Shimano_1 Posted December 1, 2019 Posted December 1, 2019 I'm not real familiar with the lake or catching smallmouth for that matter. Andrew Upshaw won that flw down there about a month ago dragging jigs around main lake points towards the lower end of the lake. We have fished Cumberland 3 times. Had some decent luck in fishing creek about a month ago but no size...biggest was maybe 2.5 lbs. We are going this weekend and are goin to target the lower end of the lake. Just curious if anyone had any advice as to what methods, depths,locations in particular to target. I've studied and have decent graphs so if we can get around em I think we can catch a cple. I know some of you guys ie A-Jay catch some brute smallmouth so figured I'd ask. I guess more than anything I'm curious if I should start on the main lake or up in the creeks, secondary points etc. Thanks for your time Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted December 2, 2019 Global Moderator Posted December 2, 2019 Oooo oooo take me take me!!! Never fished the lake proper but I love smallies in the cold! Dragging jigs like you mentioned is always a good option, most likely all the timber is high and dry but points are always good. If I could only fish one thing for deep clear cold water smallmouth it would be a 2.5 inch gulp minnow on an 1/8 oz jig head tight lining. 2 Quote
Shimano_1 Posted December 2, 2019 Author Posted December 2, 2019 I've heard a lot about guys doin good on that technique in Cumberland. I just so happen to have some powerbait minnows I bought just for that so I will definitely give it a shot. Thanks a bunch Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted December 2, 2019 Global Moderator Posted December 2, 2019 No problem man. Take some spoons and blade baits too and never rule out a walking bait Quote
Super User Oregon Native Posted December 2, 2019 Super User Posted December 2, 2019 That lake is so awesome...only been three times but oh the memories. Cannot really give any good info for this time of year other than find bait... If it was me heading there I would pick a big creek or two and either start in the back or front and move in or out quickly covering a bunch of water looking for bait. Jerkbaits....TRD's....jigs... Have a great trip.... 1 Quote
Shimano_1 Posted December 2, 2019 Author Posted December 2, 2019 6 hours ago, Oregon Native said: That lake is so awesome...only been three times but oh the memories. Cannot really give any good info for this time of year other than find bait... If it was me heading there I would pick a big creek or two and either start in the back or front and move in or out quickly covering a bunch of water looking for bait. Jerkbaits....TRD's....jigs... Have a great trip.... Kinda exactly what my plan was. It is an amazing lake and is giving up some good smallmouth 1 Quote
Ski213 Posted December 7, 2019 Posted December 7, 2019 That’s not too far from me but I haven’t been there this year. I did hear some talk earlier today that fish were being caught on crankbaits where there was decent water clarity. Sounded like down around Beaver and Indian creek out close to the main lake. Don’t take that to the bank though. Just what I’ve heard. I think that was a mix of LM and SM. I don’t have a ton of experience there this time of year but I’d do exactly what it sounds like you plan to. The one thing I know worked in similar conditions several years ago was a suspending jerkbait on steep walls in the arms off the main creeks, followed up with a jig if the bite was there and then slowed down. Cumberland has been a year round lake the last couple years. The potential is definitely there for a good trip. Weather looks like it’s gonna be decent. I think there’s a tournament launching by the dam in the morning but late fall turkey season might keep some guys off the water and in the woods. Good luck! Quote
Super User Oregon Native Posted December 10, 2019 Super User Posted December 10, 2019 If your up in the middle of the lake area...sorry names are bad right now....there's a huge bend as your running down lake and it goes to the left. There is a very large marina on the left...."Love this area across from marina" Lots of all kinds of water. As you make the bend on the downstream side look up to the cliffs on the right...there is a large face in the cliffs that is really cool....can fish good here too!!! Enjoy your trip.... Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted December 10, 2019 Global Moderator Posted December 10, 2019 Well @Shimano_1, how’d it go? Quote
Jermination Posted December 10, 2019 Posted December 10, 2019 On 12/1/2019 at 6:51 PM, Shimano_1 said: I'm not real familiar with the lake or catching smallmouth for that matter. Andrew Upshaw won that flw down there about a month ago dragging jigs around main lake points towards the lower end of the lake. We have fished Cumberland 3 times. Had some decent luck in fishing creek about a month ago but no size...biggest was maybe 2.5 lbs. We are going this weekend and are goin to target the lower end of the lake. Just curious if anyone had any advice as to what methods, depths,locations in particular to target. I've studied and have decent graphs so if we can get around em I think we can catch a cple. I know some of you guys ie A-Jay catch some brute smallmouth so figured I'd ask. I guess more than anything I'm curious if I should start on the main lake or up in the creeks, secondary points etc. Thanks for your time cumberland is the exact same as norris. d**n nearly identical on patterns anytime of year. norris was tough saturday, only 13 boats out of the 46 in our tourney weighted in fish. we had 2 greenfish for almost 6 lbs(my partner lost a big smallie at the boat & i broke off---makes me sick!!) you can bring and throw whatever you want, but all you really need to throw is a zman trd "mud minnow" color on 1/5 ned & a big brown 3/4 oz football head jig in 25 foot of water. Find the random laydowns on deep banks in creeks/creek mouths for green fish--or scan over rocks at points & islands and drop down the deadly nedly if you see the smallies. spray your plastics & jigs with gulp nightcrawler scent 1 Quote
Shimano_1 Posted December 10, 2019 Author Posted December 10, 2019 We caught several fish. No size though. There were fish caught tho a guy my buddy knows took 4th with almost 19lbs in that tournament. That lake is just so big and inhave no knowledge of it lol. Guess I zigged when I should have zagged. We stayed out on or close to the main lake and I think most of the fish were caught in the creeks. May go back down in a week or 2 and try again. Heard they were catching them on jigs and crankbaits. Thanks for all the suggestions. Definitely need more time down there Ski213 had it right according to what I heard as well. Should have been doing that I guess. 1 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted December 10, 2019 Global Moderator Posted December 10, 2019 1 hour ago, Shimano_1 said: We caught several fish. No size though. There were fish caught tho a guy my buddy knows took 4th with almost 19lbs in that tournament. That lake is just so big and inhave no knowledge of it lol. Guess I zigged when I should have zagged. We stayed out on or close to the main lake and I think most of the fish were caught in the creeks. May go back down in a week or 2 and try again. Heard they were catching them on jigs and crankbaits. Thanks for all the suggestions. Definitely need more time down there Ski213 had it right according to what I heard as well. Should have been doing that I guess. Cool deal, thanks for the update Quote
Super User Oregon Native Posted December 11, 2019 Super User Posted December 11, 2019 Thanks for update....hope to fish this lake one more time....beautiful. Quote
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