Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. 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. On the first day, Bohannan fished a Skirmish Baits AIM-9 jerkbait. Most specially regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait and baitfish at all times. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! Finding schools of baitfish is critical to catching striped bass in Lake Cumberland. During mornings or after dark, shad can be found around sources of light. Regular fishermen in the area know that the fish like to hide in areas away. During the fall, spring and summer shad are often scattered in many different locations. There were no rattles in the Pinfish, according to what I recall. These fish are very opportunistic eaters that wont turn down many lures, baits, or live fish found in rivers and lakes, especially during the spawn season. If you throw in the right location youll have more bait than you need, but you have to be precise. Once dry, the net will be more flexible and easier to use. That way the shad can easily see and go after it. Greg Bohannan - Bentonville, Ark. In the Eastern US, the best place to find shad is in the Connecticut river. In the evenings, shad can be found in the warmer water towards the back of a cove or creek. Really good fishing lake. The shore bound are somewhat restricted although balloon drifting and bottom fishing produce, and lures and flies work. Youll have to throw much more with a smaller net than you will with a larger net but in most instances youll be able to catch some bait. FUN KENTUCKY FACT: Kentucky is not a large state, but it has more miles of running water than any other state except Alaska, which is 14 times the size of Kentucky! The 21-pound record walleye was caught in October, too. Stripers Are StockedThe reason fishing is so good here is simple. What time of day is best for crappie fishing? In general, fishing for pike with live baitfish as your lure is a very effective way to land these monster fish. Large catfish like a good-sized meal and the movement of these creatures will get their attention. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Along with bass and crappie anglers, catfishing . 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. Gizzard shad frequently reach over 12 inches and thus can outgrow being a good forage size for many sport fish. Flathead, Channel, and Blue catfish will all very eagerly take shad. Please don't spam. Catching shad is an essential part of fishing for catfish (or many other species of fish. During the winter catching shad is more of an all or none deal. The key is not moving the boat much and staying on top of the fish. Overhead lights attract flying insects and baitfish, and many dock owners place crappie-attracting brushpiles nearby. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. As a riverine impoundment, Lake Cumberland offers anglers many bays, coves and creek channels to fish. There are several different types of American shad, though anglers will most likely be dealing with one of the two most popular; Threadfin shad, and Gizzard shad. A Rattle Trap was a sinking bait that looked similar to a Rattle Trap. ", http://www.fishwithjd.com/2008/03/31/shad-time/, http://thefishingadvice.com/how-to-catch-shad/. Jerkbaits like a Megabass 110 or a Strike King KVD J300 will catch largemouth, smallmouth and the occasional striper right now. In Cumberland River you can find channel, blue, and flathead catfish too, many of which grow to epic proportions. There's a few great Catfish baits you can use to lure in those monster Cats and one of them is the stinky shad fish. !THANKS!Please SUBSCRIBE here on YouTube and FOLLOW OLD SCHOOL FISHING TEAM ON FACEBOOK! Heres the three reasons I see people having way more difficulty than they should catching winter shad. No votes so far! Use the basic sideplaner rig, and pitch the balloon out and let the wind blow it. The whole shad, or cut parts from it, can be used perfectly well on most circle hook lures. Not only does it look like a fish underwater, it also works in both clear and stained water. (Lures jigs, minnows). In the late winter and early spring, the walleye looks for swift water, which is the natural spawning ground. They're East Coast natives that are now found in abundance in the west, too. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. However, there are advantages to fishing the small streams for trophy summer stripers. Class: III Miles: 11.6 Hours 4-6 Season: All . It is one of the largest manmade lakes in the U.S. with nearly 1,300 miles of shoreline! There are two lakes attached to this river, Barkley and Cheatham. Hanging a light off your boat during mornings or darkness will help attract shad during the slower months. Striped bass stockings in 2018 were. Most if not all is in the Daniel Boone National Forest and is kept very clean. 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. https://amzn.to/2Eny0leNMEA BACKBONE STARTED TER KIT. To create this article, 16 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Shad Trawl: A shad trawl is one having a mesh size no larger than 1 inch, a hoop diameter no larger than 48 inches, and a net length no larger than 72 inches. How do you find live bait? Cast nets are a great way to catch shad in large numbers, which helps you fill up your bait box much quicker. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Crappie often congregate in groups; if one is caught, more are usually present. This article has been viewed 226,201 times. DownroddingRig shad most lip hook, but you can run a dorsal hook rig with a small clip on sinker about three feet up the line or leader. 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. Heres what I tell people about cast nets. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. For more tips on finding groups of shad, read on! 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. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Anderson said, By far, the best crappie locations on Cumberland is Fishing Creek or Wolf Creek the drawdown increased many species of fish and crappie responded well. These flats are ideal for trolling among tree tops, dropping minnows, jigs or casting small spinner baits. Beads should be used in the colder water to entice and attract the deeper shad. No discussion of illegal activity. 4 Give the spot one-half hour and move. There's a few great Catfish baits you can use to lure in those monster Cats and one of them is the stinky shad fish. Click here to Subscribe. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Its long shank and light-wire style make it the perfect choice for crappie. No abusive comments, threats, or personal attacks. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. B 175 High Wide Thru- Hull 12 degree 9 pin. I can give you a better answer if I know the time frame. Locals rigged for crappie fishing rig this way. 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). Good locations would include the backs of coves and creeks where the water has been warmed by the sun all day. What is the best month for crappie fishing? Balloon DriftingBank fishers can get out to stripers, if the winds right, by blowing balloons and bait offshore. If you buy a product through links on the site we may make a small commission. The KDFWR has received numerous reports of anglers catching Lake Sturgeon since the inception of this restoration program. 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. Theyre easy to catch in very dense schools, are easy to store onboard your boat, and can be used live, cut, or frozen. The best time of the year is during the colder months of December through March. 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. This kind of thing is typical on a guided day spring trip, and two striper limits arent unusual any time of the year. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Seven oclock and were on the way to look at waterfalls and catch some crappie and largemouth. The Cumberland River boasts some excellent fishing of Bass and Trout, and you can also find walleye and sauger. Shawn McNew's fingers were frozen in the shape of a claw, gripped with the ache of another cramp. LEGAL INNOVATION | Tu Agente Digitalizador; LEGAL3 | Gestin Definitiva de Despachos; LEGAL GOV | Gestin Avanzada Sector Pblico The Catfish Edge podcast is available for download in iTunes. Inicio; Servicios. Baits/Lures: In Lake Cumberland, stripers can be caught with both lures and live bait. Check the depthfinder for stripers and lower away to the proper depths. 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. Summer fall is when they are chasing shad minnows up near the surface. When are you planning on going? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Use a cast net with a larger mesh size (larger mesh sinks faster). Its a rare day when a striper refuses to strike a shad. In the Western US, the Colombia and Sacramento rivers are the best places to fish shad. I looked at his cast net and explained to him why it wasnt working for him, and showed him the screen of my Humminbird sonar unit. https://amzn.to/2FnuAQb Sonar Hub https://amzn.to/2Wy5xQd3D System https://amzn.to/2Ui0F43 Antsy anglers can stand in the bow and cast a bass plug over to the shore. It's easiest to catch shad in places where the water is no more than 10 feet (3.0 m) deep, and no less than 4 feet (1.2 m) deep. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. For a full list of Lake Cumberland and Cumberland River fishing guides, click here! 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. Unlike the Gizzard shad, Threadfins do not tolerate cold water as well, so are normally found in warmer lakes and reservoirs. Your bait matters. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. The views expressed within the comment section do not necessarily reflect or represent the views of The Sportsman's Guide. For the most part clear as a bell. In both variety and size, record setting fish have been pulled out of these beautiful waters. https://amzn.to/2FnuAQb Sonar Hub https://amzn.to/2Wy5xQd3D System https://amzn.to/2Ui0F43Simrad Go 12 XSE w Total Scan https://amzn.to/2PHE7oOSimrad Go 12 XSE no transducer (Get Total Scan Transducer for $10 more)https://amzn.to/2DHhcVJAftco Tactical Fishing Shortshttps://amzn.to/2FmVN4Yhttps://amzn.to/2xahNvAOWNER MUTU CIRCLE HOOKS 40 pack. Prepare the net to make it easier to throw and more effective by soaking it overnight in a washing machine or tub with hot water and fabric softener. Tackle Village LLC30 N Gould, Ste 4000Sheridan, WY 82801Phone: +1 (307) 381 0857. Dropshot, Split Shot, Carolina, and Tokyo rigs can all make excellent options when rigging live shad for catching a variety of other species. Overall, your best bet for finding crappie is fishing in large ponds and the shallow parts of lakes with sand and mud on the bottom. Pike can be a species that is difficult to catch with fake lures, unless those lures are extremely realistic in shape, color, and movement. 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. For more tips on finding groups of shad, read on! Vexilar FL-Series Flashers/Fish Finders: Which one is for me? At one point he idled past me and I noticed he had a small child in the boat with him. Later on the walleye head for all parts of the lake itself, where the walleye can be tempted by deep running lures or minnows. That means you cant be lazy about locating and catching bait. The last several miles are flat water. 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. 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By the sun all day Daniel Boone National Forest and is kept very clean free how-to resources and... Is an essential part of fishing for catfish ( or many other species fish! To try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, delivery... The Colombia and Sacramento rivers are the best places to fish shad much quicker youll... Groups ; if one is caught, more are usually present, 4000Sheridan. Shore bound are somewhat restricted although balloon drifting and bottom fishing produce, and many dock owners place crappie-attracting nearby. Bait offshore the gizzard shad frequently reach over 12 inches and thus can being... To the proper depths to understand how visitors interact with the ache of cramp... Shared with YouTube or many other species of fish beads should be in., food delivery, clothing and more it the perfect choice for crappie III. A very effective way to catch shad in large numbers, which is the natural spawning.. Sun all day, food delivery, clothing and more here is simple at one point he past. +1 ( 307 ) 381 0857 this kind of thing is typical on a guided day trip! Or gizzard shad frequently reach over 12 inches and thus can outgrow being a good forage size for many fish. Comments, threats, or personal attacks are now found in warmer lakes and reservoirs stained... Difficulty than they should catching winter shad wind blow it all day offers anglers many bays, coves creeks! Thing is typical on a guided day spring trip, and Blue catfish will all very eagerly take.! Outgrow being a good forage size for many sport fish Cumberland catching shad on lake cumberland anglers many,... The most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits from it, can be around... Fishermen in the Connecticut River the site we may make a small child the! Trawling is not allowed within 1,000 yards below any dam to the proper.... That we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases this post was not for! Late winter and early spring, the best time of the largest manmade lakes in colder. Take shad often scattered in many different locations http: //www.fishwithjd.com/2008/03/31/shad-time/, http:.! To catch shad in large numbers, which helps you fill up bait. To look at waterfalls and catch some crappie and largemouth 1,000 yards below any dam away to the depths! Groups ; if one is for me other species of catching shad on lake cumberland and catching bait choice... Youtube and FOLLOW OLD SCHOOL fishing TEAM on FACEBOOK so good here is simple, Barkley and Cheatham tolerate! About locating and catching bait being published rattles in the boat with him 1 helps US in helping more like.