Kentucky River

[kydonky]

Kentucky river did not roduce today. Water is still moving really fast. Trolling motor on 7 would only keep you in place. Color was not to bad, murkey but not muddy. Temp was 47-49 up in creeks. Will propably try one of the lakes next week.

[Kygrizzly]

Hey there kydonky, been a lurker for a while but never posted before, my work schedule and lack of high speed Internet restricts me alot. I was wondering where do you launch on ky river. I recall my father telling me about dams or drop off also. Those things worry me a little. I have never fished the river but want to. Any information is appreciated.

[kydonky]

Hey there kydonky, been a lurker for a while but never posted before, my work schedule and lack of high speed Internet restricts me alot. I was wondering where do you launch on ky river. I recall my father telling me about dams or drop off also. Those things worry me a little. I have never fished the river but want to. Any information is appreciated.

I use several pools in the KY river. In Frankfort pool there is a nice ramp at Benson Creek.

All of the dams on the Ky river are Low Head Dams. This is a dam where the water spills over the entire width of the dam going downstream. These dams may not be visable going downstream. They usually have warning bouys when you approach one but keep in mind that these bouys may break loose and not be there. Most of the time you will see them with the old locks sticking up out of the water, but there are times they may be submerged. Just stay well clear (500 to 1000 feet) away from them.

If you use the river find out where these dams are located on the downstread side. In Frankfort pool it is a 1/2/ mile or so below the twin bridges that are downtown.

The dams going upstream are easy to see. A big waterfall over a concrete wall. But still stay a good distance away as these have strong currents the closer you get to them.

The river current can be extremely fast at times. Stay out in flood or high water conditions. Even now the river is a 9.5 feet and the current is strong. If you loose power get to the bank and tie off. When that river is up to 18-20 feet the currenct can be running 20-30 MPH. At 40 feet center current can be 55+ MPH. Right now at 9.5 feet the current is running about 7 MPH. If I drift the the current right now my GPS shows I'm going 7 MPH. The river's current will be very mild when the river leval is 8 feet or under.

Here is a link that shows river level on a daily basis.

http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydro...,1,1,1,1,1,1,1

Use common sense. If the current in the river looks fast it is fast.

Good places to fish: Benson creek, Glenns creek, above the connector bridges about 1/4 mile. There are rock bars in the river and they may be only feet to inches deep. If you do not have a depth finder and are not familiar with the river stay out in the middle (main channel) and use caution close to the banks. Glenns Creek is only 1 to 2 feet deep as far as 50-60 feet off the bank. You can stand up in the river 50 off the bank. There are a lot of these rock bars but they are good fishing spots were they drop off or rise, but none of them are marked with bouys.

The lower pool in Franklin County has a good ramp on Steel Branch road. The lower Dam for this pool in in Monterey about 8-9 miles down from the ramp. Upstream dam (Frankfort) is about 12 miles up from the ramp. Good fishing below this dam.

Just use common sense and its a great place to boat. Be careful in area you are not familiar with. After awhile you will find your own deep holes holding fish, rock and sand bars, old wrecks and bridges to fish.

Good luck

[Kygrizzly]

great info, thanks alot for your time. I will be saving this info so can find it on a map.