Herrington Smallmouth

I was describing Herrington to a Dale Hollow regular the other day and based on the description, he was convinced that it ough to be a good smallmouth fishery. I have caught one 3.5 pound smallmouth out of herrington and only a couple dinks over many years. Being that its deep, full of rock, and becoming more and more clear, it ought to be good for smallies.

There are 2 reasons why I suppose the smallmouth fishing is not better. One is that there may not be enough current and two is maybe a lack of good spawning areas.

Does anybody have any other ideas on this. Has the KDFWR evr tried a significant stocking of smallmouth in Herrington?, and why or why not?

Great question. I've wondered why there aren't more in there as well. There are definitely at least a few smallmouth in some of the creeks that flow into some of the creeks that flow into it. I caught a smallmouth on the Dix river (above the lake) itself last year out of my kayak.

I wish they would stock some brown fish in that lake. I would love to chase some smallmouth but dont want to drive all the way to Dale. I doubt that they would do it though. I have heard some rumors that they have concidered stocking either Rough or Nolin with smallmouth but havent heard weather they were going to do it one way or the other.

Keep on chuckin'

It has been over 5 years since I was there, but there used to be good smallmouth fishing in the Dix River behind the Herrington Dam. Good current and cool clear water. Launched from Wilmore on the KY river to get there.

Another note about Herrington... I head from a credible source that there were some BIG LM caught at Herrington this past weekend. One was a 6+ that came on a spinnerbait... Boys, it's time!

I think Herrington is really an overlooked and underappreciated fishery. Just with the Cumberland situation, I wonder if it will really be busy this year. I've never been there, but I've always wanted to go, what do you guys think, is it really worth a shot?

Putting yourself on any body of water is always worth a shot. Herrington can be tough if you've never fished it. Alot of bluff walls and deep water. Creeks have a little more taper to them. Be willing to work parrallel on the deeper walls. Post when you are going and the guys on this forum will offer up advice on your trip at that time.

the lake is too, futral it is the wrong type of lake, too much plankton, just not the kind of lake that smallmouth will thrive in. back in the late 70s or early 80s fish & wildlife put I think about 300,000 fingerling in the lake, they never took off. the lake should be hot about now . hay Cobra be home the first of the month many we can go? talk to you soon



Gary

I wolud feel the same way, about herrington being too fertile for smallies...but when I was a kid we built a new farm pond and it was only about a 1/2 acre and 6 feet deep at best. My Dad brought in smallmouth that he caught in a local creek and they did great in that pond... at least until one hot summer AM when we lost the entire pond to overstocking/low oxygen scenario. I can still remember casting topwater torpedoes and jitterbugs along the shore line at dusk and having those fish just bust the surface. And if you hooked up, the aeronautics where just starting. Some of those smallmouth got to over 4 lbs in just 3-4 years.

I have got a few smallies from Herrington over the years but nothing big-I can remember back some years the state was down there shocking hit a mouth of one of the creeks and loaded up on a bunch of Smallies--They were shocked in how many an the size of them--So over the years i have try alot of diff. areas just to see if i could find them with no luck--But one place seems to be the best is Rocky forks-;) -lol gl to you all :)

[quote=Stonewall2002;290916]I wish they would stock some brown fish in that lake. I would love to chase some smallmouth but dont want to drive all the way to Dale. I doubt that they would do it though. I have heard some rumors that they have concidered stocking either Rough or Nolin with smallmouth but havent heard weather they were going to do it one way or the other.

Keep on chuckin'[/quote]

I can,t see them stocking smallies in herrington--Them hybrids run the show down there lmbo :D

I've seen smallies weighed in at tournaments on Herrington but there are very few in the lake. Honestly, I don't think that the lake is too fertile to sustain a healthy smallmouth population so much as the lake not having the right kind of habitat to support reproduction. It would be nice if it did though!!!! Between the hybrids and the smallmouths, I probably wouldn't go any further to fish!!!! I'd sure be fun............ Good Fishin'