Cumberland River Trout Notice

[etcfishin]

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.

[kygorski]

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.

[Tim_T]

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.

[Boat Bums]

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

[RICHYD4U]

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

[Chubminnow]

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.

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.

[RICHYD4U]

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