Ky Trout Streams

Ok - very first post. Anyway, I have been introduced to a type of fishing that I always made fun of...but, now I am totally buying in. I did graduate banking school in Boulder, CO and went fly fishing for trout our there. Holy crap on a biscuit! I have now seen colors that I didn't know existed...sunrise in the Rockies - colors of fish in those crystal clear, teeth cutting cold streams...yeah, God is real! After thinking that North Arkansas and out west were the only places I could fish, I found out that there are plenty of places in South Central, KY. I live in Benton, but Burkesville, Monticello and points in between are part of my regular travel route. If anybody would be willing to tell me or show me some places that are wadable (sp?) and can be fished, I would be highly appreciative.

The Cumberland River, Wolf Creek Dam tail-waters is about the best around. If you look on google earth you will see a secondary ramp (for lack of better word) 2 miles down river (as a fish swims) on the south east side. When they aren't generating the water is nice and low there. From my experience they are usually not generating at first light and haven't been for several hours. Generation schedules can change but it has been very consistent every time we went down, low water in the morning and rising river around noon and again towards dusk. If you can get a jon boat down river there are an abundance of wadable spots. We go twice a year and it is the most enjoyable river around, with a very healthy ecosystem.

Rock Creek in Mcreary County, near Stearns is probably the best small stream and the most beautiful. Camping is allowed streamside in designated spots. Be aware bears are in the area. The most heavily stocked small stream in Kentucky. Love going there and have for years. Mostly stocker size trout, but there are some bigger ones in the deep pools. Don't be surprised if you hook into a smallmouth either.

It's just south of Monticello, as the crow flies.....

I am going to piggyback on pintail311 and agree that the Cumberland river from the **** all the way down stream is just loaded with fish. I have fished it a few times over the past couple years and routinely catch 15-20 fish per person. We throw small floating jerk baits, spinners and even small curly tail jigs and they all produce abundantly. Have never fly fished the river but have ran into several anglers doing so and they do just as well. Rainbows, Browns and Brookies are all abundant. An occasional small striper or spotted bass is a bonus as well.

I have also taken the kids and drifted red worms and corn which have produced just as well.

If bank fishing the Wolf Creek Dam area is the best option I am aware of. Lots of access and the hatchery is a very neat place to check out. Also if you have small kids there is actually a small stream within the hatchery that they can usually get a couple of trout out of.