Cave Run Habitat Project

The Fisheries Division this year will launch a major fish habitat project at Cave Run Lake. “We’ve been doing habitat work for years in a lot of our lakes, but this is going to be the largest we’ve attempted,” Brooks said. “We’re talking about mile-long reaches – and about a half of a dozen of them.” Submerged trees and brush being added to the lake will attract plants, microscopic life and forage fish. It also will offer haven for young fish. The department plans to add fish habitat to Scott Creek, the Shallow Flats Bank Fishing Area, Stoney Cove, Adams Point, Ramey’s Creek, Warix Run, Buck Creek and Poppin Rock. If successful, the project could be a model for similar efforts in the future at other lakes around the state, Brooks said.

Hard to be a big fan of any additional objects placed into the water for fisherman to get hung up on. Ask a diver what these "habitats" look like after only a few years, line, lures, anchors get cut off etc.

[QUOTE=Jerry Borst;526700]Hard to be a big fan of any additional objects placed into the water for fisherman to get hung up on. Ask a diver what these "habitats" look like after only a few years, line, lures, anchors get cut off etc.[/QUOTE]

If you're not getting hung up then you're not fishing right. Cave Run needs this, badly. Besides some submerged vegetation there is little in the way of cover. lots of standing timber, yes, but most of it is standing in 30-40 FOW. This should be a great help for the bass populations in Cave Run!

Just my opinion but some of the best bass lakes I have fished had not a "single" blade of grass, or "habitat". On the flip side I've also fished many lakes with a 20'+ weedline and they too had a great population, however it often took presenting lures much deeper to make a good catch of adult size fish. IMO these so called "habitats" do nothing to improve fish population (they already have all they need) but give a few fishermen something to aim at and the rest snag up, break off and leave their lures, line and anchors and who know what else behind.

I think it will help caverun by giving the smaller fish a plce to hide from the Musky.

Come on, if you are not fishing where you can break off you are not fishing where the fish are. The grass has helped the fishing and fish size at the cave, but more hard sturcture will help grow algae and in turn will help the bait fish. I am for anything that adds to the fishing. It could cause problems for jet ski's and party boaters but there is some smart people behind this and they will keep safety of all boaters in mind. There has been one meeting over this already. They are wanting as much input from fishermen as they can get. When I heard this I knew it was going to be good. To anybody that has fished the cave the last few years knows it is close to being real good fishing. Some of the problems that Cave Run has can be helped greatly by adding more cover. Hard cover is also great for cranking.
Crankinstein

[QUOTE=Crankinstein;526876]Come on, if you are not fishing where you can break off you are not fishing where the fish are. The grass has helped the fishing and fish size at the cave, but more hard sturcture will help grow algae and in turn will help the bait fish. I am for anything that adds to the fishing. It could cause problems for jet ski's and party boaters but there is some smart people behind this and they will keep safety of all boaters in mind. There has been one meeting over this already. They are wanting as much input from fishermen as they can get. When I heard this I knew it was going to be good. To anybody that has fished the cave the last few years knows it is close to being real good fishing. Some of the problems that Cave Run has can be helped greatly by adding more cover. Hard cover is also great for cranking.
Crankinstein[/QUOTE]

I Completely agree...Cave Run NEEDS this!

[QUOTE=Crankinstein;526876]Come on, if you are not fishing where you can break off you are not fishing where the fish are. The grass has helped the fishing and fish size at the cave, but more hard sturcture will help grow algae and in turn will help the bait fish. I am for anything that adds to the fishing. It could cause problems for jet ski's and party boaters but there is some smart people behind this and they will keep safety of all boaters in mind. There has been one meeting over this already. They are wanting as much input from fishermen as they can get. When I heard this I knew it was going to be good. To anybody that has fished the cave the last few years knows it is close to being real good fishing. Some of the problems that Cave Run has can be helped greatly by adding more cover. Hard cover is also great for cranking.
Crankinstein[/QUOTE]


I agree also. I have started to fish the cave alot more recently due to the fact is really close to my farm in Frenchburg. It is a beautiful lake! I have fished Blood River area of Ky Lake alot since the mid-80's so the cave is quite a bit different but still very enjoyable for me. I fish the shoreline from Licking river down towards Clays Lick area and then hang a left and then the shoreline towards Warix. These areas have a lot of fallen timber and plants and ledges. Of course these are the areas I've learned that the muskiers like too. I can be fishing an area and almost get run over by a trolling muskier. They will not alter their course, at least the ones that I have encountered. At first I was quit abit miffed about it but I've learned alittle more about the muskies and also been able to recognize whats coming and just move out of their way and wave and go back to fishing. For me it's equally about being on the water and enjoying the scenery and the experience but catching fish is just as fun! Anyway,everytime I go I seem to be having better luck and learning the lake better too. I was sad to see the white bass die off and wondered what happened but I'm sure that it will eventually rebound. Nature will see to that and with a little help from F & W too I'd imagine.