Cumberland River Trout Notice

Emergency measures implemented on Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam
This is from LC.com

Emergency measures implemented on Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam



Sept. 11, 2009 Contact: Lee McClellan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1-800-858-1549, ext. 4443

Frankfort, Ky. – Anglers may now keep an additional five rainbow trout for a total of 10 rainbow trout daily on the Cumberland River from Wolf Creek Dam to the Tennessee state line. This measure includes Hatchery Creek and all tributaries up to the first riffle. The 15- to 20-inch protective slot limit on rainbow trout remains in effect. One of the 10 rainbow trout in the daily creel may be 20 inches or longer. The 20-inch minimum size limit and one fish daily creel limit on brown trout also remains in effect.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ Commissioner Jon Gassett authorized these emergency measures on the entire 75-mile stretch of the Cumberland River in Kentucky, downstream of Wolf Creek Dam.

Trout stockings will also be moved up to ease pressure on trout production at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery.

The hatchery uses cold water from deep in Lake Cumberland in normal conditions to produce rainbow and brown trout for release in waters across Kentucky. Due to ongoing repairs at Wolf Creek Dam, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is keeping the water level in Lake Cumberland at elevation 680 feet above sea level to relieve pressure on the structure.

The wet spring and summer prompted the Corps to release a great amount of cold water from Lake Cumberland to maintain that water level.

“Basically, there is little cold water left in the lake,” said James Gray, manager of Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery. “The water coming to the hatchery from the intakes in the lake is 70 degrees, with little dissolved oxygen. The continued decline in water quality coming from the lake prompted this decision,”

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s fisheries division recently stocked 20,500 rainbow trout at Wolf Creek Dam, Helms Landing, Winfrey’s Ferry and Crocus Creek.

“We are trying to reduce our numbers a little bit to help out things,” Gray said. “The less fish you have at the hatchery, the more it helps maintain production with these water quality issues.”

Rod Middleton and the staff of Minor Clark Fish Hatchery near Morehead brought 18 blowers to Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery to help inject air into the water.

Trout stockings scheduled for October will be moved up to mid-September, when about 21,000 fish will again go into the four upper release spots.

“We want these fish available to our license holders and not ship them off somewhere else,” said Ron Brooks, director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “We need to reduce the numbers of trout in the hatchery, but had no other place to put them at this time of year due to warm water temperatures.”

Later in the fall, these fish could be stocked in lakes and streams across Kentucky. “In October, we could load up the small lakes in Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s Fishing in Neighborhoods program and the smaller streams,” Gray said. “When you look across the state right now with the water temperatures where they are, the Cumberland is about the only place you can put them.”

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife also implemented emergency measures on the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam in 2007.

“The growth and condition of the larger fish in the Cumberland River is rapidly deteriorating,” said Dave Dreves, fisheries research biologist for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “We want anglers to take advantage of these early stockings. Conditions will likely worsen before they get better.”

The new creel limit on rainbow trout will remain in effect until normal conditions return. Anglers fishing the Cumberland River must possess a trout permit in addition to a valid fishing license

Wow

There have been reports from some contacts at KDFWR of a fish kill on the river. Don't know how substantial. One report was significant. Nothing can be done. This was almost expected given the amount of rain we had.

Had many great trips on the river over the last 6 years. Just introduced my 5 year old to it this year and he caught his first trout all by himself with a batman pole and crainkbait. I'm afraid that we are going to be dealing with fishing problems on this river for the next 10 years or so. If you consider 5-7 years of working on the dam and another 5 years to re-establish consistent populations. Perhaps they can raise the water level a little over the next couple years which would help. Public safety has to be number one priority however and the dam has to be fixed. Just hate to hear about this.

some of us old timers will nevwer see the river come back as a viable fishing resource again.Maybe stocking some warm water species would help, but there is no money left to do that.This is just a natural condition, with water finding ways to escape, this same problem may happen on center hill soon also.

Don't give up on the river yet guys, we just need it dry. The last couple of years have been fabulous, but all of the rain this year caused plenty of problems.

Would this river not hold smallies or is it just to cold?

It appears what I had been afraid of for the last few years has finally come to realization. So sad! The CR was the only place I had in Kentucky that felt like the trout streams back home. They are saying that the water has less than 8% dissolve oxygen, considering that it used to be around 18%. Not good for trout. The walley, white bass, and other species in the river will do well with all this. However, the days of the trout are slowly disappearing. :(:(:(

-Rich

[QUOTE=Tim_T;382163]Don't give up on the river yet guys, we just need it dry. The last couple of years have been fabulous, but all of the rain this year caused plenty of problems.[/QUOTE]

I agree with this statement...the only thing wrong with the river right now is we're having to much rain, to much water flow, etc...at least for trout anyway. It'll come back.

Winter can't get here soon enough! Some cold weather is much needed for the CR. I need to make some time to get down there, although it would be like shooting 12" bows in a barrel, it would still be nice to be back on the CR.

-Rich