Kentucky River

[Boat Bums]

Looking for all and any info on this never fished there. Not looking for any one species. Just looking to do some fishin. Would be coming for Louisville. Love the smallies ,walleyes, stripers,muskies.

Thanks guys!!
Boat Bum

[Stanley_p]

My son and I fished Ky River this weekend. We launched in Frankfort and did some City Limits Fishing. Fished around bridge piers and the points of a creek near the bridges. We caught alot of small fish. 10-11" Ky bass. They were tearing up a 2 1/2" shad jerk bait. Water was about 75-76 degrees. Clear down 1 1/2 to 2 feet. I also caught a few on a 2" pumpkin tube. Also, beware of the GAR. I lost two lures because of them. They will shread fishing line.

Stanley

[sglass]

I am also wanting to try the river. I live in LEX and I am sure there are several boat ramps around for me to try but have no clue where anyone of them are at. Can someone point me in the right direction for a decent smallmouth/KY fall bite on the river. I would like to go sometime in October. I also heard that KY stocks alot of Sauger and Muskie in the river and they have been dumping tons of bass in there.

Shawn

[ironhead70]

if ur going for muskie i have caught about 8 between lock one and two caught all of mine in drenon springs creek 2 in eagle and buddy has caught two in twin creek caught all of them fishing for bass on a mini strike king black and blue spinner needless to say i dont throw it much anymore

[bluegrasser]

Also wondering about the KY River. I'll be down near Highbridge this weekend - mainly fishing the Dix but have wondered about hybrids in the KY River. I know you can target them at certain times of the year below the locks/dams, but what about in the main river pool? I'm thinking maybe the mouth of the Dix, but not sure what might work - just floating in the boat with bait suspended below? Casting lures?

Thanks for any input.

[AJM]

To the posts above, hopefully I can help alittle. The river has been slow for a couple weeks now for most species. Not to say that you can't catch some fish, but it is definitly slow. The color is good and the temperature is right, but the fish for most of us around here haven't really turned on.

The KDFWR does a lot of stocking in the river with many species, however "a lot" of muskie and walleye/ sauger would probably be a stretch. While they are definitly in the river, they are probably 3 of the smaller populations of species in the river. Different pools will vary. The upper pools above Irvine have been known for producing better catches for those species.

There are multiple ramps on the river, but most of them are privately owned and not maintained very well, if at all. The best ramp close to Lex would be at Boonesborough state park, its good, easy and state maintained.

If you are unfamiliar with the river, I would suggest being extra cautious when you launch and while you are running. It is a flowing body of water that constanly changes and there is always the potential for a trip ender floating around.

[chasmo]

Also wondering about the KY River. I'll be down near Highbridge this weekend - mainly fishing the Dix but have wondered about hybrids in the KY River. I know you can target them at certain times of the year below the locks/dams, but what about in the main river pool? I'm thinking maybe the mouth of the Dix, but not sure what might work - just floating in the boat with bait suspended below? Casting lures?

Thanks for any input.

I fish the River as much as possible (have three kids and run a farm) not as much as I would like. Caught my first hybrids this year when water was flowing really well on cranks with biggest being 3 1/2 pounds below lock 7. They were just recently stocked (3 or 4 years ago i think) and are pretty scarce. They may start hitting surface as shad start to congregate as water cools though-I hope.

[BurleyDog]

I fish the Ky River at least once a month. Usually fish with redworms and catch anything from highfins to largemouth bass. Its a good time.

Also I bluegill fish it quite often and do well.

But its been too high this summer for me to do well

[bookworm]

I've seen lots of shad in the river in the fall for the past several years. What I haven't seen is predators chasing them. I've thrown baits on top of the schools of shad, off to one side or another, and even have let the bait sink down below these schools. But have yet to hook up with anything. If anyone sees hybrids or other species busting these shad, I hope you'll post a report.

[Bonefish]

I fish the Highbridge pool, and I see very little action on the surface shad from year to year in this pool. It might be that I fish a limited area of the pool, but I have noticed the bass do not run the surface shad very much. I have more luck on T-rigged plastics in this area of the river.

[Bobby Headrick]

Is the fishing good where it runs into the Ohio, and if you lock thru how is the fishing in that stretch of river?

[ironhead70]

if ur talking about locking threw on the ky river u cant anymore they have chained up the locks about 2 or 3 years ago ...... fyi they r going to raise lock # 3 5 foot for the new water plant