KY Brook Trout

[eku_brookie_biologist]

Has anyone ever had any luck catching Brook Trout in Kentucky? If so where and when? I am currently undertaking a project where i will analyze Kentucky's brook trout populations and then compare these populations to native Virginia populations to determine limiting factors for KY's brook trout populations. I am very interested in hearing first hand experiences with KY brook trout from any who have fishing in KY.

[swipper 74]

Boy, I'd like to know some info on this too. Making a trip to Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park in July for the wife's family reunion, and I'll NEED to make time for myself and would love to do some fishing for brookies. I've dabbled with trying to get some info and have come up pretty empty handed, so any info would be appreciated! Good luck on your study by the way!

[kytroutman]

eku, there are only four (unless it has been changed by KDFW) brook trout streams maintained in KY. These are all C&R and are Dog Fork and Parched Corn Creek in Wolfe County, Shillalah Creek that runs from the Cumberland Gap National Park in Bell County and Poor Fork in Letcher County.

[eku_brookie_biologist]

Originally Posted by kytroutman

eku, there are only four (unless it has been changed by KDFW) brook trout streams maintained in KY. These are all C&R and are Dog Fork and Parched Corn Creek in Wolfe County, Shillalah Creek that runs from the Cumberland Gap National Park in Bell County and Poor Fork in Letcher County.

I have been on all of these streams, but i was wondering if anyone has actually caught any brook trout in KY and when and where?

There is 6 streams in KY that have brookies, 4 of which you named are fishable. The other two are Bad Branch and Martin's Fork of the Cumberland.

[Kytroutbum]

I had been fishing Swift Camp and decided one day to explore Parched Corn due to the rumors of Brookies I heard. I caught one Brookie approximately 5-6 inches on Parched Corn fishing down from the ridge dividing it from Chimmney Top's drainage. It took an Alexandra wet fly swung under a limestone ledge just above one of the first areas used for camping. I stopped at that point it was the weekend and there were people coming into the area and setting up camp going down stream. With the stream being so small, being somewhat calloused growing up with Brookies in Michigan and my interest has been directed on the other side of the divide, I just never felt an interest in pursuing downstream from that point.

This was approximately 10-12 years ago. It was 2 years after the 1st planting of the Brown Trout fingerlings in Chimmney Top, if that helps give you a date. Fisheries People and Bluegrass TU did the planting of those Browns.

I have heard RUMORS that the Parched Corn fish were placed there by s "Bucket Biologist" many years ago. The fish were supposed to have come from Michigan. I've heard this RUMOR several places going back to the 1970's when I moved from Michigan and did grad work at Morehead. I vaguely remember Dr. Les Meade saying something along that line in one of his Field Ichthyology classes I was in at Morehead. I think the name of the "bucket Biologist" was mentioned but it escapes me. The nature of the dialogue and students with local ties gave me some degree of creditability to that rumor.

I am a retired seconday Science/ Biology Teacher with several Ichythology and Limnology classes. I'm available if you want me to take you to that area and help out some.

Randall Sale
the Kytroutbum

[kytroutman]

eku, I specified the four as "maintained" since the other two are basically inaccessible and I'm not sure the KDFW is still monitoring them. I have caught brookies in Shillalah Creek just outside the park boundaries at Cumberland Gap and must be accessed from private property. I have also fished the streams in Wolfe County after a trip to Red River Gorge but never caught brookies, only warpaints. I gave up on those streams after fighting the copperheads.

[Ky Tim]

Originally Posted by swipper 74

Boy, I'd like to know some info on this too. Making a trip to Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park in July for the wife's family reunion, and I'll NEED to make time for myself and would love to do some fishing for brookies. I've dabbled with trying to get some info and have come up pretty empty handed, so any info would be appreciated! Good luck on your study by the way!

You will be far away from brook trout water at Kentucky Dam Village. If it were me I would take some bass and panfish flies and fish around Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley or some of the small lakes at LBL.

[Hoosier]

Quote:
Originally Posted by swipper 74
Boy, I'd like to know some info on this too. Making a trip to Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park in July for the wife's family reunion, and I'll NEED to make time for myself and would love to do some fishing for brookies. I've dabbled with trying to get some info and have come up pretty empty handed, so any info would be appreciated! Good luck on your study by the way!


You will be far away from brook trout water at Kentucky Dam Village. If it were me I would take some bass and panfish flies and fish around Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley or some of the small lakes at LBL.

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Swipper,

No Brookies, but stocked rainbows are in Casey Creek near Cadiz. I have fished it once in the summer and did catch about 5 in an hour. Ususally I stay with the late fall through early spring during C&R to avoid the crowds. Also there are suppose to be some stocked streams on Fort Cambell nearby.

[swipper 74]

KY Tim and Hoosier,

Thanks so much for the suggestions! I'll look into both options. Can't wait to wet a line! I'll let everyone know how I did when I return!