Goose Creek begins in southeast Clay County, flows north into the town of Manchester, KY, and continues on northeast into the town of Oneida. Upon reaching Oneida, Goose Creek comes to its confluence with Red Bird River and Bullskin Creek to form the South Fork Kentucky River. Goose Creek is a tributary to the South Fork Kentucky River and is located entirely in Clay County. Overall, Goose Creek is a relatively shallow stream, which comprises of both shallow and deeper pools, riffles, and an abundance of rock bars. Goose Creek provides anglers with an excellent opportunity to fish for a variety of species that include: smallmouth bass, rock bass, walleye and muskellunge.
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Goose Creek Access Site to Site Mileages |
| Put In Access Site | Take Out Access Site | Total River Miles |
| Goose Creek Ramp | Rawlings and Stinson Park Ramp | 1.2 |
| Rawlings and Stinson Park Ramp | Jacks/Bowling Branch Bridge Access | 9.1 |
| Jacks/Bowling Branch Bridge Access | Tobacco Road Bridge Ramp | 2.2 |
| Tobacco Road Bridge Ramp | Dump Hollow Ford | 0.8 |
| Dump Hollow Ford | Laurel Branch Road Access | 4.8 |
| Recommended River Levels for Boating/Fishing* |
| Goose Creek @ Manchester, KY |
| Rating | Gauge Height in Feet (ft) |
| Low | <7.4 ft |
| Good | 7.4-8.5 ft |
| High | >8.5 ft |
|
| Goose Creek @ Manchester, KY |
| Rating | Flow in cubic feet per second (cfs) |
| Low | <175 cfs |
| Good | 175-514 cfs |
| High | >514 cfs |
*These ratings are only recommendations. Skill and experience will dictate levels appropriate for each angler.
Goose Creek Public Access Site Descriptions
Goose Creek Ramp:
(Additional Information/Directions)
This single lane concrete ramp is located in Manchester, KY, directly south of the 2nd street bridge just off of Railroad Ave next to the District 11 Kentucky Transportation Cabinet building. Parking near the ramp is limited and please be mindful not to park on the paved trail. Amenities at this site include a covered shelter along with several picnic tables, please be mindful of the property and properly dispose of any trash that you may have in a proper trash receptacle or taken out with you when you leave. This site is best suited for small boats, canoes, and kayaks.
Rawlings and Stinson Park Ramp:
(Additional Information/Directions)
This single lane concrete ramp is located on the north side of Manchester, KY, just east of Richmond Rd on the north side of Memorial Drive directly across from Rawlings Stinson Park. Paved parking is available right above the ramp. However, spots are limited and if you choose to park off the gravel drive please be mindful of the grass and keep all vehicles and trailers clear of the road. Amenities at this site include a walking track, playground, gazebo, covered stage and several large shelter houses with grills. This site is suitable for boats, canoes and kayaks. Caution should be taken when floating downstream as a low head dam is located 1.3 miles downstream of the ramp. Some bank fishing is available along the ramp as well as within the park boundaries.
Jacks/Bowling Branch Bridge Access:
(Additional Information/Directions)
This gravel/dirt access is situated next to the Phil Young road bridge crossing. It is located 4.2 miles off of US-421 N/Richmond Rd and is 6.6 miles northeast of Manchester and 9.2 miles southwest of Oneida. Parking is limited to the side of the road at this site. This site is suitable for canoes and kayaks. There are no other amenities at this location.
Tobacco Road Bridge Ramp:
(Additional Information/Directions)
This gravel/dirt road access is located on the downstream side of the Frazier/Tobacco road bridge. It is located less than a half a mile off of KY-11 N near Tanksley and is 10.1 miles northeast of Manchester and 7.1 miles southwest of Oneida. Parking is limited to the area downstream of the bridge and side of the road. This site is suitable for small boats, canoes and kayaks. There are no other amenities at this location.
Dump Hollow Ford:
(Additional Information/Directions)
At this access site a gravel road fords the creek during low flow periods. Parking is very limited but during periods of low flow additional parking is available on the gravel bar. During periods of high flow caution should be taken as it can be difficult or dangerous to ford the river or to turn a vehicle around on this narrow road. This site provides anglers with the opportunity to bank and wade fish directly around the ford crossing. This site is suitable for small boats, canoes and kayaks. There are no other amenities at this location.
Laurel Branch Road Access:
(Additional Information/Directions)
This gravel/dirt road access is located 14.0 miles north of Manchester and 5.8 miles south of Oneida. Parking is limited at this access point. Bank fishing is available here, however, it is limited to the access site as adjacent property is privately owned. This site is suitable for canoes and kayaks. There are no amenities available at this location.
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Fisheries Overview
The following length frequencies are representative of the top 4 species sampled in Goose Creek from 2018.
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