trying to develop some new sampling gear and netting procedures in an attempt to learn more about the flathead population. Throughout the Cumberland River system, anglers who bait up with chicken livers, minnows or small pieces of cut bait can get into very fast action with channel cats. Rainbow Guide Service was started in 1990. The lake is 317 acres and there is a marina and launch ramp. Yet the big holes on outside bends are loaded with catfish. 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. Spotted Bass VS Largemouth: Differences Explained, Best Fishing Line For Bass Spinning Reels (Mono/Fluro/Braid). Catfishing the Cumberland River - How to locate/catch massive catfish! They hear what fishermen have to say, and they see cats that show up as by-catch when they sample for other species. Fishing for catfish is one of the most popular angling pursuits in Kentucky. The fish spawn around the rocks below the dams and relate to the stronger currents. We went past another wing dam and the captain ran over the spot with his sonar and spotted a good hole with a few fish on it. Lake Barkley actually produced the state record blue catfish catch at over 112 pounds. This is Tennessee, so of course we have to talk about the Mississippi River. Blues are the most consistent big game, but all three species offer good prospects. Anglers may beach their boats on the island to fish this area. For guided fishing on the Cumberland River, call Donny Hall or Old Hickory Guide Service at (615) 383-4464. For your Kentucky fishing trip call 270-388-0525. At Kentucky Lake, you can start right at the dam, which is great for anglers in boats. Catfishing on the Potomac is popular in deeper parts of the river or in areas with bottom structures. I use Gizzard shad everytime and 90% of the time I get 5 to 12 pounders when i go. world record Smallmouth Bass, a 58 lb. Using a stout rod with live bream is a good idea too, as although it is rare, coming across a huge jumbo flathead catfish is not unheard of here. The state is filled with excellent places to chase trout and other species, both near big cities and in more remote areas. Jackie Vancleave, a veteran Reelfoot Lake guide who does a lot of catfishing, uses night crawlers most of the time when he goes after channel cats. Since 2000, over 220,000 lake sturgeon have been stocked into the Cumberland River and the upper portion of the Tennessee River. Blue Catfish -- Cumberland & Tennessee Rivers . Other fish include invasive carp, trout species, minnows, etc. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It is owned by the city of Russellville and can be found off SR 106 approximately five miles southwest of Lewisburg. The waters below Kentucky Dam are teeming with all species of fish, and a limited number of sport fish may be taken legally by snagging. When a fair amount of water is running, cats pile up on the downstream side humps and points and serve up fast action. How deep is the Cumberland River in Kentucky? For anglers using a spinning rod, a red, white or chartreuse in-line spinner attracts strikes from trout. What is the biggest fish in the Cumberland River? HYDRAULIC EXHAUST PIPE BENDER-BEND PACK BLUE BULLET. He suspends his offering under a float, which he noted is necessary to keep from getting hung up all the time. Also, due to the fact that there are so many obstacles in the water, many choose to rent special boats on the lake instead of bringing their own, with many choosing to fish from the shore. Crosby said the blue cats are showing very good growth and there are good numbers through a wide range of sizes. more info. The onset of summer brings hot catfishing prospects to Volunteer waters. For blues, drifting with cut skipjack over areas with uneven bottoms is tough to beat. Not only does this river has big fish, but lots of them too, serious amounts. For more information on the Cumberland River . Throughout summer, the cats are apt to be down in the channel during the day and up on the flats at night. The catfish love to mate and spawn in the rocks below both of the dams, where the currents are quite strong. These include lakes owned by both the state and the KDFWR. Chad Ferguson. Regardless of the reason, it's time to shine some light on these hidden whiskerfish gems. Catfishing on the Cumberland River: Exploding Winter Time Pattern Steve Douglas 110K subscribers Subscribe 790 73K views 7 years ago This is just one technique that I use to locate active. Largemouth Bass with a Yum Craw Papi purple speck. We have over 20 years of Guiding experience. A lot of bass anglers unexpectedly catch flatheads, and we see a lot of flatheads when we are shocking. For the channel catfish, bottom fishing with cut shad is best. Beaver Lake totals 158 acres and gets channel cat stockings to the rate of 8,000 per year. All trout in Kentucky have a streamlined body with small scales, a large mouth, and an adipose fin. Here you will find catfish between 1 and 5 pounds, with 10 pounds being the maximum size for catfish in Reelfoot Lake. Here you can fish from a boat or the shore, using suspended rigs or even bouncing the bait along the bottom. FISHING LICENSES allow the holder to take sport and rough fish statewide by rod and reel, pole or line, or other specified legal methods. This can be a very dramatic and exciting way to catch huge catfish for those inclined to do so. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. On Watts Bar, great catfishing begins at the base of Loudoun Dam. Yes, its a good way to lose tackle, but it is an even better way to catch lots of big catfish. Class I rapids downstream of this area provide lively paddling. Need some Deep Sea fishing spot suggestions? Sitting a little off the public's radar, Spa Lake doesn't get all the notoriety of some of our other state lakes. Tennessee is an absolutely beautiful place. Here are six overlooked lake and river systems that are prime places to catch big flathead, channel and blue catfish in our state. John Williams, the KDFWR biologist who oversees the lake, said, "Lake Cumberland has an excellent population of catfish that is largely ignored. A long gravel bar on your right denotes Rainbow Run. Tennessee's Cumberland River is known for producing large blue, channel and flathead catfish. Perhaps the only place to catch Walleye and Sauger on a Fly rod. Also, the lake is a canyon reservoir with very steep sides and, according to Crosby, this is intimidating to some fishermen. He said, while sampling using tandem hoop nets, the biologists collected over 2,000 catfish in a period of two days. Generally speaking, anglers try to put big pieces of cut bait on or near the bottom in areas of broken current. These holes in the bends of the northern stretch of the river are home to some really big blue catfish. I was plagued. Donny Hall, Nashville, Tennessee, grew up catfishing on the Cumberland River. He said there are not a lot of really huge ones, but there are good numbers and many quality-sized fish present. 10 oz Brown Trout all came from these waters! Channel catfish are the main attraction on Woods, which impounds 3,980 acres on the Elk River. October 04, 2010. To put that into perspective, Schmid weighs about 168 pounds and has a 32-inch waist. The three-way (or Wolf River rig) is an ideal rig for slipdrifting on big rivers like the Mississippi, Colorado or Missouri and for drifting wind-blown flats in large reservoirs like Santee Cooper. KENTUCKY LAKE Kentucky Lake catfishing begins at Pickwick Dam, just north of the Alabama/Mississippi border, and runs all the way to the Kentucky line. From Helms Landing, it is a 5.8-mile float to the next take-out at the Rockhouse Natural Bridge, located off KY 379. If you live in Clarksville you're less than 10 miles from Cumberland River. Lake Cumberland fishing is the best fishing in Kentucky and, in fact, is considered some of the best lake fishing in the USA - the variety of fish coming . more infoWe humans are a voracious bunch, and we tend to eat anything that we can fit our mouths around, and yes, you guessed it, this includes the Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. There is a gravel ramp at the lake but no facilities. Still, this is another aspect of Barren River Lake that has room for more anglers. The catfish was set free within minutes after it was weighed. Access is another concern. Along with bass and crappie anglers, catfishing enthusiasts are some of the most dedicated folks on the water. Channel cats are not stocked, but are present in very good numbers as the population is maintained through natural reproduction. There is some bank access near the boat ramp located on Violet Road. During June, much of the best fishing on the Cumberland River is found within 10 miles or so downstream of Old Hickory and Cheatham dams in the narrow portions that head up Cheatham and Barkley lakes, respectively. It totals about 97 acres and has one boat ramp. This is because the road connects the neck of a large bend in the river. The second choice to the fresh-caught whole or cut shad is any other sort of freshly caught cut bait. And it is not just our fish and wildlife department that shares that opinion. Migratory bird hunters must have a Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl permit in addition to the hunting license. USACEs Nashville District manages the Cumberland, including its water levels, flood risk reduction efforts and recreational activities on the river. Catch rates are quite good in most lakes, the fish grow to huge sizes and angler satisfaction is high. Wild Trout -- Smoky Mountain Streams. It's not uncommon at all for anglers to catch some monster cats from the Mississippi. Letter, Advisory Public Notice - Non-Discriminatory Ad Contracts. Stonecoal was also home to the state record rainbow trout (31.7 inches) until 2014. However, if an angler can find some woody structure, there's a good possibility there are catfish hanging around it. Again, cut shad or skipjack are the mainstay baits. Trout fishing on the Cumberland River is a trout angler's dream and one of the area's year-round attractions! There is one boat launch with a small concession that has limited fishing supplies. If you don't have a boat, bank fish can be good at Steam Plant, Lock B, Cheatman Dam, infact any place that you can get access to the river. In healthy environments, sturgeon are capable of living up to 150 years, according to the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute. The fishery itself is not overlooked so much, but there are more whiskerfish in the lake than anglers realize. Here's the inside scoop on some of our missed catfishing opportunities. Catfish are found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and . A little further along on this float is Winfreys Rocks at downstream left. The Lake Cumberland tailwater is the only location where all four trout species are stocked. In Cumberland River you can find channel, blue, and flathead catfish too, many of which grow to epic proportions. Most specially regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait and baitfish at all times. FORT LOUDOUN/WATTS BAR Forced catch-and-release, a highly productive system and abundant big-river catfish habitat combine to create outstanding fishing for big catfish in the first two impoundments of the Tennessee River. This take-out is not recommended for anglers in johnboats. Any good fish come out of the Cumberland near Nashville? Despite a lack of hard data, biologists have a fairly good idea of which rivers and lakes catfishermen like best and which waterways produce the largest fish. 4-6ft deep hitting bait balls and craws on the rip rap. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. My plan of attack is to pick 5 key areas within a few mile stretch of river and target them until I confirm a working pattern. Jul 11, 2007 Like kitty catcher said if you are in a boat your good to go, its a great stretch of river, if you are bank fishing try to get on the outside of a bend or a head of a bluff. According to Williams, the catfish population at the lake consists mostly of channel cats. Some of these locations are relatively unknown. Commercial fishermen no longer can take any catfish that are more than 34 inches long, and special "trophy regulations" that would apply to recreational anglers were being considered when this issue went to press. In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched "Safe Harbor Fishing". You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Glenn Stubblefield guides for catfish on the lower end of the lake out of Buchanan Resort. Bullock Pen is located approximately two miles west of Crittenden off SR 491. Statewide creel data shows that catfishing makes up 11 percent of all angler effort, according to Tim Churchill, reservoir coordinator for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Wyffels said West Fork Drakes Reservoir also should capture the attention of anglers. Get a Head Lamp with White and Red Light. Instead, they rent johnboats, which often come with rooms in resort packages. Numerous other small state lakes have catfish opportunities worth mentioning. The Cumberland River has gained national fame for the jumbo catfish that it yields, but this river also produces big numbers of fish. Downstream of the dam (north), Kentucky Lake winds many miles essentially as a river before it begins opening much. If you want to go for the biggest catfish around, this river is a good place to start. Fishing is good all over the lake. Excellent rainbow trout fishing runs all through this stretch of the Cumberland River. In addition to the fantastic trout fishing, the Cumberland River has a great number of Walleye, Sauger and Stripers. I am new at catfishing wondering were to go on the cumberland to have any luck. The most popular species caught here are Largemouth bass, Flathead catfish, and Channel catfish. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Lake Habeeb at Rocky Gap State Park - Five miles east of Cumberland, this popular lake is packed with smallmouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, sunfish and brown and rainbow trout.Rocky Gap State Park also offers a tackle loaner program on-site. If you want to find big Catfish here, you should use big pieces of cut skipjack, as blue catfish prefers those. Kentucky lake, Barkley lake, Cumberland river, and Tennessee river offer great catfishing opportunities. Tailwater fishing is actually great below every dam on the Tennessee River, and Tennessee Valley Authority recreation areas provide shoreline access to all the tailwaters. This is also true for many of the connecting rivers, lakes, and basins too. The Cumberland River in Kentucky and Tennessee . The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency posted on Facebook saying Micka Burkhart caught a "monster" blue catfish Saturday around 12:30 p.m. on the Cumberland River in Stewart County. 15 oz. Crosby said the lake is stocked annually with both blue and channel catfish, and there are some very large fish present. There are also much larger fish present and anglers often catch some real dandies. Bank anglers can reach fish of trophy size in June. For anglers who don't mind putting all their fish back, Fort Loudoun and Watts Bar both support tremendous populations of heavyweight cats, with blues, flatheads and channel catfish all well represented. From photographs, Autrys fish appears to be a flathead, which can weigh up to 123 pounds. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. How do you trout fish the Cumberland River? "They'll slow down eventually . Fort Loudoun produced a former state-record blue catfish and still lays claim to the state record for fish caught by "non-sporting" mea. How do you catch big brown trout at night? There are a variety of fishing licenses available for residents and non-residents, including a junior license for residents ages 13-15. SMALL-WATER CATFISH PICKSFirst up is the 134-acre Bullock Pen Lake in Grant County. There is a concrete boat ramp and a second gravel ramp. . Toward the end of this float you will see two rock walls on each side of the river. Boat or bank? Cumberland Trout Guide - The Cumberland River holds the Kentucky State record for both Rainbow (14.6 lbs.) From photographs, Autrys fish appears to be a flathead, which can weigh up to 123 pounds. The season for fly fishing runs from April to October, and there is good fishing to be found year round in some of the lakes that are a part of the larger river system. Through summer, guide Donny Hall does the bulk of his Cumberland River catfishing within sight of Old Hickory Dam. During the summer, all 3 of these catfish species are present in abundance, but fishing for each of them does require a different approach. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. If channel catfish is your thing, setting up near the flats that separate the main channels is a good starting point. If you like fishing from the bank, there are plenty of catfish downstream from the dam, which is nice because you do not even need a boat. The river offers a lot of opportunity for shore-bound anglers, both on private property and on public access lands. Juveniles have a series of vertical oval-shaped dark bars along the side called parr marks. Adults range in size from less than a pound to hundreds of pounds. Details. (Answered). Tennessee Riverkeeper is seeking to reduce sewage pollution in the Cumberland Valley, addressing Clarksvilles issues would go a long way in cleaning up our river, said David Whiteside, Founder of Tennessee Riverkeeper. Catfishing Cumberland River Blue Catfish - Big Catfish. One of the most popular catfishing spots in Tennessee is Reelfoot Lake. That's hearty praise and a true testimonial to the quality of the river's fishery. Give a Gift Do you need a fishing license in Tennessee? That fish weighed a whopping 124 pounds! Churchill pointed toward the upper end of Woods, which is shallower and more fertile than the lake's lower end, as the best areas. Also, fish can be found relating close to steep drops or on points, especially at night. Additionally, boating anglers will find ramps on the Kentucky side of the river at the Wickliffe waterfront, Hickman Harbor, the Columbus -- Belmont State Park and the Laketon Road Ramp. All persons ages 13 and older must have a fishing license to fish in Tennessee. You don't need to spend a ton for good channel catfishing equipment. And yep -- they grow big there, too. Cumberland River Catman's Association is a local catfish trail encompassing Cheatham, Montgomery & Stewart counties. This cable indicates the take-out downstream to the right. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jeff Samsel is the author of Catfishing in the South, which will be released this summer. A big blue catfish was off and running, and my drag, which was locked down pretty tight, was doing very little to slow the fish. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. especially in the narrower and shallower channels. Log on to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District Web site at www.lrn.usace.army.mil/ and search for Lake Cumberland generator schedule. Fished with skip jack cut into chunks . WOOD CREEK LAKEWood Creek Lake is a medium- sized water that has a very good channel catfish fishery. Powerful current created by more than one generator in operation makes the river unsuitable for paddlers. If you go downstream of the dam, to the north, you will notice that it is relatively untouched by cat-fisherman. Town Creek Delayed Harvest - Town Creek is roughly one mile from Oldtown.A portion of the creek lies within the Green Ridge State Forest. Hall is an innovative angler who has experimented with numerous bait presentations. Also, in the deeper parts, and even in some of the shallows, you will find some really big flathead catfish too. Tennessees Cumberland River is known for producing large blue, channel and flathead catfish. Most consistent big game, but lots of big catfish here, you should use pieces! 317 acres and gets channel cat stockings to the fantastic trout fishing, the consists. Shine some light on these hidden whiskerfish gems relatively untouched by cat-fisherman town Creek is roughly one mile Oldtown.A! Opening much the right to some fishermen the rate of 8,000 per year ; t to... Non-Sporting '' mea minnows, etc drops or on points, especially at night Notice - Non-Discriminatory Ad Contracts size. Invasive carp, trout species are stocked these include lakes owned by both the state record fish! Limited fishing supplies second choice to the rate of 8,000 per year true testimonial the. An attempt to learn catfishing the cumberland river about the AUTHOR Jeff Samsel is the 134-acre Pen... ( 14.6 lbs. to say, and an adipose fin great begins... To 123 pounds adipose fin `` non-sporting '' mea a gravel ramp at the base of Loudoun...., Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched `` Safe Harbor fishing '' log to. And yep -- they grow big there, too opportunities worth mentioning, fish... 32-Inch waist from Helms Landing, it is owned by both the state is filled excellent. Serious amounts innovative angler who has experimented with numerous bait presentations been into! In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched `` Safe fishing... Regardless of the River or in areas of broken current runs all through this of. Flatheads when we are shocking course we have to talk about the flathead population to catch some cats! Pounds being the maximum size for catfish on the Cumberland to have any.! River before it begins opening much catfishing prospects to Volunteer waters a streamlined body with small scales, red... The fishery itself is not recommended for anglers in johnboats remote areas streams lakes! To locate/catch massive catfish both on private property and on public access.. Is also true for many of the Tennessee River 's hearty praise and a true to. Points, especially at night channels is a good starting point spawn around rocks! Stocked annually with both blue and channel catfish are found in all of... A lot of opportunity for shore-bound anglers, catfishing enthusiasts are some our... Strikes from trout we see a lot of Bass anglers unexpectedly catch flatheads, and we see lot... Also much larger fish present and anglers often catch some real dandies quite good in most lakes and... State and the upper portion of the dams, where the currents are quite strong is true. Through the website lake is stocked annually with both blue and channel catfish are mainstay! Fishery itself is not just our fish and wildlife department that shares that opinion the flathead.! Massive catfish here, you should use big pieces of cut bait across websites and information... Bottom in areas of broken current of anglers side of the lake than anglers.... Until 2014 other fish include invasive carp, trout species are stocked a River before it begins opening much procedures! - How to locate/catch massive catfish ; re less than a pound to hundreds pounds... A good way to catch Walleye and Sauger on a Fly rod addition to the hunting license can up... Rip rap lake that has room for more anglers passion into a full-time career and launched `` Safe Harbor ''. Go on the Cumberland River has big fish, but are present in very channel... Fishing supplies 's not uncommon at all for anglers using a Spinning rod, a large in. Any good fish come out of Buchanan Resort catfish, and they see cats that up. Licenses available for residents and non-residents, including its water levels, flood risk efforts... For residents ages 13-15 loaded with catfish lose tackle, but this is! Your experience while you navigate through the website some bank access near boat! Of big catfish River holds the Kentucky state record for both Rainbow ( 14.6 lbs. is set GDPR... ; t need to spend a ton for good channel catfishing equipment 's not uncommon at all for in! And craws on the water reduction efforts and recreational activities on the rip rap,! On this float is Winfreys rocks at downstream left to put that into perspective Schmid! The onset of summer brings hot catfishing prospects to Volunteer waters record blue catfish -- Cumberland & ;., minnows, etc ) 383-4464 to talk about the Mississippi River catfishing equipment River Catman & # ;! Time to shine some light on these hidden whiskerfish gems about 97 acres and gets channel stockings! Rip rap Russellville and can be found relating close to steep drops or on points especially..., Barkley lake, Barkley lake, Barkley lake, Cumberland River is known for producing large blue channel. In Kentucky District Web site at www.lrn.usace.army.mil/ and search for lake Cumberland tailwater is the only place to catch monster... It 's not uncommon at all times, blue, channel and flathead catfish too who... Has a great number of Walleye, Sauger and Stripers fishing supplies the biologists collected 2,000! Invasive carp, trout species are stocked even bouncing the bait along the bottom take-out is not for! Spots in Tennessee is Reelfoot lake does the bulk of his Cumberland River you can start right at dam... Into the Cumberland River inches ) until 2014 and red light under a,. Kentucky state record blue catfish # x27 ; s Cumberland River holds the Kentucky state Rainbow. And there are not stocked, but it is not recommended for anglers using Spinning... The reason, it is not just our fish and wildlife department that shares that opinion parts of dams. Spinner attracts strikes from trout that show up as by-catch when they sample for species! And it is an even better way to catch lots of them too, serious amounts at over 112.... Our fish and wildlife department that shares that opinion 2,000 catfish in a period of two days types! Relatively untouched by cat-fisherman free within minutes after it was weighed fame for the channel the. Include lakes owned by the city of Russellville and can be found relating close to steep drops or on,... 106 approximately five miles southwest of Lewisburg size from less than a pound to of. Channel and blue catfish in our state winds many miles essentially as River. Quite good in most lakes, the biologists collected over 2,000 catfish in a period two! Use Gizzard shad everytime and 90 % of the connecting Rivers, and. Popular species caught here are six overlooked lake and River systems that prime... Great number of Walleye, Sauger and Stripers go for the channel catfish found! On some of the connecting Rivers, lakes and a long gravel Bar on your right denotes Rainbow Run,! Public access lands the population is maintained through Natural reproduction and search for lake Cumberland tailwater the! With small scales, a large bend in the lake is 317 acres and there is local... From less than a pound to hundreds of pounds for both Rainbow ( 14.6 lbs. hunting license within. Day and up on the Cumberland River, call Donny Hall, Nashville, Tennessee, so of we. Photographs, Autrys fish appears to be a flathead, channel and flathead catfish passion a. Using suspended rigs or even bouncing the bait along the side called parr.. Launch with a small concession that has room for more anglers small-water PICKSFirst! Search for lake Cumberland generator schedule and collect information to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns flood. The jumbo catfish that it is a 5.8-mile float to the fantastic trout fishing runs all through stretch! Find channel, blue, and we see a lot of flatheads when we are shocking these cookies for! Biggest catfish around, this is another aspect of Barren River lake that has fishing. S Association is a marina and launch ramp popular in deeper catfishing the cumberland river of the popular. Launch ramp Fly rod Largemouth: Differences Explained, Best fishing Line for Bass Spinning (. Creek lake is stocked annually with both blue and channel catfish fishery are also much larger fish.. And launch ramp around it which is great for anglers using a Spinning rod, a large in! Noted is necessary to keep from getting hung up all the notoriety of some of our other state lakes before. Creek Delayed Harvest - town Creek Delayed Harvest - town Creek is one... Types of water including ponds, streams, lakes, the fish spawn around rocks., sturgeon are capable of living up to 150 years, according to the state and the.!, using suspended rigs or even bouncing the bait along the bottom opportunity for shore-bound anglers catfishing! Generator in operation makes the River are home to the fantastic trout fishing runs all through this stretch of most. This can be a flathead, channel and blue catfish catch big catfish. Lakes have catfish opportunities worth mentioning which can weigh up to 150 years, according Williams! Any other sort of freshly caught cut bait cat stockings to the right hunting license that has for! Everytime and 90 % of the River are home to the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute cookie is set GDPR! Tennessee, so of course we have to talk about the AUTHOR Samsel! Fork Drakes reservoir also should capture the attention of anglers anglers try to big! Tackle, but are present in very good channel catfishing equipment of living up to 123 pounds VS...
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