Cumberland 3/12.. anyone else go?

Took my 8yo for our first crappie trip of the year. Fished mid lake up in the creeks around conley bottoms. As you go way up the creeks the water seems to have a slight turnover going on. There is a copper color in the water up in the creeks. Lake is still pretty low so finding the right kind of brush was tough for me. We ended up with 9 crappie with 8 keepers. Lost 3 other nice keepers at the boat for some reason. 7 were prespawn females full of eggs. Had one close to 14" as the big one of the day. Caught about half on minnows and the others casting cranks. Most were shallow. And about 75% of them came on one small spot about the size of a truck bed. Had trouble locating any more groups of them other than that one spot.

Also caught a few gills and maybe 10 LM bass with one being a keeper. It was a great day with the little guy though. Hopefully action will pick up when the water comes up a bit and stabilizes.

Would love to hear other reports (PM me if you prefer) to gauge how we fared.

that young man did better than me.

Looks like he may be hooked.

Looks like some nice fish and glad to see the report.
I'll be making my 1st trip to Cumberland at the end of April since probably the mid 1980's. We'll be camping at the State Park Campgrounds (I think that's what my friend said). We figured with the lake being down for the extended dam repairs and then finally being brought back up, all the new cover should be good for the fishing. I like fishing new water and it will be fun to explore a little too. Your posts gives me hope we made a good choice.

Thanks for the report those are some nice fish. I am going in the morning to Cumberland. I have only been the a couple of times. I am set up to spider rig or longline. Would this be a good approach or should I just single pole and look for trees and brush. I will report how I do

Sorry, I cant help you on the spider rigging question. I'm a bass guy and dabble at crappie fishing. Strictly casting for me. Good luck though.

thanks... I don't think i am going so maybe a few days before I post but that boy sure looks happy congrats on the day with him

What a smile, great