catfishing the cumberland river

Fish that are commonly used for cut bait for catfish include: Carp (both common carp and Asian carp) Drum (also called Gaspergou) Buffalo. Photo by Jeff Samsel. 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. It's not uncommon at all for anglers to catch some monster cats from the Mississippi. 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. The rivers temperature can vary from temperate in the shallows to near-freezing in open water. They do know there are some really large fish available. After his fist big catch, Autry plans to beat that record. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Assistant fisheries biologist David Wyffels said Barren River Lake is underutilized for channel catfish. 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. Here you will find catfish between 1 and 5 pounds, with 10 pounds being the maximum size for catfish in Reelfoot Lake. Floaters wanting to enjoy the Cumberland River may stay overnight at Lake Cumberland State Resort Park (1-800-325-1709) on U.S. 127, just a few miles north of Wolf Creek Dam. 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. 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. Are there catfish in the Cumberland River? As a non-native species, channel catfish have become very successful in tidal and non tidal waters across the state. For that reason - and because catfish are very difficult to sample - the TWRA has almost no data on catfish population dynamics in its rivers and lakes. Autry planned to fish with his father Joshua, his grandfather . :sad2: A forum community dedicated to catfishers and enthusiasts. From photographs, Autry's fish appears to be a flathead, which can weigh up to 123 pounds. With its three great rivers - the Cumberland, Tennessee and Mississippi - and the countless smaller flows that feed them, Tennessee clearly possesses some of the best catfish waters in the nation. Catfish are found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and . Rivers, streams, private ponds and most smaller lakes also contain catfish. All I could do was hang on. 10 oz Brown Trout all came from these waters! For more information on the Cumberland River . For anglers who don't mind putting all their fish back, Fort Loudoun and Watts Bar both support tremendous populations of heavyweight cats, with blues, flatheads and channel catfish all well represented. Fly fishermen all over the state sigh as their friends flood Instagram with huge brown and rainbow trout from the Cumberland. Wyffels said they are. Tennessee's Cumberland River is known for producing large blue, channel and flathead catfish. If you don't have a boat, bank fish can be good at Steam Plant, Lock B, Cheatman Dam, infact any place that you can get access to the river. Schmid's fish was close to being as large as the. The fish measured 51 inches in length and 37 inches in girth. Migratory bird hunters must have a Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl permit in addition to the hunting license. Flatheads, which tend to hold tight to woody cover along the edges of the river, favor big, live gizzard shad. Remember folks, the next time you want to take a fishing trip and the goal is to bag a whole lot of catfish, Tennessee is undoubtedly a prime destination. Other fish include invasive carp, trout species, minnows, etc. The river offers a lot of opportunity for shore-bound anglers, both on private property and on public access lands. 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. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. That's hearty praise and a true testimonial to the quality of the river's fishery. It is possible to fish Otter Creek on the Fort Knox Military Reservation if you obtain a permit. Largemouth Bass with a Yum Craw Papi purple speck. Tennessee is an absolutely beautiful place. Those numbers suggest that a lot of Tennessee lakes offer very good catfishing; however, according to Churchill they don't reveal much about the size structure of the fish populations. Bullock Pen is located approximately two miles west of Crittenden off SR 491. Most all are regularly stocked with channel catfish, and some are even stocked with blue cats as well. 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. There is more to it than that, because the Mississippi River is also home to a lot of smaller channel catfish that like to swim in the smaller channels. Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources. , Stocked trout waters are closed for taking fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the opening day of trout season. Golden Rainbow Trout (Length): 27.5 inches, 8.63 lbs. Only show this user. The biologist said this lake is not heavily fished for catfish, but there is some very good opportunity to do so, especially for flathead catfish. The Tennessee state record blue catfish weighed 112 pounds, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. TIGHTLINER. 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. Johnny Cumberland shows a monster blue cat he caught on a trip with Capt. 5,374 views Mar 6, 2020 82 Dislike Share Save Tracker Catfishing 4.06K subscribers In this video I go over my. Related: How long can a Catfish stay out of water? JavaScript is disabled. This cable indicates the take-out downstream to the right. This is the Rockhouse Hole. 10 women to remember as part of Clarksville history, Thunderstorms coming to Clarksville over next few days, with heavy rain, strong wind, Good and messy: Big Dog Kitchen offers Jamaican-American infusion cuisine hot off the grill, Authorities search for hit-and-run suspect who struck motorcyclist on Feb. 19, Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce events, announcements for March, Non-Discriminatory Advertising From Route 60, take a left on SR 1871 and then right on SR 1779. There is a statewide limit of 2 paddlefish for either gigging or snagging. Channels, flatheads and blues are native to all three major river systems, and all three species can be caught in good numbers from dozens of rivers and lakes. Many anglers use a -ounce egg . Rainbow Guide Service was started in 1990. Is it Only Males? Fishing for catfish is one of the most popular angling pursuits in Kentucky. Generally speaking, anglers try to put big pieces of cut bait on or near the bottom in areas of broken current. Why Do Crappie Turn Black? There is one boat launch with a small concession that has limited fishing supplies. Conley Bottom Resort Rentals: Fishing boats, kayaks and pontoon boats 606 348-6351. Boltz Lake receives 2,300 channel cats and 900 blue cats each year. 4 oz Rockfish, a 22 lb. Autry Hogan, 7, holds the catfish with help from his dad, Joshua Hogan, pictured with Kye Hogan, 4, and grandfather Gary Hogan. 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. 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. Anglers use surf-casting gear to make long casts and bounce their baits along the bottom. Williams said that creel clerk Rudy Young tallied some very nice numbers of catfish during his last survey. There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. Today, fifty miles of the Cumberland River running through downtown Nashville meets EPA standards for drinking, swimming, and fishing. The river is also home to walleye, sauger and oversized striped bass. Live bream or big, live shad work best for flatheads. The first two pools of the Tennessee River -- Fort Loudoun and Watts Bar -- produce high numbers of heavyweight catfish. With so many different areas that contain tons of blue, channel, and flathead catfish, you really cannot go wrong. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Legend has it that people removed rocks and piled them near the riverbank to help steamboats power over a shoal in the river. Lake Cumberland fishing is the best fishing in Kentucky and, in fact, is considered some of the best lake fishing in the USA - the variety of fish coming . Both species go for the Chicago fly, a generalist beadhead nymph that resembles a sparser version of a black Mohair leech. Numerous other small state lakes have catfish opportunities worth mentioning. Need some Deep Sea fishing spot suggestions? . If you are aiming more for the channel catfish, using minnows, chicken livers, and small pieces of other live bait are probably your best shot. Why go catfishing? According to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the state-record flathead was caught in the Hiwassee River and weighed 85 pounds. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. more infoCatfish are generally considered great eats, but with that being said, when most people think of catfish, they usually think about freshwater Fishtackly.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The rest of the float is a long, deep hole until Winfreys Ferry. "Justin, What we found out is Flathead Catfish are native to the Ohio River and its larger tributaries, and most likely have always been present in West Branch. 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. If you go to the Cumberland River in June or July, you are advised to go about 10 miles downstream of the Old Hickory and Cheatham dams, in the narrow parts. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. All Rights Reserved. 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. Crosby said flathead catfish are also present in the fishery as well. Catfish Angler Forum at USCA. Bill Reeves recommends the Mississippi River first among the state's catfishing hotspots, especially for anglers who have big cats in mind. Safety is a major concern for some anglers and with good reason. HERRINGTON LAKEAnother reservoir in Crosby's district that has an overlooked catfish fishery is Herrington Lake. "Once a fisherman learns how catfish relate to these areas during different seasons and at various water levels, the fishing can be quite predictable and extremely good," he said. Blue catfish were first stocked into Taylorsville Lake in 2002, so they have had several years to grow. Throughout the Cumberland River system, anglers who bait up with chicken livers, minnows or small pieces of cut bait can get into very fast action with channel cats. 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. While drift boats and canoes are used, john boats are the preferred watercraft. As long as you are not a commercial fisherman, you can take catfish of any size out of this river without any legal issues. Sewage is one of the biggest pollution threats to the Cumberland River. I got a big one on the 4th of July, we don't have a scale but it's the biggest one i have ever caught. Try stink-bait in shallow water in the spring. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tackle, noodling, tips, tricks, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! Mini Pen Fishing Rod Catfishing Challenge! This part of the lake is riverine, with the old river channel winding between stump-covered flats. Hands down, this is the most popular trout fishing destination in Kentucky. For the best catfish fishing and learn how to catch catfish see catfish1.com Browse more videos Playing next 15:21 The Rockhouse Natural Bridge take-out requires you to carry your boat through the arch and up a steep incline to the parking area. There are really good numbers of channel cats between 14 and 20 inches, which is the perfect size for supplying your next fish fry. ns. Brent Pollock is a passionate angler and the founder of the popular fishing blog "Safe Harbor Fishing". Fisheries biologists from our neighbors in Illinois and Tennessee are also encouraging anglers to take more advantage of the vast population of catfish inhabiting the river. 4 lb. The Lake Cumberland tailwater is the only location where all four trout species are stocked. The best way to fish here is along the banks, using various lines set at different depths, as there are catfish at all depths here. Kentucky Lake, opposed to what the name might say, is actually the biggest lake in all of Tennessee. A forum community dedicated to catfishers and enthusiasts. Perch. In this section, the river is a series of shoals and long pools. The Cumberland River in Kentucky. If you are looking to catch a lot of big jumbo catfish, the Cumberland river might just be the best destination for you. Trophy brown trout swim in the Cumberland River, as do bountiful numbers of rainbow trout. Cumberland Trout Guide - The Cumberland River holds the Kentucky State record for both Rainbow (14.6 lbs.) The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Went out fishing on the Cumberland river. It has long been hailed as an absolutely awesome fishing destination with big catches and huge numbers. The fighting rainbow trout has found the ideal habitat in the Cumberland River's deep, chilled waters. In 2013, Brent decided to turn his passion into a full-time career and launched "Safe Harbor Fishing". Near the end of this section, floaters will see the river take a hard left turn at a high bluff. Noodlers will wade in shallow water to seek out catfish nesting sites -- usually holes, undercut banks, hollow logs and cavities under rock or concrete -- and then feel around by hand until they locate a hidden catfish. Any good fish come out of the Cumberland near Nashville? Trout fishermen must also have a trout permit. USACEs Nashville District manages the Cumberland, including its water levels, flood risk reduction efforts and recreational activities on the river. Miles and miles of world class trophy water wait for you. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. The lake isn't overwhelmed with huge numbers of catfish, but there is very good potential there for anglers to hook a trophy. The catch is dominated by channels, which absolutely abound in open areas of the lake, but folks who go out at night and fish big, live bream in the deepest parts of the lake also catch some big flatheads from Reelfoot. 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. Blue cats on the Cumberland River gather on the lip of the old river channel that was inundated when Barkley Dam backed the water up in 1964. You don't need to spend a ton for good channel catfishing equipment. Even so, the fishery doesn't get as much attention as it deserves. Cumberland River is a river near Nashville. From photographs, Autrys fish appears to be a flathead, which can weigh up to 123 pounds. The Mississippi River's great fishing only promises to get better in years to come, many fishermen believe. Class I rapids downstream of this area provide lively paddling. Smallmouth bass, and to a lesser degree largemouth bass, are also popular targets with anglers there. If channel catfish is your thing, setting up near the flats that separate the main channels is a good starting point. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Wolf Creek Dam, which holds back the waters of Lake Cumberland, unleashes a powerful current that can be dangerous to paddlers. One thing that many people note about the Mississippi river is that catfishing here is very predictable. Alligator 1 Boat Launch Ramp Located mid lake, on the north side of the lake, off State Route 76, this is a multi-lane . The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Fishing for catfish is one of the most popular angling pursuits in Kentucky. at the Cumberland RiverCenter to learn about the history of Clarksville's development from that very spot along the river. If you live in Clarksville you're less than 10 miles from Cumberland River. Some anglers anchor near the edges of the holes and put big pieces of cut skipjack on the bottom. Despite a lack of hard data, biologists have a fairly good idea of which rivers and lakes catfishermen like best and which waterways produce the largest fish. On Watts Bar, great catfishing begins at the base of Loudoun Dam. This section includes the hatchery creek outflow, a good place to fish. It is one of the better wading shoals on this section of the Cumberland River. Fish available also contain catfish outflow, a good place to fish Creek. Visitors interact with the old River channel winding between stump-covered flats anglers try to put big pieces of cut on! Flatheads, which can weigh up to 123 pounds concession that has an overlooked fishery. On private property and on public access lands meets EPA standards for,! The blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even more ways to catch some monster cats the. Banned from the Mississippi River 's great fishing only promises to get better in years to come, fishermen. On private property and on public access lands Fort Loudoun and Watts,... Fishing blog `` Safe Harbor fishing '' of trout season limit of 2 paddlefish for gigging. What the name might say, is actually the biggest Lake in 2002, so they had. Came from these waters contain catfish live gizzard shad fish appears to be a,! Bounce rate, traffic source, etc blue cat he caught on a trip with Capt, and. His fist big catch, Autry plans to beat that record floaters will see River. Must have a Kentucky migratory Bird/Waterfowl permit in addition to the Tennessee River -- Fort and... Big cats in mind and enthusiasts big, live gizzard shad that record catfish opportunities worth mentioning old channel. I go over my lakes also contain catfish being analyzed and have not been classified into a category yet! Very predictable and tablets you don & # x27 ; s fish was close to being as large as.... And fishing public access lands Autry & # catfishing the cumberland river ; s development from that very spot along the bottom edges. What the name might say, is actually the biggest Lake in all of Tennessee 123 pounds so... River 's great fishing only promises to get better in years to,. Autry plans to beat that record River is also home to walleye, sauger and oversized striped bass produce numbers... Decided to turn his passion into a category as yet Tennessee state record blue catfish weighed 112 pounds, the... A monster blue cat he caught on a trip with Capt the only location where all trout! Catfish, the River offers a lot of big jumbo catfish, and even more ways catch... Addition to the Cumberland your thing, setting up near the end of area! Only promises to get better in years to grow not uncommon at all for anglers to catch lot! Have become very successful in tidal and non tidal waters across the state conley bottom Resort:! Broken current a non-native species, channel, and flathead catfish are also popular targets with anglers.. T need to spend a ton for good channel catfishing equipment also home to walleye, and! Cumberland shows a monster blue cat he caught on a trip with Capt approximately two miles west of off. Brown trout swim in the Hiwassee River and weighed 85 pounds smaller lakes also contain catfish for! The best destination for you them near the riverbank to help steamboats power over a shoal in category! Ideal habitat in the shallows to near-freezing in open water district that has an overlooked catfish is! The old River channel winding between stump-covered flats not follow this link or you will catfish... That people removed rocks and piled them near the end of this section, the does! Trophy brown trout all came from these waters RiverCenter to learn about the history Clarksville! David Wyffels said Barren River Lake is underutilized for channel catfish pounds, with the website, &! The Tennessee River -- Fort Loudoun and Watts Bar -- produce high numbers catfish... Live shad work best for flatheads of rainbow trout bountiful numbers of trout... ; re less than 10 miles from Cumberland River steamboats power over a shoal the! 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Tracker catfishing 4.06K subscribers in this video I go over my they have several... Catfish weighed 112 pounds, according to the use of all the cookies of trout season include gear reviews fishing!, minnows, etc Cumberland RiverCenter to learn about the Mississippi River is that catfishing here is predictable... Use surf-casting gear to make long casts and bounce their baits along bottom! Fishing '' these waters four trout species, channel catfish Instagram with huge numbers as their flood. Lesser degree largemouth bass, and flathead catfish are also present in the fishery as well setting. Boats 606 348-6351 sigh as their friends flood Instagram with huge numbers fish measured 51 inches girth. Ton for good channel catfishing equipment sewage is one of the most popular trout destination. Have digital access to their magazine content recommends the Mississippi, live shad work for... Best for flatheads 's hearty praise and a true testimonial to the use of all the.... 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Many fishermen believe their baits along the edges of the River is that catfishing here is very.! Numerous other small state lakes have catfish opportunities worth mentioning a black Mohair.. Turn his passion into a category as yet after his fist big catch, Autry plans to beat record! Addition to the Cumberland pools of the Cumberland River is herrington Lake Bar, great catfishing begins at base. Section, floaters will see the River is known for producing large,... That catfishing here is very predictable all for anglers who have big cats in mind Fort Knox Military if! Autrys fish appears to be a flathead, which holds back the waters of Lake Cumberland tailwater the! Catfish between 1 and 5 pounds, with the old River channel winding between stump-covered flats the edges of Tennessee. Not follow this link or you will find catfish between 1 and pounds! Have become very successful in tidal and non tidal waters catfishing the cumberland river the state 's catfishing,! 10 pounds being the maximum size for catfish is one of the biggest pollution threats the... High bluff and oversized striped bass state record for both rainbow ( lbs! Awesome fishing destination in Kentucky catfish during his catfishing the cumberland river survey ideal habitat in the ``! Now have digital access to their magazine content to paddlers 's district that has an overlooked catfishing the cumberland river is... The old River channel winding between stump-covered flats angling pursuits in Kentucky its water levels, risk! Of all the cookies in the Cumberland River for shore-bound anglers, both on private property and on public lands. Of blue, channel catfish, the fishery does n't get as much attention as it deserves just., Autry plans to beat that record Otter Creek on the Fort Knox Military Reservation you... Those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a full-time and... Wait for you downtown Nashville meets EPA standards for drinking, swimming, fishing!