Cumberland River blues

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Are you pointed into the current running the baits with the current?

I do because when there is current they will be expecting things to come downstream towards them. It is easier to control your pace that way since I like to fish things slow in the river.

Fishing tight against the walls is productive but don't get caught up on only fishing right next to it and moving on. There are usually shelfs that stick out so if you are fishing tight and that's it then you are only presenting a bait to fish on that shelf or ledge.

I will fish several passes on good stretches of a wall moving outward each pass until it falls off in the channel.

[90titans89]

Originally Posted by nomad60

This was my 4th time out on a boat; the first two times, we fished Lick Creek and Bumpus Mills with a little time spent fishing the main river under the bridge by Dover where I was able to catch a few white bass on a rattle trap. The last two times we fished only the main river and I'm having a hard time trying to figure it out. Yesterday morning, right after first light, we saw a few big fish coming up to the surface and splashing but have no idea what they were. Every time I saw one near the boat, I threw a crankbait or rattle trap but no takers.

I have seen hundreds of asian carp in that area this year.

[CreekWalker]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Travis & Creekwalker - Maybe a stupid question but what is your boat position fishing tight to the bluff walls down there? Are you pointed into the current running the baits with the current?

However you can make the bait fall downstream. My gear is such that I am stuck to drifting downstream - how far upstream I cast depends on how fast I'm moving and how heavy my bait is.

[nomad60]

Originally Posted by CreekWalker

I went out again last night not far up from Opryland - did not catch as many dink spotted bass but did manage to catch a keeper smallmouth. The bites were fewer and farther between than they were over the weekend. Caught a couple tiny smallmouth messing around with a chatterbait else I was sticking to soft plastics.

Nice smallie! I haven't caught one of those yet in any size

[nomad60]

Yeah for all I know, they may have been carp rising up; do they make the same type splash like a predator hitting something on the surface?

BTW, lots of great advice and info in this thread so far and I can't wait to get back out and try some different approaches and lures

[TNtransplant08]

I've had some success fishing a 3" pearl slider worm along the cliff face. Vary the weight of the jighead depending on the current and rate of fall the fish want it. I'd cast it upcurrent along the cliff face and jig it back towards me. If the water is murky,the John deer color works well for me.

[butts0907]

Guys,

I've been following this thread closely and have picked up some good info...as always, thanks for that! Ironically, a buddy called last night and asked if I wanted to fish the river this weekend. I've never fished the river and don't know much about it. We're putting in at Peeler Park off of Neely's Bend. Will this area also have the bluff walls and stuff that have been talked about in this thread? If not, should I just fish as if I'm in a lake until I find them?

Not sure of anything other than when we're heading out and where we're putting in, so any info/suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks!
-Paul

[Travis C.]

There is one just down stream from that ramp.

Don't think if you're not fishing bluffs you won't catch fish and I wouldn't fish it like a lake because its a different animal.

Fish will hold in substrate changes, current breaks, outside bends of the river channel, around bridges, mooring towers, boat docks and timber in addition to bluffs.

More current you have more fish you will catch...usually.

[nomad60]

Originally Posted by Travis C.

I wouldn't fish it like a lake because its a different animal.

And I've been finding this out the hard way but I will learn, sooner or later.

I'm used to fishing still water, where I can throw/pitch a Senko or jig to a spot and fish it nice and slow but it seems that in the river, you don't have that luxury due to the current. Plus the fish don't seem to relate to structure like they do in still water...and when you say "More current you have more fish you will catch...usually", that really throws me all off kilter LOL

[thehick176]

I am enjoying watching Travis hit every point about the river, as I agree with everything he has said. Its a wonder we haven't crossed paths at one time or another down there.
Dont go to the river remembering what happened yesterday. Every day is a whole new ballgame on that river. You could put in at the dam, fish most the day, and never start your big motor. And usually have a few big fish pics to show for it.

[nomad60]

Originally Posted by thehick176

I am enjoying watching Travis hit every point about the river, as I agree with everything he has said. Its a wonder we haven't crossed paths at one time or another down there.
Dont go to the river remembering what happened yesterday. Every day is a whole new ballgame on that river. You could put in at the dam, fish most the day, and never start your big motor. And usually have a few big fish pics to show for it.

Oh trust me, I'm enjoying it as well and am taking notes!

Travis (and everyone else), your inputs sure are appreciated.

[butts0907]

So I went out yesterday for my first river experience...and didn't catch anything. One SMALL smallie, one SMALL spot, & one SMALL stripe. However, we fished in the morning and they didn't start generating until 1:00. Wished we would have waited until the afternoon, but thought the storms would get us...turns out, they got us anyway and were gone by 1:00...thanks Channel 4! Nonetheless, I freakin' loved fishing the river. With the exception of the barge (which also made me feel a little uneasy passing by that close!!), we only saw a couple of other boats...none of which were wake boats, ski boats, jet skis, etc... I will definitely be heading out again as soon as I can.

A couple of questions for anyone interested. First, how low is the river, compared to "normal" conditions? Secondly, someone told me to "fish the humps". I would have loved to, but really have no idea what they are. Are they just piles of rock along the river? Because the river was low, we were able to make plenty of mental notes of structure and such that would, I think, normally be under water. Some of these could be interpreted as "humps" since they were simply piles of rocks. Would I be correct in assuming so?

Again, I appreciate all the advice already given and hope to be able to post some pics of some smallies in the near future.

Thanks!
-Paul

[Travis C.]

Originally Posted by thehick176

Its a wonder we haven't crossed paths at one time or another down there.

Dont go to the river remembering what happened yesterday. Every day is a whole new ballgame on that river.

We probably have at some point. I used to fish it in my 16ft big jon and only used the Sprint for lakes. Now its the red/silver Sprint when I am there.

You hit the nail on the head with that second statement. I have had some great days on the river and some days where I loaded the boat sweaty cussing up a storm swearing never to retun.

[Andy M]

The bite has been slower than normal but still catching double digits.
caught one 19+" smallmouth sunday night and monday night. Pics are posted in my cumberland album, also caught the flathead (around 25lbs) monday night while bass fishing.