North fork of Elkhorn Creek.

[Big Jon]

I had to take the GF to visit her parents, who live near Georgetown, the other day. I was curious about Elkhorn Creek as I've heard and read so much about the great fishing to be had in it. So, we decided to go to her parents' house via Newtown Pike, which crosses over the North Fork of the creek. There's a spot to pull off near the bridge. We stopped and I grabbed my minnow trap and headed under the bridge. I put the trap in the pool there and kind of investigated the creek for a few minutes. I took the GF to her parents' house and pretty much dropped her off after the obligatory fraternizing with her Dad. I went back to the creek to check it out.

This portion of the creek is pretty shallow with few deep pools. About 50 yards above the bridge is a dam which apparently backs the creek up for half a mile or so. I don't know if there is access above the dam, but I bet there is somewhere. And I bet there is good fishing to be had in that impoundment.

Anyhow, I started fishing the pools below the bridge, just to see what's there. In probably an hour of fishing, I caught a couple of rock bass, numerous green sunfish, 3 smallmouths, a couple of bluegills, and a couple of long eared sunfish. None of the fish were very large, but they're certainly fun to catch. Easy to catch, too! It didn't seem like they had ever seen a lure because they were so willing to bite.

After fishing for a while, I decided to just observe the creek for a bit. After having investigated it more thoroughly, I came to the conclusion that it's the healthiest creek I've ever seen (and I've been knee deep in creeks for most of my life). There were tons of different species of minnows, and at least a couple of species of darters, which were abundant in the shallower riffles. The presence of darters, especially in such large quantities, is a definite sign of a healthy creek, especially since it has been so hot and dry lately.

In the deeper pools, there were gobs, wads and scads of mussel shells. They literally covered to bottom in some places. Most of them were Asiatic clams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbicula_fluminea), but there were a number of larger native mussel shells, too. After having noticed this, I started looking for some live native mussels. I was greatly successful in this endeavor! In about 15 minutes, I had found at least 20 live, large, native mussels of at least 3 different species! Of course, I didn't keep any of them or disturb them more than just picking them up out of the water and checking them out for a minute. (Note that most native mussels are highly endangered and protected by law from harvest. NEVER keep or harm any native mussels!) Large numbers of native mussels are another indicator of the health of a creek, and this portion of the creek was loaded with them!

I finally had suffered enough mosquito bites and gravel in my sneakers and decided it was time to call it quits. I checked my minnow trap--it was empty! I don't understand why, though. There were LOTS of minnows in the pool where I put it and I had put two slices of bread in it. Maybe they're just wise to the ways of minnow traps.

After having had a look at that part of the creek, with its tremendous biodiversity and having seen how healthy and clean it is, I can understand why the lower reaches are so productive and why there are so many good fish in it. Truly a beautiful and healthy creek!

Here's a link to the mussels in Kentucky if anybody is interested: http://www.kdfwr.state.ky.us/kfwis/s...rt2=CommonName

[jcb]

That's great to hear from someone so obviously knowledgeable. Elkhorn has a place near and dear to my heart and always will. It's recovered nicely after Lexington's pollution put a hurting on it in the 1970s.

Bigjon, if you ever want to fish downstream, shoot me a PM.

[Colbyt]

There really isn't any place to get a boat in the water on the upstream portion of that section of the creek unless you know a property owner. There used to be a pull off above the dam and one could carry a canoe to the water but it was more less eliminated some years back. Even then it shallowed out pretty quick going upstream.

There are 2 public and free ramps in Georgetown. The are located between the same two dams so you could use either or canoe from one to the other. Pretty much just makes a circle of the town. To the best of my current knowledge that is all the public access until you get near Frankfort.

I'm new and saw no place for an introduction thread but I am really pleased to find a forum where people are talking about place I know of.

[slackdaddy]

There are 3 ramps and 4 dams in Georgetown and each one is in a different pool.

The first ramp is Osar Landing on 460 across from Arby's. It is the part of the creek you drive over on the interstate going from Lex. to Georgetown. If you go left at the ramp you will go under the interstate. Going right will take you to the dam.

The next pool down stream from that one has a ramp and dam on 25 across from Cardome Park.

Down stream from that pool is the Great Crossing ramp and dam.

There is a dam and parking downstream from the Great Crossing pool on Robinson Road but no ramp. You could park and put a canoe in there.

[Colbyt]

There are 3 ramps and 4 dams in Georgetown and each one is in a different pool.

The first ramp is Osar Landing on 460 across from Arby's. It is the part of the creek you drive over on the interstate going from Lex. to Georgetown. If you go left at the ramp you will go under the interstate. Going right will take you to the dam.

The next pool down stream from that one has a ramp and dam on 25 across from Cardome Park.

Down stream from that pool is the Great Crossing ramp and dam.

There is a dam and parking downstream from the Great Crossing pool on Robinson Road but no ramp. You could park and put a canoe in there.

I thought there was a dam very close to 460 on the east side of town (your left off the ramp). How far up can you go? There used to be some really good off the bank spots just after the interstate headed upstream, but all that is developed and posted now.

Never really had a boat in that section of the creek. If the water does not get too high I plan to try that Arbys ramp out in a couple of weeks.

When was the last time you were on Robinson Road? It was all posted the last time I was out that way. Tubing that section that runs along 460 there at Crossings was always a fun spot.

[slackdaddy]

Great Crossing is the dam right off of 460 on 227 heading towards Stamping Ground. There is a trail that goes along the bank quite a ways. You can boat up past the golf course if there is enough water in the creek.

I was up Robinson last year and there was a sign saying parking was legal at the pull-off just below the dam. The bank line my have been posted by the property owners since their houses are pretty close to the creek I didn't go very far so I don't know.

[Colbyt]

Still trying to figure out if I missed a dam. I just Google mapped this. There is a dam at the end of Robinson Lane which is now called Elkview Road off of US 460 west of Great Crossings. There is a dam on 227N towards Stamping Ground. There is a dam off of US 25N across from Cardome.

Where is 4th dam to which you referred? I thought it was upstream from the 460/Arbys' ramp and one could travel from there downstream to the Cardome ramp with no dams. I have a childhood memory of a dam slightly upstream from the Arbys. They used to rent row boats from there.

I finally danced through all the hoops and got my registration so God willing and the creek don't rise I am going to put in there and find out first hand.

[slackdaddy]

I just did a google satilite map and you can see it about 300 yards downstream from the arbys ramp. It is just below the first curve in champion way

[nlex104]

Still trying to figure out if I missed a dam. I just Google mapped this. There is a dam at the end of Robinson Lane which is now called Elkview Road off of US 460 west of Great Crossings. There is a dam on 227N towards Stamping Ground. There is a dam off of US 25N across from Cardome.

Where is 4th dam to which you referred? I thought it was upstream from the 460/Arbys' ramp and one could travel from there downstream to the Cardome ramp with no dams. I have a childhood memory of a dam slightly upstream from the Arbys. They used to rent row boats from there.

I finally danced through all the hoops and got my registration so God willing and the creek don't rise I am going to put in there and find out first hand.

If you put in at Arby's the dam is downstream about 1 mile and then you drop into the cardome pool. The dam at Cardome drops you into the great crossing pool and the dam at great crossing will drop you into the Robinson lane pool. The Robinson dam will drop you into the Gallaway rd pool and I think the next dam is around white oak from that point I think you could float to switzer but there might be one more dam I cant remember for sure. If you went upstream at the Arby's ramp I dont think you will get to a dam until you get way out past newtown pike in Lexington.

[Colbyt]

I did not know that Google Earth was capable of that resolution. A big thanks for the tip.

I have been racking my brain trying to figure out where there is a dam just up from a bridge and still have not figured it out.

I will be going upstream and trying to get to that 'lost spot' just up stream from the interstate.