trout reproduction in Cumberland River?

I was fishing Rainbow Run yesterday and noticed numerous bright patches of gravel, similar to what I see on rivers in Michigan during the fall spawning run. Several of these bright patches had trout hovering over them. It would be nice to think that after numerous generations of trout produced in hatcheries that some of these trout have retained the memory of how to reproduce themselves. Not sure if that actually was happening. Also don't know if this year's low flow is encouraging this or if it happens every year at this time, without much result. Interesting to see, anyway.

Were they biting?

I've always heard that the water level changing so drastically reeks havoc on their spawning ability. The have a tendency to spawn when the water is high and then the poor eggs are high and dry when the water goes back down. The brown trout are the Fall spawners, rainbows in the spring. One fish may fan out 4 or 5 nest. This year with the low, steady flow of water just might lead to an extraordinary year class of trout! Let's hope so!

It has happened before, around 1999 they documented some reproduction. Water level is the key. They even had trout unlimited volunteers down at Cumberland to mark fish that were going to be stocked, so that they could keep an eye out for wild fish. Not sure what ever came of it because the biologist who was in charge of the program ended up taking a job with the USFWS not long after that.

Looks like trout reproduction might actually be happening: [url]http://www.kentucky.com/306/story/208547.html[/url]

Back in June we thought this year was going to be a disaster for trout in the Cumberland but for many of us (those of us with small boats and who like to wade) it turned out great.

Now is our favorite time of year for the river the leaves falling can be a bit of a mess but the fishing is great. The browns do indeed try to return to the creeks that they have been released in. We try to get down to the upper part of the river at least twice in Late October and early November. I fish barbless due to the slot. My daughter and her daughter(9) put a real smack down on the fish. They both crawl through brush and creeks where I could not possibly make it, some of the water they fish is less than 6 feet wide and often less than 18 inches deep pretty much site fishing. Seems to us the browns are spawning and the rainbows are feeding on the fresh row. I have a zebco ultra light reel rigged on a fly rod for my grandaughter so when she tags a 18 inch trout it is like a 10 pound smallmouth on that 4 pound test. and seven foot rod.