It goes without saying that you can get into some excellent river fishing on the Ohio River, Mississippi River, Licking River, Cumberland River, Green River and others. Before fishing any of Kentuckys top fishing spots, you should make sure to purchase a valid fishing license. In a recent shot he posted, showing a nice keeper hybrid striped bass, the background is clearly the Mother Ann Lee Hydroelectric Station, situated on Lock Seven, near High Bridge. The take-out is a short way upstream on Elkhorn Creek at the Stillwaters Campground Ramp on the right. The Kentucky State Capitol Building lies on the left early in this float. Fishing on private property is a privilege. It snakes a few miles down from the Dix Dam to the Kentucky River, and along the way are awe-inspiring bluffs, rocky outcroppings, and heavy forests. Start planning your canoe or kayak trip with one of these Kentucky State Parks today! Many modern roads still roughly follow the paths carved by the huge bison as they made their way from stamping grounds to salt springs. Thinking about South of Perry Park area? There is a concrete boat ramp, and the launch fee is an honor system: $2 for canoes and $4 for boats launched using a trailer. Dont try to go down there when the water is high. Lake Barkley also features numerous marinas, incuding Buzzard Rock and Resort Marina, Kuttawa Harbor Marina, and Eddy Creek Marina. No live bait is allowed after entering the Dix River. Theres some quality fish to be caught.. Yes, it sounds like a lot, but your effort will be rewarded with low-pressure fish that eagerly take nymphs, streamers, and a dry fly during the occasional hatch. A friend on Facebook keeps posting pictures of fat fish he has been catching on the river. Best Places to Fly Fish in Kentucky 1. If you float under the twin bridges for U.S. 127, youve floated too far. If you're new to fishing or looking for a guided experience, outfitters and guide services all over the state stand ready to put you on fish. A special-use permit is required by state law for fishing tournaments held at Kentucky State Parks. To get to the river, launch from the High Bridge Boat Ramp and then paddle up the Kentucky River for one mile towards High Bridge. Get great travel ideas and more useful tips for building your dream trip itinerary. Adjacent to the tailwaters of Wolf Creek Dam is the newly-constructed Hatchery Creek. Kentucky River Campground also has camping and river access to Pool 3 for campers. As you might guess, wading is not really an option unless you plan on bank fishing, which is perfectly fine for any fly angler willing to explore the lakeshore. This section of the river attracted some of the earliest settlers in Kentucky and holds the last of the soaring Kentucky River Palisades. You will see the path on the river side of the road, about 50 feet in front of the No Trespassing sign. The river then turns hard to the right around Steamboat Hollow Bend. Both had qualities that would warrant a designation as one of Kentuckys best fishing lakes, but we ultimately had to go with Herrington for a variety of reasons. All anglers in Kentucky must have a fishing license. The fish species found in the river include: bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, crappie, hybrid striped bass, white bass, walleye, sauger, largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, and muskellunge. The Fishing and Boating Access Guide lists over 900 places to fish, launch a boat or put in a canoe. A good source of information on Kentucky River fishing is the 2013 Fishing Forecast. FRANKFORT, Ky. It flows through the heart of Kentucky for some 255 miles from the confluence of the North and South forks at Beattyville to the Ohio River at Carrollton. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. He is a staff writer for Kentucky Afield Magazine. This shallow bar proved a popular crossing spot on the Kentucky River for travelers coming from Lexington bound for Louisville. 08-06-2021, 05:41 PM #2. Free shipping for many products! We know when to fish, where to fish and how to fish these lakes. They were catching every few minutes. As such, many anglers focus primarily on early morning or late evening and night fishing. Just downstream on the left is a rock shelf known as Pettys Ripple Bar that holds largemouth bass. Soon, the rocky outcrop known as Lovers Leap comes into view on the left, towering above the mouth of Turkey Run. Some of the best fishing is when the current slows and the river becomes a series of lake-like pools. If YOU know about successful methods/locations/etc. The type of license you require depends on where you intend to fish and what you are fishing for. Persons fishing in Dale Hollow Lake, the Big South Fork portion of the Cumberland River, a portion of the Kentucky Lake, the Mississippi River, the Ohio River, and the Big Sandy and Tug Fork rivers shall comply with the fishing requirements in the reciprocal agreements incorporated by reference in this administrative regulation. For starters, lets consider the Kentucky state record smallmouth bass. As the lake is situated in central Kentucky (spanning Grayson, Edmonson, and Hart counties), it also offers a great location for anglers in practically any part of the state. Please respect these landowners property and ask permission to access them. Not only is this 160,000+ acre fishery the largest artificial lake east of the Mississippi River it is also one of the best fishing lakes in Kentucky. Cumberland River/Wolf Creek Dam: This is a great place to test your angling skills and fly fish for big Brown and Rainbow Trout. Sarah K. Terry caught the record fish, which weighed in at an impressive 47 pounds, in 2008. I asked others if they were having any luckno bites, nothing. (KDFWR) Various restrictions apply to trout fishing in the state. The site has nearly doubled in size since that initial acquisition. Traveling up the Dix, you will eventually pull your boat through shallow rapids, and paddle until you reach the dam. CX Outfitter, 180 gr. Fishing With an abundance of bluegill, bass, and catfish, fishing is a favorite pastime on the Kentucky River. Cumberland River James St. John The famed Cumberland River runs 688 miles, flowing from the beautiful Appalachians. Fishing in a river requires you to think about where fish will seek refuge from current and predators. Author Art Lander Jr. has been writing about the outdoors since the 1970s. He was there early in the morning, I was there from 5-7 PM. I had been close to this location once before (see Dix River page), but didnt know how to access the lock and dam area. A member of the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Legends of the Outdoors, Steve McCadams is a professional guide and outdoor writer from Paris, Tenn. Steve McCadams. Winter, however, can be a challenging time of year as water levels are prone to fluctuation. Anglers on this lake can expect to catch smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, black and white crappie, spotted bass, muskie, and white bass. Premier Angler - The World Lives Outdoors. A towering rock bluff greets paddlers on the left at the beginning of this float. I had been close to this location once before (see Dix Rive. Available in 180- and 200-grain sizes. I threw a variety of carolina-rigged plastics, lost a couple, and eventually settled on a white curly-tailed grub on a half ounce lead head. Rock walls rising a few hundred feet line the shores, and rocky banks with heavy forests are interspersed with the river. The headwaters of the Kentucky River run off Pine Mountain in southeastern Kentucky and flow all the way to Carrollton in northern Kentucky. The river then flows straight past the extinct community of Polsgrove and the mouth of Flat Creek. Nathan Simmons of Browning and Game & Fish's John Taranto take a closer look at both cartridges at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. There's plenty on tap for kayak fishing in Kentucky, as the state is home to a variety of fish, including bass, bluegill, perch, crappie, muskellunge and catfish, along with over 100 other species. Read More: Wolf Creek Dam/Cumberland River - Fishing. The rocky bar at the mouth of the creek provides an excellent spot to fish for largemouth and smallmouth bass by swimming a 3/16-ounce brown and orange jig and trailer combination just over the bottom. Some of the most popular fish species on Taylorsville Lake include smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, black crappie, white crappie, white bass, channel catfish, and bluegill. Get out this summer and enjoy the overlooked jewel right in the backyard of many Kentucky residents.The current license year expired Feb. 28, 2013. - Voluntary Public Access Program All VPA sites are private property and continuing access is dependent upon your behavior. Search the Kentucky Fishing Directory Trip Inspiration Explore Fishing in Kentucky Licenses can be purchased here. Youll come into an opening, with some cave entrances on the right, and the dam on the left. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Fisheries. This trail is now roughly U.S. 421 or Leestown Road. In fact, Herrington Lake holds one half of a two-way tie for the Kentucky state record white bass. To reserve one of these sites at Yatesville Lake, CLICK HERE and to reserve a paddle/boat-in campsite at Jenny Wiley call (606) 889-1790. Outside of record fish, however, the fishery also offers plenty of excellent size and quantity for numerous species. Catfish Fishing Video. This ramp requires a membership fee to use. The take-out is just downstream of the mouth of Sand Ripple Creek. You can also find a great haul of Walleye and Stripers. Bass are also a staple on the lake. The dramatic fluctuations in the rivers level can have some beneficial impacts as well. David L. Hayes landed a mammoth 11 pound, 15 ounce smallie on the lake way back in 1955. The rating and type of trout fishery is provided by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The more I work on the river, the more impressed I am with it.. White bass are also popular during late Spring and early Summer. Every year, experienced and professional anglers converge upon Kentucky Lake for a variety of tournaments including FLW College Fishing events, the Legacy Marine Open Trail, the Kentucky Bassmasters Classic, and more. Despite not having any current state record catches to its credit, its hard to call a lake Fishtrap is you arent, in fact, trapping fish there. The Dix River is famous for being one of the most scenic rivers in Kentucky, and is a lesser known trophy trout stream designated by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. This lure is an excellent summer largemouth bass lure. Details available here. Learn more in the video above, with Remington's Joel Hodgdon and Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. While not known for producing trophies, Taylorsville yields numerous 15-to 18-inchers. By Art Lander, Jr., Kentucky Afield Outdoors, Sweet Streams: 5 Hot Rivers for Midwest Smallies, 7 Things to Ponder Before Buying a Fishing Kayak, DIY: Earthworms Can't Hide When 'Grunters' Are Hunting, Kentucky Dept. The Palisades are still evident in the upper section of Pool 3 and this makes for spectacular scenery in October. Canoe Kentucky:(502)227-4492 If paddling isnt your style, you can take a motorboat up the river, but unless the flow is quite high, you probably wont be able to reach the dam. While no Kentucky state record fish have been caught on these waters, the lake does offer consistent quantity and size for the aforementioned species throughout the year. A medium-running crawfish crankbait worked on this bar draws strikes from largemouth, spotted and occasionally smallmouth bass. When I got to the water, there were families and a couple of guys with multiple poles, rigged for catfish. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Dont go past the No Trespassing sign, just park on the side of the road. View Profile View Forum Posts Private Message View Articles Trophy King Join Date Jan 2019 Location Kentucky Posts 223 Post Thanks / Like Likes (Given) 0 For those familiar with the lake, however, they know how many excellent species can be found in these waters. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Kentucky Lake lakes 4 different Fishing Hot Spots Maps Green River Cumberland at the best online prices at eBay! Articles on Premier Angler may contain affiliate links. The extremely dangerous low-head dam for Lock and Dam 4 lies just downstream. These fish dont see a lot of fishing pressure, so throwing large streamers or obnoxious poppers will draw trophy-sized smallies to the surface. The weight is importantthe water below the lock is moving swiftly, and you want the lure to bounce along the bottom. The next float of nearly 7-miles begins at the Stillwaters Campground Ramp and concludes at Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's Sand Ripple Creek Voluntary Public Access Area (VPA). The sizes for these fishing include: While this catalog of records isnt necessarily filled with species that inspire most anglers, Kentucky Lake more than holds its own when it comes to more popular game fish. Numerous species can be found here, including crappie, bluegill, trout, smallmouth bass, and channel catfish. 10. StriperFun Fishing Guide Service, Albany, KY (2023) Kentucky River Campground also has camping and river access to Pool 3 for campers. Enjoy the Historic Nature Center. The Best Fishing in Kentucky: Our Top 8 Lakes, Best Tools, Gear and Gadgets to Have on Your Boat, ISLE Sportsman Review: Fishing From a High-End Paddle Board, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Covers roughly 53,000 acres, Lake Barkley spans an impressive 134 miles with over 1,000 miles of shoreline. 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