Kentucky Fly Fishing?

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
1

Folks,

I’m taking my son to the London, KY area next week on a caving trip with his Boy Scout Troop. Anyone that knows me will varify I’m not built for small spaces and since the actually caving portion of the trip is conducted by local guides I’m not really needed once he goes in.

So with that being said can anyone recommend any fly fishing spots in the area of Levi Jackson State Park or surrounding environs? I’ll have five hours or so to kill. Not enough time to drive to the Cumberland Tailwater Area and do anything productive (at least I don’t thinks so), but if you have any suggestions, I’m open to the possibilities. I’ll only be able to fish on Sunday, 20 January but if the weather is reasonably cooperative and there is any place you’d recommend fishing, I’d be willing to give it a try.

Thanks in advance. I’m looking forward to your responses.

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Joe,
I’m not too familiar with fishing in that part of the state.

Here are some links that may help.

Kentucky Trout Stocking schedule. This may give some leads:
http://fw.ky.gov/troutsched.asp?lid=615&NavPath=C244

Kentucky Trout Stream Ratings
http://fw.ky.gov/troutclass.asp?lid=885&NavPath=C101C140

Hopefully some folks who live there or have more knowledg of the area will chime in.

Jeff

3

Thanks Jeff - That was helpful. The Tailwater below Laurel River Lake is rated as an excellant stream and it’s close, so that’s a possibility. One of the places we were suppose to visit was Falls of the Cumberland Park and it’s right there so that’s at least I have a starting point. I appreciate the links. Did you get to try that 7 wt. yet?

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Did you get to try that 7 wt. yet

Joe,
Glad the links helped. I did fish it on a local lake a couple days back. The water was far too cold for the bass and bluegill in the lake, but it was good to get out and fish the new rod.

I really like the way it casts. I wasn’t too sure about it lawn castig, but it sure does show its stripes on the water. I was quite accurate with it and it laid the line out quite nicely indeed. I think it’s going to be a keeper.

Let us know how the fishng went.

Jeff

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Joe -

Just picked up your post and wanted to throw in my two cents worth about KY fishing near Levi Jackson State Park.

I mainly fish the Cumberland tail waters, but that has been unavailable to wading for a few weeks due to all the rain and the generators being back on line. If you try to make it over there from Levi Jackson for only one half a day then be thinking that you’ll probably need a boat and it should be ?ready to go? when you get there for any quality time. The gens may be off line by Sunday, but I’m thinking they won’t be. But if you only have 5 hours then I would opt out of that area all together.

BUT - another option is Rock Creek just south west of you. This is a beautiful area and a great little stream to fly fish. I believe it is catch and release only this time of year. But if you go and plan on keeping any trout check the Regs.

It’s do-able from where you will be and the time constraints that you have. But I would suggest if you don’t have a GPS that you have good road maps, and in particular detailed county maps if possible, so you can go from where you are to Rock Creek without getting lost. It’s not hard with good maps, but easy to get on the wrong road without them.

Look at these two web sites for information about Rock Creek and the area where it is located.

http://invictaflies.tripod.com/id157.htm

http://www.southerner.net/v1n4_99/vista4b.html

How to Get to Rock Creek:

DIRECTIONS WHICH I PULLED OFF THE WEB: From the North: If you are coming from points North in Kentucky, travel via HWY 27 South or I-75 South. In both instances, you will get off onto HWY 92 West. This will take you past the town of Stearns. You will eventually cross a bridge that goes over the South Fork of the Cumberland. Immediately after getting off this bridge, turn left onto KY 1363. Follow 1363 till the White Oak Junction, where you will turn left onto Forest Service Road (FS)566. This road runs next to Rock Creek for 7 or 8 miles. At the Bell Farm intersection, turn left onto FS 564 for a mile or so, then another left onto FS 137, which follows the rest of Rock Creek up to its headwaters.

The key to the best part of the creek is to get near “Bell Farm Rd.” From that road to the Tenn. line is the area you want.

ALSO: let me relate my one and only experience with fly fishing the tail waters of Laurel River Lake. I only fished right behind the dam and down stream from there for about a quarter mile. It was very disappointing to say the least. Very hard to fish, steep banks which were hard to maneuver, and the moss on the rocks made it dangerous (really dangerous) unless you have studded wading boots and then you had to watch your step. And I didn’t see the first sign of a trout, but that could be just the toss of the dice for that day. If you decide to fish this area, try to get in touch with someone who has fished it and knows where to go. It may be better further down river.

Good luck and hope you get a chance to see the Rock Creek area. I should add that this is a wilderness area and it is a bit remote.

Good luck?..

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Hey Joe - too bad the Cumberland isn’t in the cards.

Bob was a wonderful host for my morning of fishing down there. Had a blast - beautiful water - landed a couple of fish and left me wanting to go back and fish it again!

Jim

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Bob,

Thanks for the “Rock Creek” info. I’ll look into it but time is my enemy. If I can’t get to some place fairly quickly from the caving site, which turns out is south of Somerset, KY at a place called Sloan Cave, then I might just have to tie flys or read a book (unless there’s a good fly shop in Somerset someone can tell me about!). The other downside is the developing cold front looks like it will push temps way down while we’re there.

But it’s only Tuesday and that gives the weather plenty of time to get even worse!

To my Bud’s Jim and Jeff. Thanks for your replys. Yes Jim I wish we were going to be a bit closer to the Cumberland Tailwater but it will have to be another time. By the way, what’s been developing on the baby front? You’ve been kind of quiet lately, not getting enough sleep?

My best to you all!

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Hey Jim - How are you doing?

Have you been able to get back down to the Cumberland since that initial trip? I’ve been a few times, but retired this past Oct and the “war department” has me doing all kinds of stuff around the house. (It’s really not that bad, but have to keep up the “smoke and mirrors.”)

Besure to let me know when you head back down to the river and we’ll try to get together. I did make a trip to the Cumberland this past fall with a board member who lives in Atlanta, a nice guy named Kevin. He comes to Danville every now and then to visit family.

I think Joe’s out of luck weather wise this Sunday. Supposed to be brutal cold, but if he can stand it Rock Creek is a nice place to fish.

Any fish tales of late that you’d like to share?

Later…

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Joe - Sorry - for some reason I didn’t see your reply to me. Must have had a senior moment. Yeah! It looks like the weather with be very cold Sunday. But south of Somerset puts you very close to the Rock Creek area. You go a little further south to Whitley City and get off 27, and then it’s time to drag out the map. It’s only about 10 miles further, if I remember correctly.

Keep it in mind for the future; it is a really neat area. If you ever get the urge to hit the Cumberland let me know and maybe we can meet for a day fishing. You could drag Ol’ Jim and Jeff along with you as well.

I just retired last Oct and just “looking” for any excuse to head out, so don’t hesitate.

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Sounds like the perfect excuse for a road trip to me!

Jeff

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Bob and Jim, I made it down to the Cumberland the end of December using the directions you provided a couple of months earlier. I tried Helms Landing first, but as you mentioned, they had one or two generators going and wading was not in the cards. I then went up close to the dam and found a great little area that produces some nice 15-18" bows.

I just introduced my son-in-law to fly-fishing and he had a ball. Bob, we came right through Danville on the way down, so if you want to go down at some point, I can pick you up on the way. I’m also semi-retired, so my schedule is pretty flexible. PM me if you are interested. However, I will be in Florida until mid-February.

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Jcampbell - Always interesting in trips to the Cumberland, and will be heading that way when the temps are above 39 degrees and the gens are friendly. When you get back from breathing all the “salty air” you can stand, and you and/or your son-in-law want to make a Cumberland run let me know and we’ll hopefully work something out.

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Thanks Bob,

Congradulations on the retirement. My happiness for you is only superseded by my jealousy. But the good new is I’m not too far behind you. Just five years, eleven months and one day to go! I can see the light!

I’d love to take you up on your offer sometime and I’m sure Jim and Jeff would be up for the oppurtunity as well. In any case thanks again for the assistance. I’ve got to go wake up the boy, we have to be on the road by 9:00 AM. Thanks again.

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Joe,
You’re an hour into your trip. I hope you and your son have a safe and fun trip. Road trips with Danny (my boy) are always a great experience. I hope yours is the same.

Yes I’m up for Cumberland when the weather gets warmer.

Jeff

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Joe - I’m glad to see you’re not counting the minutes. It’ll be here before you know it, and then you’ll be wondering how you ever had time to work.

Hope you and the boy had a great time, inspite of the temps.

Keep in touch and we’ll do the Cumberland on of these days. In fact I think I’ll post a note on your thread here about this coming year and what may happen on the river for the others to see as well.

Tight lines…

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Let’s see… There is Joe, Jim, Jeff, and Jcampbell, that are involved with this thread. I assume that Jcampbell’s first name starts with a J. - Kind of a coincidence.

But anyway it would be great if some or all of the “four J’s” could make a trip or two to the Cumberland next year. The fishing this past year was exceptional at times, and the wading the best I have ever seen. A real shame that both of those conditions were due to serious problems; the Dam leaking, and the drought.

There are rumors that they will raise the lake level a bit next year, which would be great for the Mariners. To what level I don’t know, but any increase in lake level means less generating on the river, especially if there is a lack of rain like this year. If any of that makes sense. But on the other hand, one major rainfall and all that advantage is lost. I’m hoping that it will be another great year for wading, and I?m also hoping that you guys can make a trip or two as well.

Tight lines???.

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Bob, You got “j” first name part right. My first name is John. Would really enjoy fishing with you guys, so let’s get it going.

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Bob,

Sorry to disappoint but it’s 3,108,895 minutes or 186,533,730 seconds. A friend of mine retired last year and gave me a little program that runs on my computer and keeps track for me!

Sounds like all the “J’s” have some interest in coming down and trying the tailwater at the “C”. Looks like we’ll have to do a little coordination and planning and get this on the calander.

As far as the trip went, Ian had a great time. We went to Cumberland Falls on Saturday and the boys boulder hopped and generally had a good time playing around on the rocks. The caving went off with out a hitch. He had great guides who took good care of him and made sure it was a fun experience. I got to hear all of the details when he got back and did my best not to show him how nervous I was about the tight places he told me about (sorry guys, this stuff scares the bejesus out of me! God hasn’t breed the wild horses that could drag me into a cave!).

In any case he had fun, I tied flies and helped the cooks with dinner. I’d have like to have fished but considering how cold it was I don’t think I missed out. After sleeping in an unheated cabin Saturday night in an upper bunk designed by the Spanish Commission on Inquisition, and tested and approved by the Marquis de Sade, I could barely stand upright until about 2:00 PM anyway. Sunday night was a bit better, they made everyone come into the heated lodge and sleep on the floor (with marginally adequate mattresses off the bunks). Seems a prisoner escaped from the local lock up and they wanted everyone centerally located, just in case. About 10 minutes after we all got in the lodge the local police rolled by and told us the bad boy had been captured. Needless to say, I opted to sleep on something warm and flat and was better off for having done it.

Ian had a great time so we’ll be heading down that way again next year for President’s Day weekend. I’ll find out more about Rock Creek before then. Who know’s, maybe the weather will even be warmer. Thanks everyone for the info and recommendations.

Bob - we’ll be in touch on the offer to fish below the dam. Thanks!

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Bob - we’ll be in touch on the offer to fish below the dam. Thanks!

Count this “J” in.

Jeff

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Joe - I had to LOL when I saw your post with the minutes and seconds… I had the same “type” of program at work that ran on “excel” but it only counted the days.

And as far as the four “J’s” are concerned, it would be great if the trip works out to the Cumberland. The “C” is one of my favorite places to fish.

I know I have you guys all pumped up and “rightly” so, if the river is fishable when you come, it’s a great place to play. I hate to throw a little water on the fire, but a word of caution when making plans to fish the Cumberland when a commitment is involved. I don’t know from what distance you would be traveling but keep in mind that this is a generating river and can ruin the best of plans on a moments notice. I would hate to have you guys find yourself in the same situation in which I put a good buddy from SC one May a few years back. He come up and we spent a week at Kendal and neither one of us ever got off the bank all week because of the heavy rain and generators running full bore.

We did fish Rock Creek however and had a great time, which is about an hour drive from Wolf Creek Dam. The Cumberland was a big disappointment because of the conditions, AND I don’t know any way around that concern unless you use boats. We’re always at the mercy of the Rain Gods.

If we have a year like last then you can almost bank on fishing most anytime you want, but that would require another drought, which I really hope we don’t have.

We’ll see how things fall out.