Blue, Channel, and Flathead Catfish can be caught throughout the entire river, but the largest ones are found from DC down to Indian Head. A little further along on this float is Winfreys Rocks at downstream left. Beaver Lake totals 158 acres and gets channel cat stockings to the rate of 8,000 per year. 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. From photographs, Autry's fish appears to be a flathead, which can weigh up to 123 pounds. For those who prefer camping, the Kendall Recreation Area (270-343-4660) just below Wolf Creek Dam offers tent sites, hot showers, electrical hook-ups and drinking water. Another fishery there that is starting to get some notice is the flathead population. Class I rapids downstream of this area provide lively paddling. . The fishery itself is not overlooked so much, but there are more whiskerfish in the lake than anglers realize. Catfishing Cumberland River Blue Catfish - Big Catfish. Glenn Stubblefield guides for catfish on the lower end of the lake out of Buchanan Resort. Bob Crosby. USACEs Nashville District manages the Cumberland, including its water levels, flood risk reduction efforts and recreational activities on the river. Most anglers who specifically target flatheads rig up with live bream and fish at night, fishing tight to shoreline cover on outside bends or in creek mouths. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Wild Trout -- Smoky Mountain Streams. In fact, one of the most prolific fish in Tennessee is the catfish, an odd looking yet delicious tasting fish that can reach epic sizes. 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. The rocks, located halfway through the float, mark a deep hole that holds bruiser brown trout. 10:09. There is one boat launch with a small concession that has limited fishing supplies. Surprisingly, some of the largest fish of the year are often caught during the winter. MISSISSIPPI RIVERThe first overlooked catfish hole we'll take a look at will probably be a big surprise for many people. 4 oz Rockfish, a 22 lb. The Kentucky Lake tailwater arguably is the most popular for snagging anywhere in the state. Some holes will hold fish and some holes dont seem to do as well. Flatheads are topnotch predators and will choose live forage over everything else unless food sources are in short supply. This section includes the hatchery creek outflow, a good place to fish. Catfish haven't changed a whit since Grandpa Robbe used to dog them relentlessly in flowing waters around Bagley back in the 1930s. 3. They feed heavily on bluegills, sunfish and shad. What part of the Cumberland? Example A for this year, when the annual Cumberland River free fishing day catfish rodeo was cancelled because of a lack of catfish. Guist Creek Lake is a little larger and definitely one catfish anglers should know about. Lee's Ford Resort Marina Rentals: Pontoon boats 606 636-6426. Because of contaminant concerns, commercial fishing is no longer permitted on Fort Loudoun. 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. The river can be very dangerous and anglers must have a stable, sturdy boat if they are going to be out on the water. It's not uncommon at all for anglers to catch some monster cats from the Mississippi. At Kentucky Lake, you can start right at the dam, which is great for anglers in boats. 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 tail water behind the dams is also known to house some big flathead catfish too. In healthy environments, sturgeon are capable of living up to 150 years, according to the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute. In addition to the stump flats that Vancleave likes to fish, the edges of open-water cypress stands can be very productive, with a cat or two sitting close to every tree. I use Gizzard shad everytime and 90% of the time I get 5 to 12 pounders when i go. Schmid's fish was close to being as large as the. Of course, spring and fall are usually the best times with the most action, but the summer months can be good as well. 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 are the main attraction on Woods, which impounds 3,980 acres on the Elk River. This island shoal is Long Bar, although some refer to the area as Snow Island. Again, cut skipjack is tough to beat as bait for big blues, and either small pieces of skipjack or cut shad will work very well for channels. WOODS RESERVOIR Of the tributary reservoirs, Woods is among those that stand out, according to Churchill. Hole jumping on the river runs is what you will see in this video. Distribution in Kentucky includes large rivers statewide the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, Green, Salt, Kentucky, and Licking. REELFOOT LAKE Once summer sets in, a lot of Reelfoot Lake anglers turn their attention to catfish. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. West Fork Drakes is owned by the city of Franklin. The state is filled with excellent places to chase trout and other species, both near big cities and in more remote areas. Not so many rod-and-reel anglers are targeting them, but noodling enthusiasts are growing in number at the lake. When he was reeling it in, I could tell it was big, but not that big, Hogan said. 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. Spoiler: keep reading to learn more about that one. Reelfoot Lake catfishing can also be good from fishing docks and the banks at resorts, especially at night. Anglers may beach their boats on the island to fish this area. FISHING LICENSES allow the holder to take sport and rough fish statewide by rod and reel, pole or line, or other specified legal methods. The catch was only nine pounds shy of the Tennessee record, a 112-pound blue catfish caught on the Cumberland River in June 1998. . January 3, 2018 While Cumberland River is world famous for its fishing, there are tons of activities for everyone that does not necessarily include fishing. To reach the lake, follow state Route (SR) 80 west out of London until reaching Swiss Colony. Also, remember that these catfish love live bait, especially live fish, so keep that in mind. During the summer, all 3 of these catfish species are present in abundance, but fishing for each of them does require a different approach. The latter receives some 7,000 stocked channel cats each year. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The KDFWR stocks some 900 blue catfish and just about 3,350 channel cats each year. It starts in Harlan County in eastern Kentucky on the Cumberland Plateau, flows through southeastern Kentucky and crosses into northern Tennessee, and then curves back up into western Kentucky before draining into the Ohio River at Smithland, Kentucky. 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. The Cumberland River, which runs right through Nashville, is also an outstanding river for catching big cats, and it, too, offers anglers opportunities to catch all three major species of catfish. Are They Poisonous? In Cumberland River you can find channel, blue, and flathead catfish too, many of which grow to epic proportions. The rivers temperature can vary from temperate in the shallows to near-freezing in open water. He's been guiding for 10 years, most recently on the Tennessee River, and is an experienced tournament fisherman. Charles Lawrence. Anglers also need to remember that certain other waters have special size and creel regulations for catfish that differ from statewide regulations. I am having a harder time catching bait than I am cats right now. Rainbow Run, one of the best fishing shoals on the river, is just downstream from the Rockhouse. There is a little place that I've tried a couple times in the last week or so, it doesn't have a name, but it's like 5 minutes away from Nashville West Shopping center and off of Basswood. Anglers should pick spots near the edge of the old Elk River channel, ideally near a bend in the channel, and fan out several lines at a range of depths. He said, while sampling using tandem hoop nets, the biologists collected over 2,000 catfish in a period of two days. The Cumberland River rises quickly when electrical generation begins from the dam. 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. Mill Creek is 109 acres and stocked with channel catfish every other year. Over in Logan County is a lake that is rarely talked about except by the locals. Long stretches through this section are quite remote and get very light fishing pressure from catfish anglers. Regardless of the reason, it's time to shine some light on these hidden whiskerfish gems. Blue Catfish Behavior Insights - Catfishing. According to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the state-record flathead was caught in the Hiwassee River and weighed 85 pounds. The three-way rig consists of a 2- to 3-feet leader and a 6- to 24 . Being in this area is great, there are TONS of access points for boats to get on the Cumberland River, but not a lot of area for fisherman. We have lived and fished these waters all our lives. While there is plenty of wadeable water on the Cumberland, the best way to appreciate it is from a boat. Slow pop pop pull sit rhythm, 4-6ft deep around 9 o clock pm. The river offers a true year-round fishing opportunity for catfish. Wyffels recommends 18-acre Briggs Lake in Logan County, as well as Mill Creek Lake in Monroe County. | Tennessees Cumberland River is known for producing large blue, channel and flathead catfish. I created Fishtackly to share my 30 years of fishing experience and knowledge with others with the aim to help, and hopefully get more people involved and educated in this fantastic hobby that I love. We've covered a few overlooked fisheries in some of our larger waters, but there are also numerous catfish opportunities at some of our smaller lakes that are overlooked by anglers. With so many different areas that contain tons of blue, channel, and flathead catfish, you really cannot go wrong. 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. For more on this book, which includes chapters on the Mississippi, Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, e-mail Samsel at jsamsel@hemc.net. The Cumberland River near Burkesville, KY in south central Kentucky is one of the finest tailwater trout fisheries east of the Mississippi River. Anglers fishing the Upper Cumberland can look forward to quality channel catfish, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, and walleye. These holes in the bends of the northern stretch of the river are home to some really big blue catfish. If you are leaving late and the gate is closed, approach slowly and the automatic gate will open. Now biologists and anglers alike are starting to see some really nice fish. The Nashville District also owns and operates 10 dams, nine hydropower plants and four navigation locks on the river and its tributaries. If you are fishing in the greater Clarksville Area, try out the Cumberland River, the Red River, the West Fork Red River or the local tributary creeks such as the Yellow . 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. Tennessees Cumberland River is known for producing large blue, channel and flathead catfish. This means that there is no need for gear intended for deep water fishing. 4-6ft deep hitting bait balls and craws on the rip rap. If you are looking for some great trout and striper fishing, the beautiful Cumberland River has it. However, there are tons of accommodations and beautiful inns around Reelfoot lake, so this makes it a great weekend or week long fishing destination for many. That is a lot of fish! Noodling season runs during the summer months and is scheduled to coincide with the catfish spawning and nesting season. It was on cut bait, but gizzard shad is the best. Anglers must use baits accordingly if they are to get much attention from the big flatheads. If you got a boat just look for structure and fish above it. Where does the Cumberland River start and stop? You don't need to spend a ton for good channel catfishing equipment. Williams said that creel clerk Rudy Young tallied some very nice numbers of catfish during his last survey. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. (Guide), What Size Hook For Cobia Fishing? The KDFWR has given both the channel and flathead populations excellent ratings and Wyffels said the creel numbers from last year was very good. Most Reelfoot cats are in the 1- to 5-pound range, but fish up to about 10 pounds are fairly common. of stumps and snags that litter the bottom of Reelfoot Lake, most anglers don't bring their own boats when they fish this lake. . Bullock Pen is located approximately two miles west of Crittenden off SR 491. Can You Eat Saltwater Catfish? There is bank access at the Franklin Simpson Park which is located on North Street off U.S.-31W North just outside Franklin. Instead, they rent johnboats, which often come with rooms in resort packages. It would probably be difficult for anyone to imagine any water as large as the Mississippi River as being overlooked. The KDFWR has also been conducting a tagging study on the blue catfish at Taylorsville. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. For guided fishing on the Cumberland River, call Donny Hall or Old Hickory Guide Service at (615) 383-4464. For summertime lake catfish, many people here like to use simple minnows as bait too. Sitting a little off the public's radar, Spa Lake doesn't get all the notoriety of some of our other state lakes. When in Doubt, Fish Streamers (And Dont be Afraid to Go Big) Add a Stinger Hook. The Cumberland River below Lake Cumberland is one of the premier trout fishing destinations in the southeastern United States. Subsequently, a huge amount of the lake's fishing effort is directed toward stripers. If you are going for the blue catfish, drifting slowly with cut skipjack is the way to go. Except for a growing desire among serious catfishermen to see some waterways specifically managed for trophy cats (an issue that was still being looked at for the 2003-04 season when this issue went to press), catfishermen seemingly are content, according to Churchill. "What we know is the little bit we learn from creel surveys and the reports we hear from fishermen," Churchill said. Still, this is another aspect of Barren River Lake that has room for more anglers. Mar 22, 2019. Perch. 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. However, biologist Wyffels said there is a very decent population of channel catfish there, as well as a smaller population of blue cats. 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Fishing for catfish is one of the most popular angling pursuits in Kentucky. The Mississippi River actually receives a lot of catfish angler attention, but it is not commensurate with the potential of the fishery. They love to gather in the tail water, so this is a great place to go. 10 oz Brown Trout all came from these waters! Gigging and snagging is not legal from a platform, except that gigging is legal from a boat on lakes 500 surface acres or larger and only during daylight hours. Any good fish come out of the Cumberland near Nashville? The second choice to the fresh-caught whole or cut shad is any other sort of freshly caught cut bait. Kentucky's Underrated Catfish Waters. The Cumberland River in Kentucky and Tennessee . MONSTER Blue Catfish Cumberland River bank fishing- HAWG HUNTIN winter catfishing - YouTube 0:00 / 6:52 MONSTER Blue Catfish Cumberland River bank fishing- HAWG HUNTIN winter. 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. Give a Gift Johnny Cumberland shows a monster blue cat he caught on a trip with Capt. TAYLORSVILLE LAKEBlue catfish are the name of the game at Taylorsville Lake near Louisville. Aug, 01, 2017 - Cumberland River. The daily creel limit is 15 fish combined. Biologist Jeff Crosby said, "Taylorsville is really starting to become a great catfish lake." While at Taylorsville, catfish enthusiasts can also take advantage of the other two species of catfish. The Tennessee state record blue catfish weighed 112 pounds, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. That fish weighed a whopping 124 pounds! 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. The river offers a lot of opportunity for shore-bound anglers, both on private property and on public access lands. GALLERY: Final weigh-in produces more big ones at Guntersville. And yep -- they grow big there, too. Now, the catfish here are usually not that big, topping out at about 6 pounds, but larger ones have been known to frequent this area. Went out fishing on the Cumberland river. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Powerful current created by more than one generator in operation makes the river unsuitable for paddlers. Autry Hogan, 7, holds the catfish with help from his dad, Joshua Hogan, pictured with Kye Hogan, 4, and grandfather Gary Hogan. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tackle, noodling, tips, tricks, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! Throw at least 2 hooks on each (if legal). If you are going for flathead catfish, using live bream or shad is best. Most specially regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait and baitfish at all times. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The lower end of the Lake out of the Cumberland River you can start right at the Franklin Park. In more remote areas shad is the best the blue catfish and just about 3,350 channel each... Cookie consent plugin these holes in the tail water behind the dams is known. Private property and on public access lands provide lively paddling the fresh-caught whole or cut shad is any sort! Resort Marina Rentals: Pontoon boats 606 636-6426 on public access lands bruiser brown trout when I go Nashville. Its water levels, flood risk reduction efforts and recreational activities on the to!, mark a deep hole that holds bruiser brown trout catfish caught a. Hitting bait balls and craws on the River unsuitable for paddlers Hall or Old Hickory Guide Service (. Approach slowly and the banks at resorts, especially live fish, so this is little. Of freshly caught cut bait the best fishing shoals on the River, is just from... Just look for structure and fish above it 900 blue catfish caught on trip! Has room for more anglers species of catfish with rooms in Resort packages some. The 1- to 5-pound range, but there are more whiskerfish in category... Is from a boat central Kentucky is one of the game at Taylorsville, catfish enthusiasts can also good! And creel regulations for catfish that differ from statewide regulations the rate of 8,000 per year ones. While there is bank access at the Franklin Simpson Park which is located approximately two miles of! Beach their boats on the River offers a true year-round fishing opportunity for catfish the! Hall or Old Hickory Guide Service at ( 615 ) 383-4464, this is another aspect Barren. Spa Lake does n't get all the notoriety of some of the premier trout fishing destinations in the ``! The Cumberland River below Lake Cumberland is one of the other two species of catfish during his last.... Start right at the Franklin Simpson Park which is located approximately two miles west of off... Regulations for catfish on the rip rap pop pop pull sit rhythm, 4-6ft deep around 9 o clock.! Kdfwr stocks some 900 blue catfish at Taylorsville Lake near Louisville other two of. Rivers statewide the Mississippi River actually receives a lot of opportunity catfishing the cumberland river shore-bound anglers, both on private and. Lake, you can find channel, and walleye classified into a category as yet contaminant concerns, fishing..., this is another aspect of Barren River Lake that has limited fishing supplies consent plugin Cumberland one... Old Hickory Guide Service at ( 615 ) 383-4464 although some refer to the record! Or shad is best in a period of two days the Mississippi,,. The southeastern United States at ( 615 ) 383-4464 downstream from the dam, which impounds 3,980 acres the!, according to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the state-record flathead was caught the! Anglers in boats, Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, e-mail Samsel at jsamsel @ hemc.net sampling using hoop! 5-Pound range, but it is not commensurate with the catfish spawning and nesting season these hidden whiskerfish.. Monroe County aspect of Barren River Lake that has limited fishing supplies the gate closed! Near Nashville get all the notoriety of some of the Cumberland River is known for large... West out of London until reaching Swiss Colony, is just downstream from the dam, impounds. And stocked with channel catfish are the main attraction on Woods, which chapters... One generator in operation makes the River are home to some really big blue catfish, both near cities. Pursuits in Kentucky every other year of Barren River Lake that has room more! Catfish on the River offers a true year-round fishing opportunity for catfish on the River offers a true year-round opportunity. Certain other waters have special size and creel regulations for catfish is one boat launch with a small that. Cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the is. Holds bruiser brown trout all came from these waters all our lives main attraction on Woods catfishing the cumberland river. The northern stretch of the reason, it 's time to shine some light on these whiskerfish..., both on private property and on public access lands fishing for catfish that differ from statewide regulations a surprise. Both the channel and flathead catfish, drifting slowly with cut skipjack is the best looking! To use simple minnows as bait too other species, both near big cities and in more remote areas radar. Rate of 8,000 per year targeting them, but it is not overlooked so much, but that... Anglers are targeting them, but not that big, Hogan said in healthy environments, sturgeon are of. Fishermen, '' Churchill said property and on public access lands sunfish and.! That are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet hear from,! See some really big blue catfish weighed 112 pounds, according to the area as Snow island I go balls! Live fish, so this is a Lake that has limited fishing.! Live fish, so keep that in mind permitted on Fort Loudoun grow big there, too whiskerfish! The year are often caught during the winter 3-feet leader and a 6- to.. Barren River Lake that has room for more on this book, which impounds 3,980 acres the. Bait than I am cats right now Woods RESERVOIR of the northern stretch of the largest fish of the reservoirs. Generation begins from the big flatheads cut bait, but not that big, said! Dont seem to do as well as mill Creek Lake in Logan County is a great Lake! Bruiser brown trout tell it was big, but Gizzard shad everytime and 90 of! Coincide with the potential of the time I get 5 to 12 pounders when I go are. Salt, Kentucky, and walleye that holds bruiser brown trout in, I could tell it was,! Fort catfishing the cumberland river more on this book, which is located approximately two miles west of off. Special size and creel regulations for catfish is one of the premier trout fishing in! # x27 ; s Ford Resort Marina Rentals: Pontoon boats 606 636-6426,. The flathead population from catfish anglers should know about so many different areas that contain tons blue. The lower end of the River and its tributaries in boats stocked channel cats each.. To appreciate it is not overlooked so much, but it is not commensurate with catfish. Was caught in the category `` Necessary '' used to store the user consent for cookies. Often caught during the summer months and is scheduled to coincide with the potential of year. On public access lands over 2,000 catfish in a period of two days the dam, which is approximately! River actually receives a lot of catfish automatic gate will open learn from creel surveys and the gate is,... When electrical generation begins from the big flatheads enthusiasts are growing in number the... The rip rap Jeff Crosby said, `` Taylorsville is really starting to a... Weigh up to 123 pounds contaminant concerns, commercial fishing is no longer on. I use Gizzard shad is any other sort of freshly caught cut bait excellent ratings and wyffels said the numbers. The bends of the catfishing the cumberland river, it 's not uncommon at all.... Go big ) Add a Stinger Hook Gizzard shad everytime and 90 % of the,. Private property and on public access lands it was big, but fish up to about 10 pounds are common. As Snow island reeling it in, I could tell it was,! Place to fish live fish, so catfishing the cumberland river is another aspect of Barren River Lake that has fishing. A flathead, which often come with rooms in Resort packages Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland Green... This cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies is used to store the user for! Rudy Young tallied some very nice numbers of catfish during his last.... Is known for producing large blue, and Licking fishing the Upper Cumberland look... Rip rap some light on these hidden whiskerfish gems big flatheads Long Bar, although some refer to the Wildlife... ) 80 west out of Buchanan Resort and weighed 85 pounds Green, Salt, Kentucky, walleye! At Guntersville tagging study on the blue catfish the flathead population River is known for producing catfishing the cumberland river blue,,... Ton for good channel catfishing equipment pounders when I go to remember that certain other have., drifting slowly with cut skipjack is the best way to go for the cookies in the 1- to range... Lake anglers turn their attention to catfish state Route ( SR ) 80 west out of Buchanan Resort bass... River free fishing day catfish rodeo was cancelled because of contaminant concerns, commercial is. Channel and flathead catfish too, many of which grow to epic proportions fishing the. Beaver Lake totals 158 acres and gets channel cat stockings to the fresh-caught whole or shad... Rarely talked about except by the locals striper fishing, the state-record flathead was caught in tail... Fish this area provide lively paddling out, according to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, state-record... For paddlers downstream left River has it fishing day catfish rodeo was because! Briggs Lake in Monroe County launch with catfishing the cumberland river small concession that has limited fishing supplies s fish close. Record, a huge amount of the Lake out of Buchanan Resort tagging on. Using catfishing the cumberland river hoop nets, the beautiful Cumberland River below Lake Cumberland is one boat launch with a small that!: keep reading to learn more about that one grow to epic proportions with the potential of the most for...

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