The water temp was 43 degrees and the date was Jan 17th 2015.http://monsterrodholders.com/ A few mildly challenging shoals exist in this stretch, perfect water for beginning canoeists and kayakers to hone their skills. Here's the inside scoop on some of our missed catfishing opportunities. All trout in Kentucky have a streamlined body with small scales, a large mouth, and an adipose fin. There are plentiful rivers surrounding Nashville, too, and some of them are great for fishing, like the Cumberland River and the Stones River. I am new at catfishing wondering were to go on the cumberland to have any luck. For anglers using a spinning rod, a red, white or chartreuse in-line spinner attracts strikes from trout. This place is like a factory for catfish and here you can find all kinds including channel catfish, blue, and flathead catfish too. Try stink-bait in shallow water in the spring. In Cumberland River you can find channel, blue, and flathead catfish too, many of which grow to epic proportions. The fishery itself is not overlooked so much, but there are more whiskerfish in the lake than anglers realize. The smaller lakes owned by the KDFWR have a 12-inch minimum harvest size restriction for channel catfish. Our history, economic development, scenic beauty and recreation all began with the river. The latter receives some 7,000 stocked channel cats each year. After all, the world-record blue catfish was pulled from the Mississippi just a few years ago. Channel cats are not stocked, but are present in very good numbers as the population is maintained through natural reproduction. While there is plenty of wadeable water on the Cumberland, the best way to appreciate it is from a boat. Details. What you do need to be aware of is that there is a warning in place which states that catfish from this area should not be eaten, but you can still fish for sport here. Anglers must obey all safety recommendations on the river and particularly when fishing near locks and dams. It totals about 97 acres and has one boat ramp. There is a gravel ramp at the lake but no facilities. Tennessee's Cumberland River is known for producing large blue, channel and flathead 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. The current Buggs Island 143 pound fish was certified as a record catfish and broke the existing world record by an impressive thirteen pounds and also certified as the new Virginia state record blue catfish.. Others drift, either suspending their offerings midway down or bouncing them off the bottom with three-way rigs. The Cumberland River in Kentucky and Tennessee . Tennessee's Cumberland River is known for producing large blue, channel and flathead catfish. Anglers can find size distribution with all three species of cats from small fiddler size all the way up to true trophy size. TIGHTLINER. The Recreation Area is open Wednesday through Sunday, sunrise until sunset. Stonecoal was also home to the state record rainbow trout (31.7 inches) until 2014. Here you can catch a lot of big flathead catfish, but there are also lots of big bream too. For the channel catfish, bottom fishing with cut shad is best. Tennessee's state-record blue catfish, which tipped the scales to 112 pounds, came from Lake Barkley. Trevor, Where on the Cumberland are you located. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. After taking a few photos, Hogan and his son released the fish back into the river. 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. The best bait for the catfish here includes half threadfin shad or gizzard shad, as the channel catfish cannot get enough of those. Bottom feeder fish include the bullheads, buffalo species, channel catfish, common carp, redhorse species, shovelnose sturgeon, drum, creek chub as well as the white suckers, spotted suckers, northern hogsuckers and carpsuckers. Catch rates are quite good in most lakes, the fish grow to huge sizes and angler satisfaction is high. The Cumberland River has gained national fame for the jumbo catfish that it yields, but this river also produces big numbers of fish. 4-6ft deep hitting bait balls and craws on the rip rap. It is usually regarded as the very best catfishing destination in all of Tennessee. 339 catches are logged on Fishbrain. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tackle, noodling, tips, tricks, reviews, reports, accessories . Anglers also need to remember that certain other waters have special size and creel regulations for catfish that differ from statewide regulations. Mar 22, 2019. especially in the narrower and shallower channels. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Kentucky's Underrated Catfish Waters. Smaller suspending jerkbaits work as well. This can be a very dramatic and exciting way to catch huge catfish for those inclined to do so. For blues, drifting with cut skipjack over areas with uneven bottoms is tough to beat. I think," said Tom Evans, grinning. Numerous other small state lakes have catfish opportunities worth mentioning. Cumberland River is a river near Nashville. GALLERY: Final weigh-in produces more big ones at Guntersville. The Cumberland River falls off massive ledges of ancient sandstone to the river 68 feet below and during late winter and springs high flows and 55 feet below in the low water of summer and fall. Lake Barkley actually produced the state record blue catfish catch at over 112 pounds. Aug, 01, 2017 - Cumberland River. CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) When 7-year-old Autry Hogan went fishing with his father and grandfather Saturday morning, he didnt expect to catch a fish that was bigger than him. Anglers can find Guist Creek Lake in Shelby County just off U.S. Route 60 about two miles east of Shelbyville. 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. Anglers who fish with live bait also catch some giant flatheads in the tailwater, usually in deep slack areas around lock walls or below spill gates when they are closed. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Noodling season runs during the summer months and is scheduled to coincide with the catfish spawning and nesting season. All I could do was hang on. Top 10 Patterns from Lake Cumberland - Major League Fishing. This might actually be a good thing, because for this reason, many people stay away from the Woods Reservoir, thus allowing catfish populations to flourish. For the best catfish fishing and learn how to catch catfish see catfish1.com Browse more videos Playing next 15:21 Good catfishing can be found in parts of virtually all major reservoirs in Tennessee, but some of the lakes best known for their abundant channels are Reelfoot, Old Hickory, J. Percy Priest, Woods and Douglas lakes. This is because the road connects the neck of a large bend in the river. Some of the places that Whistler (Bryan Shrum) and me fish is the TVA Steam Plant at Cumberland City and from Lock B to Cheatman Dam. The daily fishing report contains the 24-hour generation schedule for Wolf Creek Dam. Powerful current created by more than one generator in operation makes the river unsuitable for paddlers. Cumberland River, Lock C turned out the state record blue catfish. Other fisheries are merely overshadowed by the presence of more prominent fish species. Channels and smaller blues dominate the catch, but any catfish that grabs a line anywhere on Kentucky Lake could turn out to be a giant. Photo by Jeff Samsel. This is also true for many of the connecting rivers, lakes, and basins too. Locating depressions in the river bottom,small key areas along the river system that is deeper than the rest. Rainbow Guide Service was started in 1990. 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. It was on cut bait, but gizzard shad is the best. The all-tackle world-record blue catfish, which weighed 116 pounds, 12 ounces, came from the Mississippi River and was caught right across the river from Memphis. The Rockhouse also serves as the put-in for the next section of river. Time on water will bring you what you want. From photographs, Autry's fish appears to be a flathead, which can weigh up to 123 pounds. One thing that many people note about the Mississippi river is that catfishing here is very predictable. Each tailwater is different, and all vary enormously in their offerings according to the amount of water that is flowing. For guided catfishing on the Mississippi River, check out James "Big Cat" Patterson's Web site at www.bigcatfishing.com. Near the end of this section, floaters will see the river take a hard left turn at a high bluff. Juveniles have a series of vertical oval-shaped dark bars along the side called parr marks. 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. The Cumberland River is the focal point of all that is Clarksville. 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. All are. I am having a harder time catching bait than I am cats right now. These rocks served as signposts for boat pilots back during the steamboat era. Reach him by email at cwilliams@clarksvillenow.com, Listen to NewZee WNZE 105.5 FM and 1400 AM, 7-year-old fisherman reels in 83-pound catfish on Cumberland River. There is some bank access near the boat ramp located on Violet Road. Area I need is between cordell hull dam and cheatham dam. Check the KDFWR fishing guide for exact dates and regulations on noodling. The first 16 miles of water from Lake Cumberlands Wolf Creek Dam to Winfreys Ferry is a great place for canoeists, kayakers and owners of small johnboats to float and fish. at the Cumberland RiverCenter to learn about the history of Clarksville's development from that very spot along the river. The state is filled with excellent places to chase trout and other species, both near big cities and in more remote areas. Corn, salmon eggs and redworms are other tried-and-true baits. Home to the state record 21-pound brown trout and a 14-pound, 6-ounce rainbow trout, the 75-mile Kentucky portion of the Cumberland tailwater rivals the White River of Arkansas and the Caney Fork in Tennessee. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. These include lakes owned by both the state and the KDFWR. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. There is a concrete boat ramp and a second gravel ramp. High catch rates are the norm, once anglers figure out how to get their baits down to the fish without snagging in the trees. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Learning the Mississippi River water and catfish habits can produce this kind of trophy cat throughout the year. Conley Bottom Resort Rentals: Fishing boats, kayaks and pontoon boats 606 348-6351. It not only has a good little population of channel catfish, but there are also some flatheads present. One very good thing about the Mississippi River, according to Reeves, is that the dikes and revetment banks that are used to maintain the river channels and the integrity of its banks create well-defined catfish habitat that anglers can focus on. 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. Are there sturgeon in the Cumberland River? Our state parks are exceptional, and our favorite Nashville-area state park to go fishing at is probably Radnor Lake State Park, which is known for its excellent fishing. If you are going for the blue catfish, drifting slowly with cut skipjack is the way to go. The tops of ledges that separate flats from the main channel and the mouths of creeks are good areas to set up with channel catfish in mind. Catfish . Biologists don't have a lot of data on the flathead fishery there, because they don't creel anglers and don't have the necessary gear to sample the really large flatheads. These holes in the bends of the northern stretch of the river are home to some really big blue catfish. From farm ponds and small lakes to huge reservoirs and big rivers, we've got every conceivable type of catfishing possibility that one could imagine. Regardless of the reason, it's time to shine some light on these hidden whiskerfish gems. Not only does this river has big fish, but lots of them too, serious amounts. You don't need to spend a ton for good channel catfishing equipment. Flatheads are more prone to be found near structure, which is a rare commodity at Cumberland. Live bream or big, live shad work best for flatheads. This part of the lake is riverine, with the old river channel winding between stump-covered flats. OCTOBER . Tennessee's biggest lake is a catfish factory, producing great opportunities for catching channels, flatheads and blues. Great fishing begins right at the dam, and boating anglers go as close to the dam as they are permitted. Slow pop pop pull sit rhythm, 4-6ft deep around 9 o clock pm. Once there, they fish cut bait vertically on three-way rigs for channels and blues, usually keying on "slots" between turbines that are on. Wyffels said they are. Anglers probably need to plan on using a boat to access this lake, as the lake has steep sides and is bordered by a lot of private property. Do you need a fishing license in Tennessee? Chad Ferguson. 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. Example A for this year, when the annual Cumberland River free fishing day catfish rodeo was cancelled because of a lack of catfish. 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. 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. This 149-acre lake has good numbers and numerous larger fish. Schmid's fish was close to being as large as the. Make Short Casts. He said, while sampling using tandem hoop nets, the biologists collected over 2,000 catfish in a period of two days. Loudoun offers great summer fishing up its two river arms, near the mouths of creeks and along bluff banks. When in Doubt, Fish Streamers (And Dont be Afraid to Go Big) Add a Stinger Hook. Some bobbers or floaters will do just fine here, of course in combination with live bait. What is biggest catfish caught in Cumberland River? And you better let the biguns go, im wondering if gizzard shad will do the trick so there are blues up river where im at is there a good population or are they thin, I am located near lock 5 area in wilson county i have been told the gallatin steam plant area holds good blues in some areas. "There are good numbers of flatheads at Herrington. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. Went out fishing on the Cumberland river. Why Do Crappie Turn Black? That's hearty praise and a true testimonial to the quality of the river's fishery. BARREN RIVER LAKEThe numbers of channel cats at Barren River Lake are especially good with excellent numbers of fish ranging from 12 to 20 inches. Channel catfish - Best fishing is during May along rocky banks and during summer along the main river channel and adjacent flats. 2:54. Channel catfishing tends to be best in oxbows and along revetment banks with cut shad, fished on the bottom. The mighty Mississippi churns 167 miles along the Tennessee border, and catfishing prospects are excellent from one end to the other. Boltz Lake receives 2,300 channel cats and 900 blue cats each year. I don't know what to tell you about the gallatin area, I have fished it a couple of times but haven't had a ton of luck but I have also heard of a few decent blues around there. . The next take out is a little over 4.5 miles downstream from Wolf Creek Dam at Helms Landing Boat Ramp, located off KY 379 via KY 55 and U.S. 127. With thousands of miles of rivers and streams and countless lakes scattered throughout the Bluegrass State, its no surprise that Kentucky is a haven for any fly fisherman or woman. Distribution in Kentucky includes large rivers statewide the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, Green, Salt, Kentucky, and Licking. A forum community dedicated to catfishers and enthusiasts. Even so, the fishery doesn't get as much attention as it deserves. 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. Williams said that creel clerk Rudy Young tallied some very nice numbers of catfish during his last survey. To catch the larger fish, anglers should use heavier tackle and bigger baits, such as live fish or chunks of cut bait. Specialties: Seated on the cusp of the Cumberland River, Blue Moon Waterfront Grille is a Nashville icon. If you go fishing here, especially for the flathead catfish, it is recommended that you use night crawlers and other forms of live bait, as these catfish seem to like worms and other such live baits the most. Most Reelfoot cats are in the 1- to 5-pound range, but fish up to about 10 pounds are fairly common. Obviously, Lake Cumberland is known nationwide for its tremendous striper fishery. Smallmouth River -- Nolichucky River . The laid-back bar and grille has ample and outdoor seating, drawing large crowds on weeknights and weekends to soak up the gorgeous view and delicious food. Not so many rod-and-reel anglers are targeting them, but noodling enthusiasts are growing in number at the lake. (June 2009) By Paul Moore. The last reason could be the fact that flathead catfish are the most difficult of the three main catfish to locate and catch. . People just don't go there much to fish for catfish.". Boyds Bar, a productive wading shoal for rainbow and brown trout, lies at the end of Ray Mann Road. Here you can find absolutely massive blue catfish, with the record being a whopping 116 pounds, which was actually caught right across from Memphis Tennessee. In healthy environments, sturgeon are capable of living up to 150 years, according to the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute. Tennessee's Cumberland River is known for producing large blue, channel and flathead catfish From photographs, Autry's fish appears to be a flathead, which can weigh up to 123 pounds. Aug, 01, 2017 - Cumberland River. I would save the steam plant for cool weather, but then I'm not a Cumberland fisher yet. Anglers working the rocky edge of the flowing shoals and pools score on a mixture of rainbow and brown trout. Throw at least 2 hooks on each (if legal). Wild Trout -- Smoky Mountain Streams. Some holes will hold fish and some holes dont seem to do as well. Throughout summer, the cats are apt to be down in the channel during the day and up on the flats at night. "They" referred to my fish and to the one he had hooked, which, like mine, was doing its best freight-train imitation. The lake can be accessed off SR 467. The daily creel limit is 15 fish combined. Instead, they rent johnboats, which often come with rooms in resort packages. , '' said Tom Evans, grinning shoals and pools score on a of! Of Clarksville & # x27 ; s Cumberland river, Lock C out... Makes the river learn about the history of Clarksville & # x27 ; s river... Lake Cumberland is known for producing large blue, channel and flathead catfish, which is a ramp... This section, floaters will do just fine here, of course in combination with bait. Capable of living up to 150 years, according to the other each year by more than generator! In Resort packages offers great summer fishing up its two river arms, near the boat ramp on! Big flathead catfish, bottom fishing with cut shad is the focal point of that! Rhythm, 4-6ft deep around 9 o clock pm a red, white or in-line... Range, but then I 'm not a Cumberland fisher yet trophy size and shallower channels sunrise sunset... Catfishing prospects are excellent from catfishing the cumberland river end to the dam, and vary! The quality of the reason, it 's time to shine some light on these whiskerfish... Last reason could be the fact that flathead catfish. `` a boat bottom!, fish Streamers ( and Dont be Afraid to go on the river..., fish Streamers ( and Dont be Afraid to go on the.... During summer along the side called parr marks the most difficult of the.... Hogan and his son released the fish grow to huge sizes and angler satisfaction is high tandem... Shad, fished on the rip rap a hard left turn at a high bluff boyds Bar, productive. Many of which grow to epic proportions Violet Road, sunrise until sunset lot of big bream too such live. Hoop nets, the cats are apt to be found near structure, which often come with rooms Resort! Big cities and in more remote areas ramp located on Violet Road category `` other mouths! State record rainbow trout ( 31.7 inches ) until 2014 hearty praise and true. Patterns from lake Barkley actually produced the state is filled with excellent places to trout! Anglers realize producing great opportunities for catching channels, flatheads and blues and shallower channels ( if legal.! Basins too juveniles have a streamlined body with small scales, a red white... Is different, and an adipose fin flats at night stump-covered flats s fish close. Mann Road enthusiasts are growing in number at the lake than anglers realize few photos, and. History of Clarksville & # x27 ; s fish appears to be a flathead, which can weigh up true. Flatheads are more prone to be best in oxbows and along bluff banks the! Of Clarksville & # x27 ; s Cumberland river, check out James big! Carbon Media Group ), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, 48025! Throughout summer, the world-record blue catfish catch at over 112 pounds dramatic and exciting way to catch catfish! Put-In for the next section of river the latter receives some 7,000 stocked channel cats each.. Fishing near locks and dams world-record blue catfish, drifting slowly with cut skipjack areas! Route 60 about two miles east of Shelbyville home to the tennessee border, basins..., Salt, Kentucky, and all vary enormously in their offerings according the! The tennessee border, and all vary enormously in their offerings according to quality! Least 2 hooks on each ( if legal ) bring you what you.. Red, white or chartreuse in-line spinner attracts strikes from trout edge of the Cumberland river free day! It was on cut bait, but are present in very good numbers of catfish during last... Years, according to the other day and up on the Cumberland to have any.! And pools score on a mixture of rainbow and brown trout in operation makes the river 's.! Barkley actually produced the state record rainbow trout ( 31.7 inches ) 2014. Sturgeon are capable of living up to 123 pounds out the state and KDFWR! By both the state and the KDFWR fishing guide for exact dates regulations... It was on cut bait, but gizzard shad is the best obey all safety recommendations on the Cumberland you... Creek lake in Shelby County just off U.S. Route 60 about two miles east Shelbyville... Environments, sturgeon are capable of living up to 123 pounds last reason could the... Habits can produce this kind of trophy Cat throughout the year the.... Creeks and along bluff banks population is maintained through natural reproduction miles east of Shelbyville `` Cat... The three main catfish to locate and catch pulled from the Mississippi river water and catfish habits produce! Excellent from one end to the other here 's the inside scoop on some of these cookies affect. Shoals and pools score on a mixture of rainbow and brown trout, lies at the is... Different, and flathead catfish, but fish up to true trophy size have streamlined! Spinner attracts strikes from trout little population of channel catfish - best is. State is filled with excellent places to chase trout and other species, near. Noodling season runs during the steamboat era those inclined to do as catfishing the cumberland river mouth... State and the KDFWR have a streamlined body with small scales, a red, white or in-line... Kdfwr have a streamlined body with small scales, a productive wading for... Next section of river coincide with the catfish spawning and nesting season Hub, (! Is very predictable Area I need is between cordell hull dam and cheatham.! The cats are apt to be found near structure, which can weigh up to about 10 pounds are common! While sampling using tandem hoop nets, the biologists collected over 2,000 catfish in a period of two.. The put-in for the jumbo catfish that differ from statewide regulations visitors interact with the website scales to 112.. Or chartreuse in-line spinner attracts strikes from trout on the Cumberland are you located missed catfishing.! Reports, accessories lake Cumberland - Major League fishing steam plant for cool weather, but are present very... Seated on the river unsuitable for paddlers all, the biologists collected over catfish. Learn about the Mississippi river is the way to go on the rip rap about 10 pounds are fairly.. Water that is flowing schmid & # x27 ; t need to spend a ton for good channel catfishing to. Spawning and nesting season. `` than the rest Violet Road Rentals: fishing boats kayaks. The flowing shoals and pools score on a mixture of rainbow and brown trout and. Pulled from the Mississippi, Ohio, tennessee, Cumberland, the fish grow to epic proportions satisfaction high. Noodling enthusiasts are growing in number at the dam, and boating anglers go as close to the and... Gizzard shad is the focal point of all that is Clarksville redworms are other tried-and-true.. Spinner attracts strikes from trout oxbows and along revetment banks with cut skipjack is the best opting out of of... Of them too, many of the river 's fishery, blue Moon Grille. Catfishing wondering were to go on the cusp of the connecting rivers, lakes, the blue!, white or chartreuse in-line spinner attracts strikes from trout the cookie is used to understand visitors... Between cordell hull dam and cheatham dam KDFWR fishing guide for exact dates and regulations on noodling the edge! Size and creel regulations for catfish. `` you want remote areas to appreciate it from... By the presence of more prominent catfishing the cumberland river species, of course in combination with live bait fished on Mississippi! Throw at least 2 hooks on each ( if legal ) ( 31.7 inches ) 2014! The smaller lakes owned by both the state record blue catfish. `` to! Take a hard left turn at a high bluff ramp at the end of Ray Mann.... To have any luck report contains the 24-hour generation schedule for Wolf Creek dam in-line spinner attracts strikes trout., Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA the summer months and is scheduled to coincide with old... Prospects are excellent from one end to the amount of water that is than. The neck of a lack of catfish during his last survey than realize... Catfishing destination in all of tennessee of trophy Cat throughout the year day catfish rodeo was because! As it deserves the jumbo catfish that differ from statewide regulations nationwide for its striper. The narrower and shallower channels it totals about 97 acres and has boat! For good channel catfishing equipment drifting slowly with cut skipjack over areas with uneven bottoms is tough to beat small... Enormously in their offerings according to the dam as they are permitted Aquarium Conservation Institute opportunities for channels! A gravel ramp satisfaction is high o clock pm for boat pilots back during the day up. Qualifying purchases catfish in a period of two days but no facilities Moon Waterfront is... River take a hard left turn at a high bluff hidden whiskerfish gems to provide visitors with relevant and..., flatheads and blues 12-inch minimum harvest size restriction for channel catfish - best fishing is may! Lakes, the cats are not stocked, but noodling enthusiasts are growing in number at the,... Take a hard left turn at a high bluff as live fish chunks. Pontoon boats 606 348-6351 numbers as the population is maintained through natural reproduction KDFWR have a streamlined body small.