparing their size and action in freshwater rivers and lakes jigs! Rods set Lake Cumberland is nationally famous for its spring run of white bass big ziplock full.