Hillbilly DeLux Guide Service
Striper Fishing on Beautiful Lake Cumberland
Jamestown, KY
(270) 217-7932
Your Subtitle text
FAQ's
When is the best time of the year to catch Stripers?
Striper fishing is good year round anytime of the day, or night, in almost any weather condition. Every month has their good and bad days. The record Striper on Lake Cumberland was December 11, 1985 - 58 lbs. 4oz. Early morning is usually the best, though some days high noon may be when the action starts. I've charted and mapped out moon phases and while the best times may be for most game fish, not really so with the Striper. There is no rhyme or reason, and luck plays a role in the quest. Barometric changes has a different effect on Stripers. The springtime is always great due to the warmer water and heavy feeding before the spawn, with many back to back catches and the occasional 2 or 3 on at once. During the spawn, the feeding schools break up as the spawning fish seek open water where the eggs are released, and can be seen by the thousands rolling over each other on the surface in long lines of fish. The males still feed heavily through the spawn, but the females will not feed for 3-7 days. After the spawn, generally in May, the schools start to reform, back to back catches, multiple fish on, & sometimes all 10 rods go down with fish on!!! This can happen anytime during the summer and fall.
Are Stripers the only fish you guide for?
Hillbilly Delux is geared for Stripers, however, it is your day on the lake and if bass, walleye, catfish, or panfish are what you're after, that is fine. Combination days are a good change of pace at times. Note however, no other fish on Lake Cumberland fights like the Striper, it is the ultimate sport fish in the lake. You may want to bring your own favorite rod for flipping or ultra light for pan fishing...
What's a good way to prepare/cook striper?
One of the best ways to cook striper is to cut your fillets into nugget size chunks and bathe in scrambled egg. Prepare your batter with Ritz of Townhouse crackers crushed or food processed, add in parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and cajun spice. (&/or any other favorite seasoning). Roll egg coated nuggets in prepared batter and fry to a golden brown.
For the grill or campfires, the foil packet with butter, your favorite veggies and seasonings always turns out great, just be sure not to overcook.
Can I bring my kids?
Of course! In fact, kids under 12 (non-residents also) do not even need a fishing license. Hillbilly Delux only charges youth 15 and under half price.
How does the Turkey Striper Combo days work?
In the Spring, if the whereabouts of roosted birds is known, we'll start there before light. Otherwise we'll start trolling for Stripers while locating. As the morning wears on, the Tom's will start being more responsive, we'll tie the boat up on the bank and head after them. Chances of harvesting Turkey and Stripers are good. The day will most likely be a long one, big woods and steep ridges, not for the weak. In the fall, flocks of turkeys are common and often seen on or near the banks. The scatter and call back as the dominant hen technique is the usual game plan, or we'll set up a push depending on the location of the birds.
What is Down-rodding?
Usually mid to late summer when the Stripers start schooling in the deeper waters cruising around the points or flats, the trolling motor is used to keep the boat in a hovering position straight above these spots. Lines are set off each corner of the boat straight down using 3oz. weights offering a sweet buffet of bait. The pontoon works great for this!
Is the Dam fixed?
The Army Corps of Engineers along with the Tennessee Valley Authority did an investigation in the Spring of 2007 of the bedrock underneath the dam. The limestone has puddles, which have been there since the dam was built, and the heavy rains of 2006 caused more pressure on the dam, resulting in some seepage on the banks of the tail water. The lake level was lowered to make the investigation easier, obviously there is some concern. Minor repairs are underway, so, the Media (them good ole' boys) blew it all out of proportion, speculating on the "worst case scenarios". The Army Corps of Engineers has declared a pool level of 590 (680') for 2008, and may stay that way for 5 - 7 years, above any normal fall season. The same thing was done back in the 70's, and like then, the fishing has only gotten better!!! All Marina's and boat ramps are in good shape. The latest reports on the Dam progress can be checked on The US Army Corps of Engineers website:
http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/wolfcreek/
Striper fishing is good year round anytime of the day, or night, in almost any weather condition. Every month has their good and bad days. The record Striper on Lake Cumberland was December 11, 1985 - 58 lbs. 4oz. Early morning is usually the best, though some days high noon may be when the action starts. I've charted and mapped out moon phases and while the best times may be for most game fish, not really so with the Striper. There is no rhyme or reason, and luck plays a role in the quest. Barometric changes has a different effect on Stripers. The springtime is always great due to the warmer water and heavy feeding before the spawn, with many back to back catches and the occasional 2 or 3 on at once. During the spawn, the feeding schools break up as the spawning fish seek open water where the eggs are released, and can be seen by the thousands rolling over each other on the surface in long lines of fish. The males still feed heavily through the spawn, but the females will not feed for 3-7 days. After the spawn, generally in May, the schools start to reform, back to back catches, multiple fish on, & sometimes all 10 rods go down with fish on!!! This can happen anytime during the summer and fall.
Are Stripers the only fish you guide for?
Hillbilly Delux is geared for Stripers, however, it is your day on the lake and if bass, walleye, catfish, or panfish are what you're after, that is fine. Combination days are a good change of pace at times. Note however, no other fish on Lake Cumberland fights like the Striper, it is the ultimate sport fish in the lake. You may want to bring your own favorite rod for flipping or ultra light for pan fishing...
What's a good way to prepare/cook striper?
One of the best ways to cook striper is to cut your fillets into nugget size chunks and bathe in scrambled egg. Prepare your batter with Ritz of Townhouse crackers crushed or food processed, add in parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and cajun spice. (&/or any other favorite seasoning). Roll egg coated nuggets in prepared batter and fry to a golden brown.
For the grill or campfires, the foil packet with butter, your favorite veggies and seasonings always turns out great, just be sure not to overcook.
Can I bring my kids?
Of course! In fact, kids under 12 (non-residents also) do not even need a fishing license. Hillbilly Delux only charges youth 15 and under half price.
How does the Turkey Striper Combo days work?
In the Spring, if the whereabouts of roosted birds is known, we'll start there before light. Otherwise we'll start trolling for Stripers while locating. As the morning wears on, the Tom's will start being more responsive, we'll tie the boat up on the bank and head after them. Chances of harvesting Turkey and Stripers are good. The day will most likely be a long one, big woods and steep ridges, not for the weak. In the fall, flocks of turkeys are common and often seen on or near the banks. The scatter and call back as the dominant hen technique is the usual game plan, or we'll set up a push depending on the location of the birds.
What is Down-rodding?
Usually mid to late summer when the Stripers start schooling in the deeper waters cruising around the points or flats, the trolling motor is used to keep the boat in a hovering position straight above these spots. Lines are set off each corner of the boat straight down using 3oz. weights offering a sweet buffet of bait. The pontoon works great for this!
Is the Dam fixed?
The Army Corps of Engineers along with the Tennessee Valley Authority did an investigation in the Spring of 2007 of the bedrock underneath the dam. The limestone has puddles, which have been there since the dam was built, and the heavy rains of 2006 caused more pressure on the dam, resulting in some seepage on the banks of the tail water. The lake level was lowered to make the investigation easier, obviously there is some concern. Minor repairs are underway, so, the Media (them good ole' boys) blew it all out of proportion, speculating on the "worst case scenarios". The Army Corps of Engineers has declared a pool level of 590 (680') for 2008, and may stay that way for 5 - 7 years, above any normal fall season. The same thing was done back in the 70's, and like then, the fishing has only gotten better!!! All Marina's and boat ramps are in good shape. The latest reports on the Dam progress can be checked on The US Army Corps of Engineers website:
http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/wolfcreek/
