Elkhorn Creek

[MrSplitshot]

thats just one of many honey holes im only tryin to help the ppl that aernt catchin fish fishing a wonderful thing if you know how to and where to go

Alright, I'm gonna try this one more time...

Yep, there are several good holes on the creek. Do you think they became good holes by posting the exact location of them on the internet so that a bunch of people can run down there and dunk night crawlers and keep smallmouth? Use your head man. Fishing is a wonderful thing. Helping people is a wonderful thing too, as long as you're helping the right people! Sharing some "how-to" online is awesome. Sharing some "where-to" (especially when it comes to little creeks) is a bad thing dude...I promise you. I have made the exact same mistake that you're making here, so I know. I went to the creek, caught a bunch of smallmouth, jumped out on the internet and ran my mouth like crazy about a hole of water. There were 4 trucks at the put-in the next time I went. A good friend (redneckshadrap) showed me the error in my ways and I appreciate it to this day.

If you're going to share an exact location and the road map to get there, do it in a conversation with a buddy, in an email, in a PM, or take someone there yourself...my two cents.

And if you're going to keep smallmouth, that's your choice to make...but obey creel limits and size limits set by the KDFWR. There's a slot limit on Elkhorn, so any largemouth or smallmouth between 12-16" has to go back in the water. You can keep 6 fish, but only 2 of those 6 can be over 16".

[AJM]

To CreekKat,

While you feel some people are telling you what to do, they are just trying to help protect something that is so special to many of us. While we can all appreciate the fun you had catching those fish, and we even understand you trying to pass that on to fellow fisherman, giving the directions and baits over the internet can only hurt fish population and pressure.

We have all learned from posting too much of the wrong info on internet sites. We are here to talk about the sport we love, share stories and get info from friends, but there are better, less harmful ways of doing that. Please don't be offended by some responses, they are not meant to put you down or boss you around, simply just suggestions to keeping your spots and ours good and plentiful for years to come.

Not everyone releases all of their fish, and as fisherman we can respect harvesting. However there are laws like Mr.Splitshot listed above. For everyone please respect the waters and the rules that that our state has designated for them to help population. Thanks.

We Need RAIN!

[DJD]

Alright, I'm gonna try this one more time...

Yep, there are several good holes on the creek. Do you think they became good holes by posting the exact location of them on the internet so that a bunch of people can run down there and dunk night crawlers and keep smallmouth? Use your head man. Fishing is a wonderful thing. Helping people is a wonderful thing too, as long as you're helping the right people! Sharing some "how-to" online is awesome. Sharing some "where-to" (especially when it comes to little creeks) is a bad thing dude...I promise you. I have made the exact same mistake that you're making here, so I know. I went to the creek, caught a bunch of smallmouth, jumped out on the internet and ran my mouth like crazy about a hole of water. There were 4 trucks at the put-in the next time I went. A good friend (redneckshadrap) showed me the error in my ways and I appreciate it to this day.

If you're going to share an exact location and the road map to get there, do it in a conversation with a buddy, in an email, in a PM, or take someone there yourself...my two cents.

And if you're going to keep smallmouth, that's your choice to make...but obey creel limits and size limits set by the KDFWR. There's a slot limit on Elkhorn, so any largemouth or smallmouth between 12-16" has to go back in the water. You can keep 6 fish, but only 2 of those 6 can be over 16".

Great advice,
I learned the same lesson while fishing tourny's. Keep your info general and that's enough. The creeks can be decimated by meathogs and fools and that goes for any creek big or small.

[redneckshadrap]

Yep we do need some rain. I caught some big fish was too easy Sunday morning.

Circle hooks are by no means the lazy way to fish. I've set and thought about that one for 2 days trying to figure out what you meant by that. If you've read any of Ky Afield trotliners are using more cirlce hooks these days. So it would only make since that someone that obviously catfishes as yourself wouldn't use them live bait fishing.


Looks like AJ has a new handle.

Billy

[BOURBONBALES]

While i read this site daily i don't often post replies to topics so while we were on this subject of preserving our cherished small waters and honey holes as well as keeping fish i thought i would ask everyones opinion on this as it kind of applies. I am an avid stream fisherman here in central ky particularly for smallmouth and feel very lucky to have the opportunity to have such fisheries and do my best to preserve them. A few years ago i happened upon a fellow angler fishing one of my honey holes. I have waded this area for probably ten years or so and have never come across another fisherman. As i was suprised to see someone else there i was even more suprised or should i say sickened to see a stringer of probably 6 or 7 smallmouth i would guess in the 2 to 3 pound range hanging from his waste. I felt sick because i knew those were probably fished i had released in the past and would never have the joy of catching and releasing again. Now i strongly support keeping fish for the benefit of the fishery and i understand it has to be done but i have just never gotten over that because i feel like a great strectch of water had been robbed! The question i have is would any of you under those type of circumstances have said anything to the angler keeping those treasures or is it wrong and out of place to do so?

[MrSplitshot]

BB,

If he was within legal size and creel limits for that flow, no...I wouldn't say anything. It's his own choice to keep a legal limit of legal fish if he wants.

If he was NOT within legal size and creel limits, you betcha I would say something. I would let him know what the law is and if he didn't release them on the spot, I'd whip out the cell phone and call 800-252-5378 to get a warden down there. I've already got the number on speed dial and it has been used.

[BOURBONBALES]

I totally agree that if someone is within in the law there isn't a problem which there really wasn't and i definately respect the rights of individuals. I was just thinking more of saying something to the effect of "hey, we obviously both enjoy being out here catching these great fish maybe we should practice catch and release and we can enjoy this for years to come" But as long as it is within the law there isn't a problem...just hate to see it sometimes.

[mhall]

I agree with what Splitshot said but I still have asked guys why they keep smallmouth and largemouth to sometimes. I just encourage catch and release when ever I can. If the fella bristles up and acts like it's going to be a big problem I just let it go. But if he is keeping illegal fish I have no problem calling the man Aunt Bee, just call the man. I have to stay clear of the cleaning stations at the marinas at Cumberland as it just sickens me. Striper guides are cleaning smallmouth by the tons down there......it just hurts to watch.

[AJM]

Yep we do need some rain. I caught some big fish was too easy Sunday morning.

Circle hooks are by no means the lazy way to fish. I've set and thought about that one for 2 days trying to figure out what you meant by that. If you've read any of Ky Afield trotliners are using more cirlce hooks these days. So it would only make since that someone that obviously catfishes as yourself wouldn't use them live bait fishing.


Looks like AJ has a new handle.

Billy

Peter changed it after we stopped using the Anglers forum. Sure can't pull one by Redneckshadrap. Haven't done a lot of creeking this year, been waiting for more rain and it never came.

To be fair about the lazy comment, SOME would say that live bait is a lazy way to fish...

[CreekerKatKiller]

Alright, I'm gonna try this one more time...

Yep, there are several good holes on the creek. Do you think they became good holes by posting the exact location of them on the internet so that a bunch of people can run down there and dunk night crawlers and keep smallmouth? Use your head man. Fishing is a wonderful thing. Helping people is a wonderful thing too, as long as you're helping the right people! Sharing some "how-to" online is awesome. Sharing some "where-to" (especially when it comes to little creeks) is a bad thing dude...I promise you. I have made the exact same mistake that you're making here, so I know. I went to the creek, caught a bunch of smallmouth, jumped out on the internet and ran my mouth like crazy about a hole of water. There were 4 trucks at the put-in the next time I went. A good friend (redneckshadrap) showed me the error in my ways and I appreciate it to this day.

If you're going to share an exact location and the road map to get there, do it in a conversation with a buddy, in an email, in a PM, or take someone there yourself...my two cents.

And if you're going to keep smallmouth, that's your choice to make...but obey creel limits and size limits set by the KDFWR. There's a slot limit on Elkhorn, so any largemouth or smallmouth between 12-16" has to go back in the water. You can keep 6 fish, but only 2 of those 6 can be over 16".

ehhh sorry if i touched a nerve but im not keeping any fish out of elkhorn all is catch and release ive been fishing the creek 20 years plus know the ends and out like it alot better in the spring and that hole changes from time to time its never the same 1 day its there the next its not its all luck if you can find the fish you will be in luck that place is fished hard all summer long for the past 60 years and to tell ya truth there is plenty of fish in it not a shortage by any means .. i hope splitshot hits my hole up an catches some fish sounds like he needs a bread winner day on the creek

[gocards40]

No disrespect to anyone but this is a good topic. I always cringe a little when one of my favorite lake is mentioned on here. I too have seen first hand what a little word of mouth or Web can do to a fishing hole.

The thing about creek fishing in my opinion is that those fish seem to be more aggressive than lake fishing. I don't have alot of time on creeks but this year I have fished one more than ever. I have notices that the smallmouth don't always care that you just broke a jig off in their mouth only 15 minutes ago. Maybe i have not fished creeks long enough but I can see how you could hurt a creek by keeping them. I am sure that I am catching alot of the same fish over and over again when I catch the same fish within 15 minutes of breaking off a jig in her mouth.

Not that anyone posting is keeping the fish but I would bet money someone reading this is. With all due respect of course.

[chasmo]

Again, with all due respect, this is a very dangerous time of year for the creek fish. With the water as low as it is, yes the fish tend to "pile up" into holes and the meat hogs can easily clean out a stretch of creek in a day. PLEASE release these fish this time of year (if not always). Have some respect for those animals as they are vulnerable right now. Please have your local warden's number on speed dial as I used it just yesterday-he didn't get there in time-but there was a group of "people" using a seine net through a hole and putting EVERYTHING into a bucket for dinner. I am talking about 3 inch pumpkinseeds all the way up to at least 2 smallies that were maybe 12 inches. They were trespassing and left as soon as I showed up and couldn't take it anymore. Next time they are getting a warning shot as I assume they can't read English....

PRAY for rain tomorrow and please release the fish and if you must use live bait, use those circle hooks!!