“The lake was just covered up,” said Bill Jasper, president at State Dock. He was referring to this past weekend's Lake Cumberland Poker Run, a huge event that brought upwards of 30,000 folks to the lake region, according to the Corps of Engineers.

"It was a great event," Jasper said. "I'd say it was the biggest one we've had in many years, the crowd was huge and they cooperated very well."

He said a total of 96 boats registered and participated in the event where the boats began at State Dock near Jamestown where the participants traveled to Burnside Marina in Pulaski County, Camp Earl Wallace, Conley Bottom Marina in Wayne County, Grider Hill Marina on Indian Creek in Clinton County and Harmon Creek, then back to the finish at State Dock to see who managed to get the winning "hand."

"I talked with everyone toward Burnside and they all were rented," Jasper said. "The water patrol said it was the biggest crowd they had seen in many years."

While the area saw large amounts of rainfall Friday night, the actual run was not hampered by any rainfall until 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

"We shortened it a little," Jasper said of the run. Rather than stopping for lunch the participants stayed out and completed the course in just one run.

He said several of the turbine boats reached stable speeds of 150-160 miles per hour during the run.

The Lake Cumberland Poker Run is ranked in the Top 10 by Extreme Boats Magazine as one of the best poker runs in the country and has been honored by the Kentucky Tourism Council as one of the state's "Top Ten" fall events.

Following are this year's winners:

o 1st Place / $4,000 - Jeff Wilson of Hamilton, Ohio (36' Douglas Marine Skater) with a king high full house

o 2nd Place / $1,500- Dwane Hall of Blacklick, Ohio (35' Nordic) with a jack high full house

o 3rd Place / $750 - Roberk Zubik of Evergreen Park, Ill. (42' Fountain) with three queens

o 4th Place / $500 - Robert Lipps of Indianapolis, Ind. (38' Fountain) with a three eights

o 5th Place / $350 - Benny Pierce of Cicero, Ind. (42' Fountain) with three sevens

Saturday night saw Caught Red Handed play at State Dock, another highly attended event for the Russell County dock.

"It was a well-behaved event for the amount of people that attended," he said. "Everyone had a big time."

While the poker run usually signifies an end to high amounts of summer lake traffic, Jasper said this was his favorite time of year on the water.

"In September and October you still have warm days and the nights are cooler," he said. "The water is still warm too."

With fall officially beginning on September 23, they days are becoming noticeably shorter as well. The next event on the lake is the 21st annual Lake Cumberland Clean-up, slated for this coming Saturday at Sept. 18.

The cleanup is held at locations all over the lake in an effort to remove trash, tires, appliances and the like from the shoreline of Lake Cumberland. Gloves and garbage bags will be furnished and participants are asked to check-in on the day of the clean up at the following location:

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lake Cumberland State Park Launching Ramp

Grider Hill Dock

Cave Springs Marina (Jabez Area - Island Ramp Road)

An appreciation picnic is slated for 3 p.m. at Lake Cumberland State Park with cash prizes awarded for the most garbage collected. This event is supported by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. For more information contact Friends of Lake Cumberland President Steve Syphax at 606-451-1402.