ADVERTISEMENT

Fly Fishing/ Fishing in general Thread

Just moved up close to Lexington from East Tennessee. Are there any good trout streams/rivers within an hour or 2?
My favorite is smaller decently easy to wade water for fly fishing.
 
Yes. Several.

Otter Creek
Red River Gorge area
Hatchery Creek/ Cumberland River
Dix River
Several others eastern part of the state.

Follow the Wolfe Creek Hatchery on fb for stocking info.


Hatchery is on fire. I had a great day there Saturday. Mostly nymphing but busted one rising, on an elk hair, after about 50 casts.
 
  • Like
Reactions: artesiacat
Just moved up close to Lexington from East Tennessee. Are there any good trout streams/rivers within an hour or 2?
My favorite is smaller decently easy to wade water for fly fishing.

Listing of waterbodies w/ rainbows: FINs is Fishing in Neighborhoods lakes.

Stockings this month.

The Cumberland Lake tailwaters by far have the most stockings. A man made steam is now below the hatchery , what I assume was just the cold water outflow when I was there last.
There's a campground below the dam and you can always go fishing above the dam for bass, striper , crappie etc. after hitting your limit.
Be careful fishing the river below the Wolf Creek Dam, when they are generating power the water will come up,
 
Last edited:
Hard to imagine a better morning to be on the water. Small bass were very aggressive. 27 total fish (23 bass, 2 crappie and 2 trout) between me and pops. Nothing of any notable size but I'll never sneeze at a morning where you catch one after the other.
 
Try to go to northern Manitoba every year and fish for big pike and walleye. We fly in to a remote outpost and get picked up 8 days later. My biggest Pike is 44 inches. Fishing is stupid there. 100+ fish a day are not uncommon. Of course with the border being shut down, we didn't get to go last year. This year is looking doubtful.
 
We are at our summer place in Western Carolina and my brother who loves Fly fishing is coming down in June to hit some of the streams and rivers here. He wants me to go and I've never fly fished in my life
I'm in love with it. Consuming every ounce I can find. Since it's a sport with a ton of analytical minded dorks, there's endless amounts of material. Hell, there's a hundred or more highly produced YT channels. I find a new one every week.
 
Been struggling early this year with only 3 bass in 6 fishing days but, that changed today with 6 caught out of 12 hooked. First three got away because the spur on the hook on my plastic worm was broken (gone) so, the hook was easy to spit out. Proceeded to hook 9 after that and landed 6. Wife wanted some fresh fish so, I brought 5 home for her to filet. Picture below in the cooler are the 5.

 
Been struggling early this year with only 3 bass in 6 fishing days but, that changed today with 6 caught out of 12 hooked. First three got away because the spur on the hook on my plastic worm was broken (gone) so, the hook was easy to spit out. Proceeded to hook 9 after that and landed 6. Wife wanted some fresh fish so, I brought 5 home for her to filet. Picture below in the cooler are the 5.

Have you tried the kayak outriggers out yet?
 
No, every time I try to get out on calm days I would have to cancel. Have had a lot of wind lately.
We're in East TN until the end of June and I'm having withdrawals. It's been in the 50s and 60s here with rain and/or wind on many days.
 
I'm in love with it. Consuming every ounce I can find. Since it's a sport with a ton of analytical minded dorks, there's endless amounts of material. Hell, there's a hundred or more highly produced YT channels. I find a new one every week.
Went today, my brother hired us a guide. I caught 6 and my brother caught 4. Funny thing is, he's an experienced fly fisherman and i had never went before today. What a blast! I can see spending several hundo on fly fishing in the near future
 
Going out for a short time in the morning early tomorrow but will have to come back to the house and say goodbye to FIL who flies back to FLA at 1400. Have not fished since he came in from Florida Tuesday last week. Having those withdrawals JD was posting about previously.😬😣
 
  • Like
Reactions: JDHoss
Really odd we don't have one of these threads. Let's get one rolling. Good place to discuss all things fishing be it stories, techniques, gear, trips, whatever.

I'm really new to Fly Fishing, we have any local pros here? Looking for as much advice, resources, and local fishing(Central Ky).
Grew up in SWVA trout fishing. Still go back to trout fish Big Tumbling twice a year. Cherokee, NC is a nice experience to go trout fishing too. A lot of different kinds of stream for different applications. Wide open areas for working a fly rod, falls and Rapids, deep slow moving holes even roadside ponds handicap accessible. Plenty of fish, even during the heat of Summer.
I used to mostly fish bass tournaments locally on Laurel and Cumberland. That lasted about 10 yrs till I got burnt out. Now I'm into topwater Spring bite for Stripers and Walleye on Cumberland, Hybrids on Barren River Lake. Crappie and Catfish at night through Summer. I still Bass fish at night too usually a few times a year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: warrior-cat
I got out early yesterday on the incoming tide in Estero Bay and lipped 8 snook 20-25 inch and a couple mangrove snapper. Was hoping for another tank redfish but no luck. Water looked really good, guess the red tide is gone (for now).
I'm coming back there in a month or so. Usually slay those mangrove off bunche beach bay. But the mosquitos usually slay me...lol
 
Got up early yesterday, drove to Eastern Ky and took dad out on the lake for Father's Day. Bass/crappie were hitting early but went deeper as it warmed up. If it wasn't for the weekly Sunday backup on 75N coming back, I'd head down just about every weekend.
 
Have a drift boat guide Sunday on Cumberland River. It looks to be fishing really well. @TheShowKiller was there this weekend and they were slaying em.

Haven't been out since I got back from Montana. Anxious isn't even the word.
We went as a group Fri, Sat and Sun mornings and Sat/Sun we caught probably 30+ with my BIL getting a 22 inch rainbow. This is our second time going with my family and it's such a cool place we are talking about making it a bi-yearly trip, one with kids and the other just adults.

The men usually wade and fly fish while the kids fish from the bank or boats with spinning rods, which means we have to stop periodically to net a fish they catch or untangle a line.

It's such a beautiful and unique river...and dangerous if you don't know what you are doing (my FIL has been going for 20 years so he knows the place well and serves as our guide).

I'm just a beginner fly fisherman, still learning the lingo and technique but I did much better this time than my first. I've been bass and bluegill fishing my entire life and I really enjoy it but there is nothing like catching a nice trout on a fly rod, you have to do so much correctly from presentation to timing to having the discipline not to muscle the fish.

It's a great sport and I look forward to learning more and teaching my son.
 
Going bass fishing tomorrow morning as the weather has cooled down a bit for the next couple of mornings. Summer around here gets too hot to do much fishing but, when the opportunity present its self being retired I try to take advantage.
 
We went as a group Fri, Sat and Sun mornings and Sat/Sun we caught probably 30+ with my BIL getting a 22 inch rainbow. This is our second time going with my family and it's such a cool place we are talking about making it a bi-yearly trip, one with kids and the other just adults.

The men usually wade and fly fish while the kids fish from the bank or boats with spinning rods, which means we have to stop periodically to net a fish they catch or untangle a line.

It's such a beautiful and unique river...and dangerous if you don't know what you are doing (my FIL has been going for 20 years so he knows the place well and serves as our guide).

I'm just a beginner fly fisherman, still learning the lingo and technique but I did much better this time than my first. I've been bass and bluegill fishing my entire life and I really enjoy it but there is nothing like catching a nice trout on a fly rod, you have to do so much correctly from presentation to timing to having the discipline not to muscle the fish.

It's a great sport and I look forward to learning more and teaching my son.
You need to get me out there with him. I would love it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheShowKiller
Was searching for this thread. It's my hobby of choice. Gonna head out to Broad Run Park this evening and wade for some smallies. I'm going to have to walk a bit to get away from the crowds of people that will be swimming/kayaking.

Once this weather starts cooling off I will be down at Peabody a few times to camp with some buddies with hopes of bringing back some gills and crappie. Caught a shit ton at various spots earlier in the spring. Freezer still stocked pretty good but that'll change next week when I have a large fry for the family.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Blue_2_the_bone
Have a drift boat guide Sunday on Cumberland River. It looks to be fishing really well. @TheShowKiller was there this weekend and they were slaying em.

Haven't been out since I got back from Montana. Anxious isn't even the word.
Take you a canoe trip on Big South Fork. Good fishing to be had as well as camping. It's very primitive and dangerous in spots if the water is too high. Watch out for the bears as well so make sure you pack some spray and possibly a pistol. Station Camp to Blue Heron is a good trip. It's 19 miles I believe. Wish I would've portaged at Devils Jump. That was pretty damn scary as I'm not proficient in canoeing. But I'd go back in a heartbeat.
 
  • Like
Reactions: anthonys735
We went as a group Fri, Sat and Sun mornings and Sat/Sun we caught probably 30+ with my BIL getting a 22 inch rainbow. This is our second time going with my family and it's such a cool place we are talking about making it a bi-yearly trip, one with kids and the other just adults.

The men usually wade and fly fish while the kids fish from the bank or boats with spinning rods, which means we have to stop periodically to net a fish they catch or untangle a line.

It's such a beautiful and unique river...and dangerous if you don't know what you are doing (my FIL has been going for 20 years so he knows the place well and serves as our guide).

I'm just a beginner fly fisherman, still learning the lingo and technique but I did much better this time than my first. I've been bass and bluegill fishing my entire life and I really enjoy it but there is nothing like catching a nice trout on a fly rod, you have to do so much correctly from presentation to timing to having the discipline not to muscle the fish.

It's a great sport and I look forward to learning more and teaching my son.
It is a dangerous river for sure. When I was 11 years old, my dad flipped a small boat upside down a few miles north of Burkesville, throwing me about 30 feet and my brother under the boat. Luckily, my mom insisted on us wearing life jackets, or I wouldn’t be here. My dad gathered us to the upside down boat, told us to hold on, and we paddled our feet to get to the bank. This was mid-February, 1971. Coldest I’ve ever been in my life. I’m a lucky man.
 
  • Like
  • Wow
Reactions: BC_Wader and JDHoss
We slayed them last month on that guided trip. Going to do a few more to learn the river, as it can be pretty dangerous, but north of 30 each. Several >20". Caught all three Brook, Brown and Bows. Mostly bows.


Got exposed again sight fishing for tailing red fish. That's so hard. Really need to work on my casting. Managed a couple bites but none in the boat. Did manage to land a loggerhead turtle on the fly rod, which was really odd.


Headed out for stipers in a few weeks with 80. We're going to put a monster on deck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ace on the river
Fished Lake Barkley above the dam this past Saturday. Caught Channel Cats, Smallmouths and a few Saugers. Jim Doom was our guide. Dude is an expert. Highly recommended.
I'd like to catch and cook some sauger. It's pretty much a walleye and while I haven't fished for that species, I have ate some and it was fantastic. As good or better than crappie. In preference of taste I'd go 1. Walleye 2. Crappie 3. Bluegill. Good on ya man. I'm a bit jealous right now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AustinTXCat
Fished Lake Barkley above the dam this past Saturday. Caught Channel Cats, Smallmouths and a few Saugers. Jim Doom was our guide. Dude is an expert. Highly recommended.
Some buddies of mine and I went fishing with him several times during the past 12 years or so - great guide and down to earth. We tore up some hybrids, channels, and stripers on the tail waters at Barkley/KY Lake dams. He worked hard and knew what he was doing.
Small world!
 
  • Love
Reactions: AustinTXCat
If you want a great fishing trip head to the Norfork and White River in Arkansas. Caught an 8lb Brown trout there in June below Norfolk Dam. They have been going on these trips for 17 years and it was the largest trout that has been caught so far. We take two trips there each year. We have the best guides on the river. There have been days that we catch between 50-100 fish a day, that on the best days. I have caught, Rainbows, Brown's, Cutthroat, Brook, Cutbow and even caught a Golden Trout. Greatest fishing trips I have ever been on!!!! Also you will be able to see so many Bald Eagles!! I just hope GOD gives me a few more years to go with my friends, at 72 years old not sure how much longer I can go with my friends
 
Was searching for this thread. It's my hobby of choice. Gonna head out to Broad Run Park this evening and wade for some smallies. I'm going to have to walk a bit to get away from the crowds of people that will be swimming/kayaking.

Once this weather starts cooling off I will be down at Peabody a few times to camp with some buddies with hopes of bringing back some gills and crappie. Caught a shit ton at various spots earlier in the spring. Freezer still stocked pretty good but that'll change next week when I have a large fry for the family.
BC, I know this is old thread, but what part of Peabody did you go to? Live in the Berg, hunted and fished old Gibraltar coal mines all my life until it shut down, they stock one lake at the old Sinclair mines with Rainbows now
 
  • Like
Reactions: BC_Wader
BC, I know this is old thread, but what part of Peabody did you go to? Live in the Berg, hunted and fished old Gibraltar coal mines all my life until it shut down, they stock one lake at the old Sinclair mines with Rainbows now
Have been to Central City a few times, but anymore I just go to Beaver Dam. I got some good holes out there. I'm a wax worm/jig fisherman. All my buddies exclusively use crickets or crawlers but the waxies and jigs slay the panfish at a much higher rate IMO. We usually hit the Ken Lake area. Some fantastic fishing out there. You go to a pit with a lake/pond mindset you'll still catch them, but you gotta adjust for the much deeper water and steep banks. I absolutely love that area. I know it like the back of my hand.
 
Try to go to northern Manitoba every year and fish for big pike and walleye. We fly in to a remote outpost and get picked up 8 days later. My biggest Pike is 44 inches. Fishing is stupid there. 100+ fish a day are not uncommon. Of course with the border being shut down, we didn't get to go last year. This year is looking doubtful.
We hit up Eardley Lake, Manitoba in August ‘22. You really are spoiled up there with numerous pike and walleye, caught pike for fun and ate walleye every night. My biggest pike was a 40’, caught while trolling the edge of a weed bed with a ShadRap. Who is your outfitter? We used Jackson’s. Can’t wait to go back.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AustinTXCat
We hit up Eardley Lake, Manitoba in August ‘22. You really are spoiled up there with numerous pike and walleye, caught pike for fun and ate walleye every night. My biggest pike was a 40’, caught while trolling the edge of a weed bed with a ShadRap. Who is your outfitter? We used Jackson’s. Can’t wait to go back.
I've been all over. We have been to Ganglers, Big Sand, Bolton, We fished Molson lake for years till they closed. Next year we are going to an Outpost out of Bolton lake Lodge called Joint Lake.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bcw1029
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT