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Fishing Cumberland River Tailwater: what the data says
Below Wolf Creek Dam. 75 miles of cold water and some of America's biggest brown trout. The river tops out around 30 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Cumberland River Tailwater
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. They move out to 8 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 6 to 30 ft. Current seam (mile 7.5) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 17 ft, rated prime for spring rainbow trout. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 6 to 30 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Striped Bass fishing at Cumberland River Tailwater
In spring, striped bass run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 9 to 30 ft in summer and finish the year down in 9 to 30 ft. Wolf Creek Dam tailrace is the standout, a dam tailrace at roughly 26 ft, rated prime for summer striped bass. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a flutter spoon (deep) or a umbrella rig (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 9 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
Walleye fishing at Cumberland River Tailwater
In spring, walleye run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 9 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 9 to 30 ft. Winfrey's Ferry shoals is the standout, a gravel shoal at roughly 5 ft, rated prime for spring walleye. Best bite is the evening and early morning. Tie on a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 15 ft | dusk & dawn | 1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig |
| Summer | 9 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft | dusk & night | Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Cumberland River Tailwater
Spring smallmouth bass on Cumberland River Tailwater hold shallow, usually 3 to 12 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 9 to 30 ft. The spot to know is Wolf Creek Dam tailrace, a rock pile in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 8 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Sauger fishing at Cumberland River Tailwater
In spring, sauger run shallow here, mostly 4 to 18 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 10 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 9 to 30 ft. Wolf Creek Dam tailrace is the standout, a dam tailrace at roughly 26 ft, rated prime for summer sauger. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | 3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow |
| Summer | 10 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait |
| Fall | 9 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Jig + big minnow, Blade bait |
| Winter | 9 to 30 ft | dusk | Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical) |
Brown Trout fishing at Cumberland River Tailwater
Spring brown trout on Cumberland River Tailwater hold shallow, usually 3 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 9 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 4 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 7.5): a current seam around 17 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 9 to 30 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 4 to 30 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Cumberland River Tailwater also holds rock bass (5 to 20 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Notable structure
- Wolf Creek Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 26 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 13.1): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 15.0): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 16.8): creek channel, around 23 ft
- Current seam (mile 3.7): current seam, around 22 ft
- Eddy pocket (mile 4.9): eddy pocket, around 20 ft
- Channel swing (mile 11.3): creek channel, around 20 ft
- Eddy pocket (mile 6.1): eddy pocket, around 19 ft
- Inside bend (mile 17.9): point, around 19 ft
- Tailout eddy (mile 0.3): eddy pocket, around 17 ft
- Current seam (mile 7.5): current seam, around 17 ft
- Current seam (mile 9.4): current seam, around 17 ft
- Current seam (mile 8.3): current seam, around 17 ft
Common questions
How deep is Cumberland River Tailwater?
Cumberland River Tailwater is about 30 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Cumberland River Tailwater?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, walleye, sauger, rainbow trout, striped bass, brown trout, rock bass on Cumberland River Tailwater.
Where is the best fishing spot on Cumberland River Tailwater?
Current seam (mile 7.5) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 17 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Cumberland River Tailwater?
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Dale Hollow Lake · Lake Cumberland · Green River Lake · Metcalfe County Lake · Mill Creek Lake · Green River (Mammoth Cave)
See how Cumberland River Tailwater stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Kentucky · best walleye lakes in Kentucky · best sauger lakes in Kentucky · best rainbow trout lakes in Kentucky
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