Wild River

[troutcrazy]

Finally, there is some water running through the dam. Maybe the current will break up some the algea growth that has consumed the river bottom!

It might be a while before the fishing is worth much with the river up and flowing like it is, but it'll be worth it if it clears up the river.

Hope all is well with my CR fishing friends...Merry Christmas!

[RICHYD4U]

It will be nice to have some of that algae removed and washed down river. I worry about one thing though; I believe that many of the spawning trout have laid their eggs on gravel beds on the main river now that the river has been running low for so long. I worry that all this water will really damage the future trout population. Before, when the river consistently ran more water, the trout would head for tributaries to lay eggs in a safe and more stable environment. I have noticed now, after three years of low water levels, that there are very few trout heading up these tributaries to spawn. I fear that they have spawned on the main river. These eggs will be destroyed by this high water. I hope that I'm wrong, and that all will be just fine......but I worry that I may be right. Just a concerned fisherman that loves his CR.
I will stay clear of the CR for awhile now, which will be hard to do after having had such a wonderful trip just last week. It will take awhile for this high water to drop and for the river to re-stabilize. Until then, Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year! See on the CR in '09!

[Lowerider]

It will be nice to have some of that algae removed and washed down river. I worry about one thing though; I believe that many of the spawning trout have laid their eggs on gravel beds on the main river now that the river has been running low for so long. I worry that all this water will really damage the future trout population. Before, when the river consistently ran more water, the trout would head for tributaries to lay eggs in a safe and more stable environment. I have noticed now, after three years of low water levels, that there are very few trout heading up these tributaries to spawn. I fear that they have spawned on the main river. These eggs will be destroyed by this high water. I hope that I'm wrong, and that all will be just fine......but I worry that I may be right. Just a concerned fisherman that loves his CR.
I will stay clear of the CR for awhile now, which will be hard to do after having had such a wonderful trip just last week. It will take awhile for this high water to drop and for the river to re-stabilize. Until then, Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year! See on the CR in '09!

Just curious but do the trout have successful spawns on the river? I was under the impression that the VAST majority of trout in the river came from stocking and not natural reproduction.

[troutcrazy]

Good question. I haven't the slightest idea. I would love to know though.

You might want to post this question...

[ryan_ekubass]

they stock most of the trout... i know there is a huge hatchery on dale hollow, one up by cave run its one of the countries largest and i think there might be one on cland too... i know they stock trout in cland river because remember when they were drawing down the lake a few years back and having problems with the water temp after tehy did... well they ended up putting all the baby rainbows in laurel lake.... i mean hundreds of thousands. alot of them died there too u could go up in grove and there were little 6 to 10 inch trout floating.....

[Brokenknee]

The biologist on the river are convinced there is virtually no natural trout reproduction on CR. Shocking studies don't show any trout fry.
But, at least one guide feels that there is a little, and he can tell you how they differ in appearance from the stockers.
Running 15000 CFS's for two-three weeks will wipe out nearly all efforts to spawn. Otherwise I think it could happen, although ditty-mo/the new river snot ruins some of the gravel beds for spawning.

[Tim_T]

Years ago a biologist found a few wild trout, I believe this was in 1998. They were brown trout. The Louisville TU chapter and the Northern Kentucky fly fishers assisted in a day of tagging brown trout for release at the Wolf Creek hatchery so that they could have a better idea of wild trout. The problem was the biologist in charge of the project left KDFWR for the US Fish and Wildlife Service shortly after that.

One biologist that I have talked to said if conditions were just right, natural reproduction could occur, but everything would have to be perfect. With more stable water levels due to the repair work on the dam, it could be possible for a few trout to spawn and fry to hatch, but not really something you can count on.

All of the trout in kentucky waters comes from the Wolf Creek national hatchery.

[troutcrazy]

Is the algea/moss/grass a transplanted growth that will grow regardless of conditions, or is it something that naturally occurs because of the low flow? Will we ever be rid of it, or is it something that is here to stay?

[Tim_T]

Some aqyatic vegetation feed the aquatic insects. More insects means better fishing. Not sure if this algea is what is needed, but just something to keep in mind.

[etcfishin]

3 things:

1) Didymo (aka rock snot) has taken hold in the Cumberland River below the dam. It's a non-native invasive species. It's believed that it may have been brought up here by people fishing the Clinch where it has completely taken over. It only takes a few pieces to get it going. If you take your boat or wade the Cumberland, you are advised to clean your gear with a bleach solution that will kill it especially if you fish other local waters. The research shows that rock snot is detrimental to aquatic insect habitat and therefore detrimental to the fishery. This stuff is here to stay.

2) There is some algae (not rock snot) that has bloomed with the low water conditions down there as well. A lot of this will get blown down river with the heavy water release that's currently going on.

3) I agree that this heavy flow will probably hurt any natural spawning that occurred this fall with the low water. We witnessed spawning browns down there a couple months ago at rainbow run. While I haven't seen any evidence that there a sucessful spawn last year when the conditions were better, we did catch a few small rainbows in June that were around 4 inches which are smaller than the typical stockers. Might just be a coincidence.

[RICHYD4U]

It is true that the large majority of the trout population in the Cumberland River is produced from stocking at the Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery located just below Wolf Creek Dam, there have been signs that there is successfull reproduction. I have caughten numerous trout, particulary in the tributaries to the CR, of 4" or smaller. These naturally born trout are distinguished by a series of purple-violet spots on their sides. These spots will disapate with age, but will distinguish native trout from stocked trout at a young age.

As for the algae growth on the CR, it is becoming a problem. The years of low flow is to blame for this. Once the normal flow is restored to the river, it should return to it's prior state. For now, just keep cleaning it off your fly! It does provide excellent nurishment and cover for aquatic insects. I guess that is one plus.