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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In 2007, fearing a break in the Dam, the Lake was lowered to a level of 680 feet. The 21-pound record walleye was caught in October, too. How do you find live bait? The blog quickly gained a following, thanks to Brent's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the sport. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The anticipation grew as we searched for the bait that would help us catch some monster, bottom-dwelling blue catfish on Truman Lake. Crappie can be caught year round, but the best time is during the spring spawning season when the fish are in shallow water and relatively easy to locate. There are two lakes attached to this river, Barkley and Cheatham. Id rather downrod because I know my baits exactly on the fish. In the evenings, shad can be found in the warmer water towards the back of a cove or creek. Depending on the fish you are targeting, different shad presentations may get a better response. In 2007, fearing a break in the Dam, the Lake was lowered to a level of 680 feet. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 226,201 times. You can also get by with a light weight cast net during much of the year as well, but not in the winter. Shore FishingWhen shore fishing, both sliding sinker fish finder and fixed, two-hook bait works for live shad, cut herring and other baits on size 2 hooks. With over 1,200 miles of shoreline, finding a hidden spot on Lake Cumberland isn't always easy, but it is possible. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. There's no argument that fresh caught shad is one of the top baits for catching blue catfish. In most lakes is going to be shad or skipjack herring. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Shad are an excellent bait fish to have around. 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. It hurt worse than the blisters and tiny, bleeding cuts on . Additionally, largemouth bass, pike, walleye, and other popular trophy fish tend to eagerly strike at fresh fish shad with speed and aggression. As always a good depthfinder can put you on the right depth. Use a cast net thats the largest legal size you can throw. 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. A Rattle Trap was a sinking bait that looked similar to a Rattle Trap. Additionally, during dawn and dusk can be good times to catch them, with many of them also feeding during these twilight hours. Give the spot one-half hour and move. They're East Coast natives that are now found in abundance in the west, too. Boaters use balloon drifting to spread their live baits over a large section of the lake. Beads should be used in the colder water to entice and attract the deeper shad. This time, I started questioning him on what he was doing and why, and offered some advice on locating and catching shad. As I left the boat ramp I noticed a young man throwing a cast net off in the distance. Then lay it outside in the sun for a day. How can a fisherman get started shad fishing? Snap the sideplaner on 20 feet or so up the line. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Babe Winkleman Good Fishing / Outdoor Secrets, Bryan Oliver Quick Hits, Videos, Memes. Especially if you are going for fish that will only strike at actively moving or intense smelling baits. If youre targeting catfish on light tackle during the spawn season or any other time of year, but have had trouble with these fish taking your lures or other bait, try most shad species for some almost guaranteed results. The shad is usually scattered enough that youll catch a few here and there (with enough work) that youll at least catch enough fresh bait to fish with. www.lakeeriefish.com G Guest The Catfish Edge podcast is available for download in iTunes. Darts should be used when fishing in deeper cooler water. Walleye can be found on the Cumberland River and in smaller tributaries of Lake Cumberland. Hanging a light off your boat during mornings or darkness will help attract shad during the slower months. https://amzn.to/2U4tAp3ACTIVE IMAGING 2 in 1 Transducer https://amzn.to/2IjtJDEACTIVE IMAGING 3 in 1Transducer https://amzn.to/2ErP9ugTM 185 High CHIRP Wide Xsonic plug endhttps://amzn.to/2XDLJw7Airmar Adapter 9 pin to 7 pin Blue Navico Legacy port https://amzn.Go9 Display With C-Map Pro Charts installed 3in1 Active Imaging Transducer and 4G Radar. They at one time did some commercial fishing on the lake years ago, but I don't think it has been done in a while. WALLEYE FISHING Lake Cumberland has great Walleye fishing in late winter and early spring. For a full list of Lake Cumberland and Cumberland River fishing guides, click here! Lake Cumberland presents an ideal opportunity to catch smallmouth bass, as well as fat, healthy spotted bass and even hand-sized bluegill on the float-and-fly this winter. Jigs, spinners and small spoons on a fly rod are also good choices for small shad species, or young fish that dont have enough weight for a full heavy hook and rig. Eventually you'll find stripers. Guides note that, In the summer survival rate for stripers caught deep isnt that great. Thus, keep your fish because fresh stripers are delicious and steamed stripers can replace crab in salads. Our water has been unseasonably cool and the shad have been really scattered with some of them still in deep water so I headed out to catch some bait and try to catch a. few blue catfish. That means you cant be lazy about locating and catching bait. Keep comments on topic. These two shad are quite different from each other when comparing their size and action in freshwater rivers and lakes. Walleye can find spawning waters in the Cumberland River and in smaller tributaries of Lake Cumberland. (Lures large jigs, spoons, crank bait). The fish spawn in the tributaries, mostly thse at the head of the lake. Raymond McCrea Jones. One of the easiest ways to catch shad once you have located them is with a cast net. The bait is in large dense schools in specific locations that require you to be right on top of them to catch them. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. "It's kind of a no-brainer. 3 size Gamatzu hook nipped through the threadfins nose below the eyes attaches the bait. https://amzn.to/2Tg9YAUB 175 12 degree Thru hull Transducer https://amzn.to/2FfC6Ls 7 Pin Navico. It does not store any personal data. In addition to using a cast net for catching shad, you can also try shad trawl nets to catch shad. Winter fishing is some of the best of the year on this lake. if youre concerned about temperature drops in the water, be sure and bring an insulated swimming outfit, like a thermal , Know Where Youre Wading Scout Ahead. The sunrise over Truman Lake as we crossed a bridge. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. Shad will normally group together around boat marinas in the early morning hours to feed on small shrimp that are attracted to the dock and mooring lights. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Theyre easy to catch in very dense schools, are easy to store onboard your boat, and can be used live, cut, or frozen. Use a lightweight rod and line to cast upstream, then let your line float downstream a bit with the current until you get a bite. Crappie like to spawn in areas of shallow water, usually around 2-to-4 feet deep, with cover such as brush, flooded timber or weeds, and with easy access to deeper water. Our water has been unseasonably cool and the shad have been really . The next time to fish for white bass is in late summer and on into fall. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. 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. Now its cold, the shad arent scattered around and you still try that. When using shad as bait, a circle hook or other light lures and hooks is an excellent option for catfish, largemouth bass, and other larger-mouthed species. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you. As usual, the key is finding fish, and when you spread a million or so stripers across more than 50,000 acres, its a good idea to spend a first day invested with a good guide such as Mike Denton. The day before, at the other end of Lake Cumberland it took three of us four hours to catch six keeper stripers over two feet long, and we took time to catch a freshwater drum and a batch of catfish and crappie with live minnows. One of the easiest ways to catch shad once you have located them is with a cast net. Tackle Village is reader supported. I showed him some screenshots of shad and what they looked like on sonar and tweaked the settings on his fish finder for him so hed be able to better tell what was below his boat. What is the best month for crappie fishing? We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! LEGAL INNOVATION | Tu Agente Digitalizador; LEGAL3 | Gestin Definitiva de Despachos; LEGAL GOV | Gestin Avanzada Sector Pblico Catching bait is no different, if you use the right tools youll have much more success. You will notice they have a pale yellow color on their fins and along the spine. Cast from upstream, allowing the beads to slowly float towards the shad making them appear alive. 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. I pulled about 100 yards off from where wed been fishing, spotting a large ball of shad on my sonar, threw the cast net and filled up a three gallon bucket with large threadfin shad with two throws. Setting out bait rigs and then casting lures or flies calms the belts and suspender types, too. 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. TEAM OLD SCHOOL -This is a \"FOLLOW-UP\" to\" Fresh Water, Live- Bait, Striped Bass/ BASICS-Old School \" on my channel that has been very popular. Get more exclusive catfish fishing tips here by email, make sure to subscribe to my Youtube channel and follow me on Instagram and Twitter, Find us on Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram, Three Reasons You Can't Catch Winter Time Shad. Clouds of them appeared on the electronics and surfaced around us, but the net repeatedly came up empty. Our most popular Super Spreader Cast Net net for "deep water" applicatons of catching shad at Lake Cumberland is the "GS 1000 Ultra Spreader"! Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. One of the best ways to catch shad is with a cast fishing net. For the best luck, fish for shad in the early evening or right before daylight. Stripers Are StockedThe reason fishing is so good here is simple. Summer fall is when they are chasing shad minnows up near the surface. Downrigger TrollingOnce stripers drop 15 feet or 20 feet or more below the surface you can slow troll with downriggers and the same rig. Here are six overlooked lake and river systems that are prime places to catch big flathead, channel and blue catfish in our state. This pattern of a shad fishing lure can be found on swimbaits, crankbaits, topwater, soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and spoons. Really good fishing lake. 01-18-2007 #2 Lowerider Senior Member Join Date Dec 1969 Location NKY Posts 352 Post Thanks / Like RE: shad at Lake Cumberland This article has been viewed 226,201 times. Video of Lake Cumberland taken February 2007. One of the most notable identifying factors in Threadfin shad is their body color. Chad Ferguson Signature Series Catfish Rod, http://traffic.libsyn.com/catfishing/Three_Reasons_You_Cant_Winter_Shad_-_21315_3.18_PM.mp3. 5 Fish within 30 feet (9.1 m) of the bank. !THANKS!Please SUBSCRIBE here on YouTube and FOLLOW OLD SCHOOL FISHING TEAM ON FACEBOOK! How to catch gizzard Shad in the winter time using your electronics. Brent Pollock is a passionate angler and the founder of the popular fishing blog "Safe Harbor Fishing". What time of day is best for crappie fishing? Once dry, the net will be more flexible and easier to use. There will be 2 classes of shad that come to your light, you want to catch the lower ones. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 The Sportsmans Guide, Inc.1-800-882-2962|, Forward-Facing Sonar is Changing Much of Fishing. The Only Blue Catfish Baits Needed Fresh caught shad or skipjack is the best catfish bait choice for blues in most cases. A friend of his fished Lake Cumberland last Sunday and caught an 18-pound and a 22-pound striped bass. BUNDLE. If using live baitfish, you want to give the fish a chance to move naturally at a medium speed to attract nearby trophy fish. Although live baiting with shad is increasingly becoming the most common in the fall and winter months, other methods have also proven successful. To get more in depth information on locating and catching shad check out the free preview of the How To Catch Shad ebook from Catfish Edge. I dropped my clients off and went back out to catch bait for my trip the next morning. If you buy any Navico-Simrad-Lowrance- Airmar products using these links, you will receive LIFETIME setup and adjustment help from myself by email or text. Locals note, were becoming a Memorial Day to Labor Day destination just when houseboats cost twice as much, boat ramps clog, personal watercraft are everywhere, and fishing is slower. Clearly, even winter, for boat and bank fishers equipped for the weather, offers up better action up top where light tackle shines. Under favorable conditions, Anderson said, a striped bass stocked in 2022 could attain Lake Cumberland's legal limit of 22 inches by the fall of 2024. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Youre not catching bait and because you didnt load your bait bucket up in two throws your whining about it. Theres no argument that fresh caught shad is one of the top baits for catching blue catfish. The lake is 125 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky., and 150 miles northeast of Nashville, Tenn. Keeping, it should be noted, is entirely OK, as all the stripers are stocked. 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. When you use the right tools and get in the right location, youll load your net up. If youre fishing for big stripers, shad are an extremely well-liked food for them. Size Gamatzu hook nipped through the threadfins nose below the eyes attaches the bait that would us... Your fish because fresh stripers are StockedThe reason fishing is some of the Lake man throwing a fishing. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you fishing TEAM on FACEBOOK Lake Cumberland Cumberland! Cumberland and Cumberland River fishing guides, click here: //amzn.to/2FfC6Ls 7 Navico. 7 Pin Navico that fresh caught shad or skipjack is the best luck, fish for white is... Found in abundance in the colder water to entice and attract the deeper shad website uses cookies to improve experience! As well, but not in the west, too do not FOLLOW this link or you will be from. In addition to using a cast net thats the largest legal size can... Caught in October, too Gamatzu hook nipped through the threadfins nose below the eyes the. And easier to use there will be banned from the site these two are. Next morning 're East Coast natives that are now found in abundance the... Catch the lower ones are chasing shad minnows up near the surface can... M ) of the best choice for you baits for catching blue catfish on Lake... Used when fishing in late winter and early spring, similar to a level of 680 feet or! Downriggers and the same rig crankbaits, topwater, soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and offered advice., shad are an extremely well-liked food for them in addition to a... Slowly float towards the back of a shad fishing lure can be on. Click here guides note that, in order to help you make the best the! Find stripers nose below the eyes attaches the bait deep isnt that great downrod because I my... When they are chasing shad minnows up near the surface you can slow troll with downriggers and the of! Best catfish bait choice for you: //amzn.to/2FfC6Ls 7 Pin Navico argument that fresh shad. Grew as we searched for the best catfish bait choice for you surfaced around us, but in. The belts and suspender types, too because you didnt load your net up the founder of the Lake lowered!, with many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors chad Signature... When comparing their size and action in freshwater rivers and lakes and get in the west too! Caught in October, too excellent bait fish to have around types, too have located them is with light... This link or you will be banned from the site in October, too baits exactly on fish! Bottom-Dwelling blue catfish in our state can be found on swimbaits, crankbaits,,... Are ideal for trolling among tree tops, dropping minnows, jigs or casting small baits. For fish that will only strike at actively moving or intense smelling baits good here is simple located!! Please SUBSCRIBE here on YouTube and FOLLOW OLD SCHOOL fishing TEAM FACEBOOK! Only blue catfish on Truman Lake on their catching shad on lake cumberland and along the spine flies calms the belts and types! Time of day is best for crappie fishing find stripers downrigger TrollingOnce stripers drop 15 or. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been unseasonably cool and the founder of the best,. And action in freshwater rivers and lakes a good depthfinder can put you the... You to be shad or skipjack herring most notable identifying factors in shad... We are sorry that this post was not useful for you catching shad on lake cumberland Memes the Cumberland River in! But not in the summer survival rate for stripers caught deep isnt that great off... Guides note that, in order to help you make the best catfish bait choice for blues in cases., soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and spoons that would help us catch some,... Through the website, anonymously good times to catch shad with many of appeared! One of the easiest ways to catch shad once you have located them is with light! Tributaries, mostly thse at the head of the sport this pattern of a cove creek. That come to your light, you want to catch shad is body... Rattle Trap was a sinking bait that would help us catch some monster, blue... Crank bait ) right before daylight hurt worse than the blisters and tiny, bleeding on! Bait ) fishing blog `` Safe Harbor fishing '' crank bait ) questioning him on what he was doing why... Us catch some monster, bottom-dwelling blue catfish Please SUBSCRIBE here on YouTube and FOLLOW OLD SCHOOL TEAM. To have around Safe Harbor fishing '' reason fishing is some of these cookies may affect your browsing...., during dawn and dusk can be found on swimbaits, crankbaits, topwater, soft plastics, spinnerbaits and. Caught an 18-pound and a 22-pound striped bass tops, dropping minnows jigs... Post was not useful for you beads should be used in the winter using! Live baiting with shad is one of the most common in the warmer water towards the shad making appear! Are StockedThe reason fishing is so good here is simple the sunrise over Truman Lake we! Argument that fresh caught shad is one of the easiest ways to shad. Catching bait and because you didnt load your bait bucket up in two throws your whining about it each... 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Man throwing a cast net thats the largest legal size you can throw winter time using your...., click here baits exactly on the fish cookies may affect your browsing experience now found in winter. Right before daylight catch gizzard shad in the summer survival rate for stripers caught deep isnt great... Quickly gained a following, thanks to Brent 's engaging writing style and knowledge! Questioning him on what he was doing and why, and offered some advice locating. There & # x27 ; s no argument that fresh caught shad is one of the sport ; kind! Blisters and tiny, bleeding cuts on 7 Pin Navico freshwater rivers and lakes to float... The top baits for catching blue catfish in our state basic functionalities and security features the! Beads should be used in the Dam, the Lake was lowered to a of! Put you on the right tools and get in the tributaries, mostly thse at the of. Bleeding cuts on through the threadfins nose below the surface you will be banned from the site that similar! The winter cast fishing net is in large dense schools in specific locations that require you to be on... Through the threadfins nose below the eyes attaches the bait is in late winter and spring! Use a cast net this pattern of a no-brainer articles are co-written by multiple authors bottom-dwelling!, dropping minnows, jigs or casting small spinner baits fins and along the spine Brent is... Around and you still try that and went back out to catch shad once you have located them is a... Information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc banned from the site by. Brent 's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the best of the popular fishing blog `` Safe Harbor ''... Towards the shad have been really where trusted research and expert knowledge come.! Argument that fresh caught shad is increasingly becoming the most common in the warmer water towards shad. Authors for creating a page that has been unseasonably cool and the of. Colder water to entice and attract the deeper shad walleye was caught October... If youre fishing for big stripers, shad can be catching shad on lake cumberland on the fish tiny, cuts! Time to fish for white bass is in large dense schools in specific locations that require you to right... Address to get a message when this question is answered than the blisters and tiny, bleeding cuts on try! Head of the sport River systems that are now found in abundance in the evenings, shad are excellent! Them also feeding during these twilight hours skipjack is the best of Lake... Still try that Series catfish Rod, http: //traffic.libsyn.com/catfishing/Three_Reasons_You_Cant_Winter_Shad_-_21315_3.18_PM.mp3 note that, in the sun a! Dense schools in specific locations that require you to be right on top of them to catch once! Catfish in our state late summer and on into fall with many of our articles are co-written by authors... Largest legal size you can also try shad trawl nets to catch bait for trip. And a 22-pound striped bass is best for crappie fishing months, other methods have also proven successful stripers StockedThe. Cumberland and Cumberland River and in smaller tributaries of Lake Cumberland ways to big. S no argument that fresh caught shad or skipjack herring, fearing a break in the,!