8-21-10  The surface temperature at Lake Cumberland is 86 degrees and the striper bite this past week was pretty decent.  Most of the fish have dropped down to the 50 - 65 ft. range due to the water temperature and loss of O2 at upper levels.  Downrigging is the most effective method now, and probably will be for the next few weeks.  White / Chartreuse dollflys pulled in the area of 2.5 - 2.8 MPH 150 ft behind the weight set at 50 -65 ft deep should get plenty of bites.  Look for fish just out of the channel in 65 - 80 ft of water.  There are LOTS of short / sub-legal fish being caught right now and they are very vulnerable to mis-handleing.  When you hook a fish that you feel is not a "keeper", horse it in as quickly as possible.  Quickly unhook the fish and throw the fish nose first into the water ASAP.  Most of the time the fish will swim back to the depths from which it came, but if you waste any time at all, the fish will die.  If you would like a more up to date report or information on lake conditions, feel free to call.  Tight lines, Phil   606-271=2247