Last week, the team at the Southeast Fisheries Division sampled the Lake Cumberland tailwater to monitor the trout population—
Several impressive trout were observed during sampling, including a 25-inch brown trout that weighed close to 9 pounds!
Other than these awesome trout, here is what the team found during the sampling:
•Brook trout numbers are doing better this year compared to what we have observed in the last few years!
•Recent stockings of rainbow trout mean that there’s a good mix of numbers and sizes of trout in the tailwater.
•In addition to trout, several walleye and sauger were observed, as well as a lake sturgeon.
•With the low rainfall this year, Lake Cumberland is running almost 17 feet lower than usual. This is creating great opportunities for anglers on the tailwater because flows have been lower, which provides better conditions for wading and floating.
•The water is exceptionally clear, so the fish may spook a bit easier, but the fish are still biting.
If you are looking at heading out on the tailwater, be sure to check the generation schedule to help you plan your trip. The generation schedule can be found at:
➝Tennessee Valley Authority: https://www.tva.com/environment/lake-levels/Wolf-Creek
➝Army Corps of Engineers: https://www.lrn-wc.usace.army.mil/preschedule.shtml
With summer weather kicking in, now is the time to beat the heat and head out on the tailwater…the fish are waiting!
(posted on the KDFWR – Southeast Region Facebook Page)
