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I understand that Lake Cumberland is supposed to be a decent crappie fishery, and I need some suggestions on how/where to find them. I usually get down to Weiss, but these hard economic times are making me stay close to home (London). London Dock is out; no water. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
I am fairly new to the London, KY area and hope someone reply's with a few spots. I am a few miles west on 80.Quote:
Originally Posted by FishlessMike
I've only been to Cumberland twice. From my experience it's a very deep, clear lake even with the draw down. The problem is, if you've experienced the fishing on Weiss, your liable to be disappointed with the Crappie fishing on Cumberland.
If I were going, I'd try to make contact with some locals who target the Crappie there. Probably best to wait for the Water temps to get right, and then look for fish once they start migrating back into the Creeks. That way you could at least eliminate a lot of water when searching for them. Good luck.
Hey,Fishlessmike,
I got a few open dates on Green River lake (twenty five mintues from Cumberland) this Spring.Give me a call or shoot me an e-mail and I will be glad to take you.Take alook at my web-site and all my contact information is on there.
www.greenriverlakecrappietrips.com
Thanks KyTeacher, and you too BadBrad. I just remember my grandparents going somewhere out of London Dock and always coming home with a cooler full of big slab crappie. Tightest lipped people ever when it came to revealing their secrets, though. I figured Weiss techniques wouldn't work. We'll just have to figure it out. KyTeacher, I've kept the website. You may be hearing from me in a few weeks. Biggerbear, we'll let this thread run for a few days and see what happens. Thanks to all.
BUT ... all those places are dry shoreline, now :eek: :D
... cp :cool:
"I figured Weiss techniques wouldn't work."
Crappie are crappie... the techniques work in Ohio at the lakes and river creeks. They also work at Ky Lake. You may have to go with a little heavier jig but I would give it a try. Actually I think you may be surprised at how shallow the fish can be at the times you'd think there the deepest. Start shallow and work deeper.
I don"t fish much in winter the only season I don"t fish for crappie but when the water hits about 50 start looking for brush in the major creeks like Pitman Creek Fishing Creek or White oak Creek and most of the time you will find crappie. As for techniques I vertical jig or use a float and Miner but I guess other techniques would work that's just the way I like to fish. Hope this helps some.
I grew up in Somerset Ky right on the Fishing creek. I would suggest waiting till the water warms up. Fishing creek water level is low right now because of the dam, but it was good fishing last year. I would think the same this year.
Thanks, folks. I do appreciate the advice. I will be giving it a try. Now, if we can only get rid of this cold weather. Crappiepappy! Too cool.
I am also a Weiss Lake junkie. The problem with that lake is it can ruin your opinion on many other lakes. What I have found to get my Weiss Lake fix is that KY Lake isnot real far behind. Bottom line is, I love to catch them anywhere I can find them. I use the long line trolling method almost always, unless I am tightlining or flipping docks. I adjust to larger and smaller jigs as you suggest on lakes like Cumberland but I have not been there often. The great thing about that lake is hit the stripers for the first few hours until the sun gets high and then switch to crappie. Stripers are light sensative so once the sun is up they go deep. Good luck and hopefully we can both find some crappie this year. With the water levels so low everything has changed on Cumberland so it's a whole new game.
... and since the Crappie in Lake Cumberland haven't left the lake, just because the lake level is down from where it was when I last fished it ....
I'm going to divulge the spots where I always had decent luck catching Crappie from ...
It was in Fishing Creek ... on either side of the bridge that goes across. On the side of the bridge closest to Lees Ford Marina, but on the bank across from the marina, there's a small pocket. Positioning yourself between that pocket and the marina, but still closer to the pocket side of the creek ... you'd be in spot # 2
Going on down that same bank, past the bridge pilon about 100ft, there's a slide that took some timber down with it. That'd be spot #1
Now, of course, with the water level being down as far as it is .... these spots are most likely high and dry. BUT ... the Crappie DID come to these spots, and they DID come down this bank & back into this creek ... and they don't change their habits all that easily, so one can assume that they will still follow their previous habits, and just adjust to the available cover present in the creek ... ;)
... luck2ya'll ... cp :cool:
Yeah, it's a little cold but if you catch a few of those slabs, it will warm you right up.
Fishing Creek it is; and the ramp at Lee's Ford is still useable. CP, those fish came there for a reason, and I bet they won't be too far away come warmer water/weather. I'll let y'all know how it goes when I get there. Stay warm; stay dry; and keep the life jackets on.
Better have good brakes on your truck..... Steep hill at Lee's Ford. That place was one of my first jobs as a kid.... I used to pack ice to all of those house boats in a wheel barrel.... That has been a few years ago.....
for the info on the ramp. I'll be checking it out in the next couple of weeks (without the boat); good daytrip with the missus. by the way, please send your decal ideas to crappiepappy. We can all have some good times and fun with this. Such opportunities are becoming kinda scarce. ;)
yeah i am putting something together.
My grandmothers house is right across on the bridge at shoreline drive.
I have caught a lot of fish in a around the boat docks of Lee fords
Lee's Ford starting on memorial weekend last year charges 5 bucks to launch a boat and 5 bucks to park you're truck in the lower parking lot or you can park for free if you want to want to park on top of that big hill. Their's a ramp at the end of slate branch road that's a fish and wildlife ramp that's free or was last year.
That's kida like highway robbery ain't it. But, I guess, that by having one of the working ramps on the lake, they can justify it. I'll put the Slate Branch Road ramp on my next "daytrip" destination with the missus. Thanks a bunch.
When they bring the water back up you should try the county park (5 more miles west of lee's ford towards Nancy KY(where I grew up at)) It will put you in good crappie country....
Lot of people are mad they dropped it so low... Fisherman in the area are kind of happy. Think of all the trees that are going to be underwater when it comes all the way up.
I have been looking around at a lot of sites on the lake. With the water down, weeds and trees are groing all over the place. When this lake comes back up, there's going to be some kind of fishing experience. The cover that will be available will be something, and so should be the fishing for some time. Think we'll still be around to see it? :D
I work with the Corp of Eng. They told us about 5 years
I grew up in London and over the years i have always been taken to Woods Creek Lake. I am in the military and now in Louisiana but the last time i fished it a couple years ago, it was late Feb and caught probably 150 out of the standing timber in 5-6 hours. there were quiet a few small ones just under the limit but we left with a cooler full. Shiners on slip float rigs in 4-7 fow. Not a bad place at all if your out looking for a good time and looking for dinner. Also in Richmond, you can find Wilgreen Lake. I mostly fish for bluegill out of there but many people i know talk of 1-2 lbs crappie coming out of there on a regular basis. Hope this helps have fun and happy slabhuntin