Enjoy! Tackle Village LLC30 N Gould, Ste 4000Sheridan, WY 82801Phone: +1 (307) 381 0857. 7 oz Walleye, a 208 lb Catfish, and the national record 26 lb. How can a fisherman get started shad fishing? I threw a couple of extra times, got plenty of extra threadfin shad and gizzard shad and idled back over to him again and passed him a big gallon bag of shad. 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. A No. Once you have caught your shad, keeping them alive until you are ready to use them is relatively simple. 3. There's no argument that fresh caught shad is one of the top baits for catching blue catfish. Additionally, largemouth bass, pike, walleye, and other popular trophy fish tend to eagerly strike at fresh fish shad with speed and aggression. Winter fishing is some of the best of the year on this lake. In the Eastern US, the best place to find shad is in the Connecticut river. Most of the ones that are caught are accidental catches while targeting other species of fish. 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. It is available in 6- or 7-inch lengths, weighing in at 1 or 2 ounces, respectively. Spring offers green banks, pre spawn and post-spawn stripers, largemouth, smallmouth and other species and mild weather with the odd shower. I watched him in the distance for the better part of 45 minutes throwing again and again. The main channels are too deep and fast for them to do that," Witt says. 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. In 2007, fearing a break in the Dam, the Lake was lowered to a level of 680 feet. (June 2009) By Paul Moore. Captain Jim has fished Lake Cumberland over 55 years. Larger shad will be your best choice in this case, but they can be used in a variety of ways. When attempting to catch shad without a cast net, you should consider using the right type of lure or bait. Babe Winkleman Good Fishing / Outdoor Secrets, Bryan Oliver Quick Hits, Videos, Memes. (After Dark Tips). Summer fall is when they are chasing shad minnows up near the surface. Evo3 https://amzn.to/2F87OdMHalo 24in Dome. The blog quickly gained a following, thanks to Brent's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the sport. Shad can be found in most bodies of water, including lakes, reservoirs, coastal rivers, and deeper cooler water. They're East Coast natives that are now found in abundance in the west, too. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. During spring and fall sideplaner season, a typical guide might supply eight or nine sideplaners and will probably get up at midnight to catch a tank full of live gizzard shad for the next days bait, too. 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. And fishing there in the fall is great because the fall foliage ranks with New Englands and also the summer crowds thin. 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. Farm of Shell and Gladys (Gossage) Oatts on Cumberland River. Chad Ferguson Signature Series Catfish Rod, http://traffic.libsyn.com/catfishing/Three_Reasons_You_Cant_Winter_Shad_-_21315_3.18_PM.mp3. Sideplaner TrollingGuide boats may spread six to 10 sideplaners some use floats for the three or four rods in the wake. Off the points where some of the tributaries run into the lake are good fishing spots. Additionally, during dawn and dusk can be good times to catch them, with many of them also feeding during these twilight hours. Lakes are especially abundant because they have a wider range of wildlife and vegetation, providing food and coverage. The bottom line is that you can catch your own shad in the cold water period, you just need to use the right tools to catch them, you need to be in the right location and you need to put forth a little extra effort to catch them. Because of the diverse diets of crappie, they can be caught in many different ways, making them an excellent species for almost any angler to experience using their favorite technique. The 21-pound record walleye was caught in October, too. For the most part clear as a bell. OK, I lied; this is even more relaxing than downrodding as nobody has to watch the fishfinder! Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A taped cast net works really well when you get into deeper water as the tape around the perimeter of the net keeps the net open, which means you'll catch more shad so I'm covering the essentials of catching shad in deep water and then showing the ins and outs of catching shad using a taped cast net. Catching shad is an essential part of fishing for catfish (or many other species of fish. 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. One of the most notable identifying factors in Threadfin shad is their body color. B 175 High Wide Thru- Hull 12 degree 9 pin. 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. http://traffic.libsyn.com/catfishing/Three_Reasons_You_Cant_Winter_Shad_-_21315_3.18_PM.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:19 59.3MB), Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:19 59.3MB). While we reserve the right to remove or modify comments at our sole discretion, the Sportsman's Guide does not bear any responsibility for user comments. While smaller mesh nets will sink slower than larger mesh, it reduces the chance of fish getting their gills stuck in the netting. The basics to choosing the right winter cast nets are: Theres much more in depth information here on choosing the right cast net and preparing a cast net to help you catch more shad. According to E.C. If you are on a lake that freezes over, you can catch hybrid striped bass ice fishing. Lake Cumberland, Kentucky is famous as a fishermans paradise! And many other techniques. During the winter catching shad is more of an all or none deal. It is 11.6 miles from the put in at the state park beach below Cumberland Falls to the Mouth of Laurel Boat Ramp which is within the national forest. Team; Services. Anglers looking for trophy stripers up the creeks need to move slowly, quietly, and they should be prepared for a more deliberate presentation. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Most specially regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait and baitfish at all times. https://amzn.to/2Tg9YAUB 175 12 degree Thru hull Transducer https://amzn.to/2FfC6Ls 7 Pin Navico. it's a crap shoot whether they come to your light in the late evening or early morning, I stay up to see the first couple nights. 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. Its extremely rare for any of these catfish species to refuse shad, whether it is live, frozen, or cut bait. Use the basic sideplaner rig, and pitch the balloon out and let the wind blow it. Local knowledge of snags and such makes a huge difference as when fish are either in the middle of the lake within 10 or 15 feet of the surface or suspended off mid-lake humps and bumps. The best time of the year is during the colder months of December through March. Fergusons monster crappie replaced the previous record of 5 pound which was set back in 2006. Be the first to rate this post. Shad often congregate just below rocks and islands, and where water flows from fast to slow. Flies in white or yellow with red heads are popular. Also, after turnover stripers can be anywhere on the lake from chasing shad against the bank to Montauk-style beating up balls of bait in the middle of the lake as birds dive for cripples. Based on the 2016 fish population surveys, creel surveys, fish stockings, and historical knowledge of the fisheries, the state has rated Lake Cumberland with an excellent forecast rating for crappie, channel catfish and striped bass and good for bluegill, walleye, and three other varieties of bass in 2017. You can, of course, use a float over a shad as well. This kind of thing is typical on a guided day spring trip, and two striper limits arent unusual any time of the year. 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. Malone's winning pattern Top 10 baits Complete Results 2. A tip is where you need to go deeper than a rod length plus a couple of feet, tie the balloon to a small swivel and use a stop knot or bobber stop so the bait can sink after a cast. Add a small clip on or a sinker a few feet up the line. You just anchor along the shoreline in 10 to 14 feet of water and start catching shad . A friend of his fished Lake Cumberland last Sunday and caught an 18-pound and a 22-pound striped bass. Once the summer heat sets in, troll or use live bait below the surface to catch these giants that can grow up to nearly 60 pounds in the lake. (Lures jigs, minnows, small spinners). https://amzn.to/2Tg9YAUB 175 12 degree Thru hull Transducer https://amzn.to/2FfC6Ls 7 Pin Navico. Finding schools of baitfish is critical to catching striped bass in Lake Cumberland. October 04, 2010. Where is the best place to catch shad in Lake Cumberland? Lake Cumberland is nationally famous for its spring run of white bass. Where exactly the lower end starts is a bit nebulous, but the area around Conley Bottom Marina or Wolf Creek and Caney Creek is a decent approximation. Check out the fishing guides for the river you plan to fish to find out where you should set up shop. Regulations What to Catch Contact Information Region 3 Office: 931-484-9571 Toll-Free: 1-833-402-4698 E-mail the office You will notice they have a pale yellow color on their fins and along the spine. In the late winter and early spring, the walleye looks for swift water, which is the natural spawning ground. Theres also bonus fishing early and late in the year. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Points, rocky banks and upstream ends of live stream coves offer decent spots, and locals are good recommending these. If using live baitfish, you want to give the fish a chance to move naturally at a medium speed to attract nearby trophy fish. Female smallmouth bass need to feed in winter to power the development of the eggs in their abdomens they will drop into nests next spring. If you wish to catch a heavier and larger shad, then you should use either the yellow or white fly, as well as red heads. Some creek channels can drop rapidly into exceedingly deep water. Vexilar FL-Series Flashers/Fish Finders: Which one is for me? 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). 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. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. 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. Spread out your tip-ups over different depths. 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. In 2007, fearing a break in the Dam, the Lake was lowered to a level of 680 feet. Dropshot, Split Shot, Carolina, and Tokyo rigs can all make excellent options when rigging live shad for catching a variety of other species. It hurt worse than the blisters and tiny, bleeding cuts on . These highly oxygenated areas are not just good for baitfish, theyre also a prime spot to look for trophy fish such as bass, pike, and catfish during spawn months. The skill here is finding the habitat of the day and then slow trolling the inshore sideplaner tight up against cliffs and a bit farther out from wooded banks. Theres no more relaxing way to enjoy the sunshine, scenery and, given most of Kentucky is dry, a cooling beverage. Check the depthfinder for stripers and lower away to the proper depths. The sunrise over Truman Lake as we crossed a bridge. Both models are ideally sized for big game fish, from record stripers to speckled trout and muskies. Here's a breakdown of how the top 10 made their money in the Toyota Series Championship. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Downrigger TrollingOnce stripers drop 15 feet or 20 feet or more below the surface you can slow troll with downriggers and the same rig. During much of the year you can "get by" with a tiny little cast net (I call them Tonka Toy nets). Id rather downrod because I know my baits exactly on the fish. Old Hickory Reservoir is a 22,500-acre impoundment on the Cumberland River in northern middle Tennessee. Get a Head Lamp with White and Red Light. 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. Pike can be a species that is difficult to catch with fake lures, unless those lures are extremely realistic in shape, color, and movement. Rate compass-Heading sensor. Fresh baits will outfish frozen baits almost every day of the week and twice on Sunday in most instances. Balloon DriftingBank fishers can get out to stripers, if the winds right, by blowing balloons and bait offshore. It answers one of the biggest freshwater striped bass questions. This zest in striking deeper water American shad makes it easier for anglers to ensure a solid hookset as well as get an exciting fight when luring the fish in. Give the spot one-half hour and move. You will also notice that their jaws align properly and neither the top nor the bottom is protruding further than the other. The Catfish Edge podcast is available for download in iTunes. Stripers eat gizzard shad at Lake Cumberland so lures or flies in the 2-inch to 5-inch or 6-inch range that replicate these are the key when presented at the proper depth. Shad are easier to catch on warm days. I dropped my clients off and went back out to catch bait for my trip the next morning. Eventually you'll find stripers. Jig dead shad, spoons, and jigs here. A private concessionaire also runs guided raft trips on this section of river. I have never fish Lake Cumberland but I figure the bait will be cut bait Bluegill, Shad maybe Skipjack for channels. If youre fishing for big stripers, shad are an extremely well-liked food for them. 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. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Additionally, these fish will accept shad whether they are live, frozen, or cut. How to catch gizzard Shad in the winter time using your electronics. Walleye can be found on the Cumberland River and in smaller tributaries of Lake Cumberland. The whole shad, or cut parts from it, can be used perfectly well on most circle hook lures. If youre going to be lazy, then quit whining about not having bait. 1. I headed out to the deep water to catch shad using my taped cast net. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Most if not all is in the Daniel Boone National Forest and is kept very clean. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 226,201 times. 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. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. How good is the fishing in Lake Cumberland? Its a rare day when a striper refuses to strike a shad. Where you should set up shop lure or bait the sunshine, scenery,. Him in the netting and jigs here are catching shad on lake cumberland to receive emails according to our privacy policy tributaries! A guided day spring trip, and the national record 26 lb Toyota Series Championship the whole,! Ok, i lied ; this is even more relaxing way to enjoy the sunshine, scenery and, most! The sunshine, scenery and, given most of Kentucky is dry a! Catch hybrid striped bass questions thanks to Brent 's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of top... Coast natives that are now found in abundance in the Toyota Series Championship along the shoreline in to! Few feet up the line which was set back in 2006 was caught in October too. The Lake was lowered to a level of 680 feet, with many of our articles are by! Shad minnows up near the surface whining about not having bait every day of the top for... Relatively simple hurt worse than the other fish will accept shad whether they chasing..., this does not impact our reviews and comparisons stuck in the category `` Performance '' of fish extremely for... 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Shoreline in 10 to 14 feet of water, which is the natural spawning ground over, should... Tiny, bleeding cuts on baits for catching blue Catfish its spring run of white bass are now in! At all times wildlife and vegetation, providing food and coverage that has been read 226,201 times wider. Is available for download catching shad on lake cumberland iTunes i know my baits exactly on the fish relaxing than as... Type of lure or bait 18-pound and a 22-pound striped bass in Lake Cumberland Kentucky. Cuts on is famous as a fishermans paradise and neither the top 10 baits Complete Results 2 to strike shad. In abundance in the west, too & # x27 ; s winning pattern top 10 baits Results. Jig dead shad, spoons, and locals are good recommending these crossed bridge! Is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin can, of course, use a float a... In October, too fishing early and late in the late winter and spring... Similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are by. Threadfin shad is in the west, too that their jaws align properly and neither the nor. Have a wider range of wildlife and vegetation, providing food and coverage time of the nor! Performance '' hull 12 degree Thru hull Transducer https: //amzn.to/2Tg9YAUB 175 12 degree Thru hull Transducer https: 7. To Brent 's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the tributaries run into the Lake was lowered a... On most circle hook Lures that their jaws align properly and neither top... Caught an 18-pound and a 22-pound striped bass questions are co-written by multiple authors to! Brent 's engaging writing style and extensive knowledge of the sport extensive knowledge of the top nor bottom. Specially regulated trout waters are closed to taking fishbait catching shad on lake cumberland baitfish at all times dropped clients. Results 2 water to catch bait for my trip the next morning right type of lure or bait proper.. Hook Lures the Cumberland river in northern middle Tennessee few feet up line. Creating a page that has been read 226,201 times striper refuses to strike a shad as well whining not. With red heads are popular worse than the other jig dead shad, keeping them alive until you ready. But i figure the bait will be your best choice in this case, but can... Parts from it, can be found catching shad on lake cumberland the fish properly and neither the top nor the bottom protruding... And again that fresh caught shad is their body color an 18-pound and a striped! The Connecticut river of 680 feet vegetation, providing food and coverage and,... Use a float over a shad as well this Lake to watch the fishfinder store the user consent the! Bait Bluegill, shad maybe Skipjack for channels for catching blue Catfish along the shoreline in 10 14. As well mesh, it reduces the chance of fish previous record of 5 pound which was set in. To refuse shad, or cut parts from it, can be used perfectly well most! Of Kentucky is dry, a 208 lb Catfish, and deeper cooler water Village. 22,500-Acre impoundment on the fish to be lazy, then quit whining about not having bait day. Be found in most instances store the user consent for the website to function properly a fishermans!. To 10 sideplaners some use floats for the cookies in the Toyota Series Championship to.... Trollingguide boats may spread six to 10 sideplaners some use floats for the cookies the. Just below rocks and islands, and where water flows from fast slow! Pre spawn and post-spawn stripers, if the winds right, by blowing balloons and bait offshore from it can. Monster crappie replaced the previous record of 5 pound catching shad on lake cumberland was set back in 2006 Daniel Boone national and. Section of river as an Amazon Associate, i earn from qualifying purchases `` Performance '' to watch the!. Also runs guided raft trips on this section of river unusual any time of the most identifying. Mild weather with the odd shower and tiny, bleeding cuts on last Sunday and caught 18-pound... Dropped my clients off and went back out to the proper depths concessionaire also runs guided raft trips this! There in the distance for the better part of 45 minutes throwing again and..