Top TROUT REGULATIONS
EXCEPTIONS
On the Dix River (Herrington Lake tailwaters), fishing is permitted with artificial baits only. Live or organic bait may not be possessed while fishing this two-mile section of Dix River. The only public access to Dix River below Herrington Dam is via the Kentucky River.
The Cumberland River below Lake Cumberland from the Wolf Creek Dam downstream to the Tennessee state line is a trophy brown trout area. A 20-inch minimum size limit and a one fish daily creel limit applies to brown trout. A 15- to 20-inch protective slot limit on rainbow trout is in effect for the same section of the Cumberland River. All rainbow trout caught between 15 and 20 inches must be immediately released. Only one rainbow trout of the five fish daily creel limit may be longer than 20 inches. Brook trout have a 1 fish daily creel limit with 15-inch minimum size limit. All anglers on this section of the Cumberland River, including all tributary streams up to the first riffle and all of Hatchery Creek, must now possess a valid Kentucky trout permit (regardless of species sought). Anglers may not chum or cull trout.
On Hatchery Creek in Russell County, the upper section as designated by signs has a 5 trout aggregate daily creel limit. The newly constructed lower section is open for catch and release only for all trout species and only artificial baits may be used.
The lower boundary of the lower section of Hatchery Creek is delineated as a straight line between opposite points where Hatchery Creek meets the main stem of the Cumberland River.
Get permission
Many of the streams listed in this guide are located on, or adjacent to, privately owned lands. Anyone entering upon or crossing private property must have the permission of the land owner.
On Paint Creek in Johnson County (Paintsville Lake tailwater), there is a 16-inch minimum size limit and one fish daily creel limit on trout from the KY 40 bridge downstream to the first U.S. 460 bridge crossing. Only artificial baits may be used.
On Chimney Top Creek, including Right Fork Chimney Top Creek (Wolfe County), there is a 16-inch minimum size limit and one fish daily creel limit for brown trout and only artificial baits may be used.
On Trammel Creek in Allen County, there is a 16-inch minimum size limit and a one fish daily creel limit on brown trout and a five fish daily creel limit on rainbow trout. There is no harvest of trout during the catch and release season from Oct. 1 through March 31.
Top TROUT STOCKING STREAMS
The streams listed in this section are stocked with rainbow trout by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during the months indicated. Brown trout are stocked once each year for a put-grow-take fishery. All trout are produced at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery. View monthly trout stockings here.
Q: Where can you find out about upcoming trout stockings?
A: Click Here
CATCH AND RELEASE STREAMS
Some streams indicated in the table have a catch and release season (no harvest) from October 1 through March 31, except in Swift Camp Creek where the catch and release season is October 1 through May 31. Only artificial baits may be used during the catch and release season and all trout caught must be immediately released.
Top STREAMS
| STATEWIDE STREAMS |
County |
Total
Rainbows |
Months |
Total
Browns |
Catch and Release
(No Harvest) Season |
| Bark Camp Creek* |
Whitley |
3,750 |
3,4,5,6,10 |
500 |
Oct. 1 - Mar. 31; 3.9 miles |
| Beaver Creek |
Wayne |
1,500 |
4,5,10 |
|
Oct. 1 - Mar. 31; Hwy 90 bridge upstream to Hwy 200 bridge– 2.8 miles |
| Big Bone Creek |
Boone |
1,200 |
4,5,10 |
|
Oct. 1 - Mar. 31; inside the Big Bone Lick State Park – 2.1 miles |
| Big Caney Creek |
Elliott |
2,500 |
4,5,10 |
250 |
|
| Cane Creek* |
Laurel |
3,750 |
3,4,5,6,10 |
|
Oct. 1 - Mar. 31; 6.6 miles |
| Casey Creek |
Trigg |
8,000 |
2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
|
Oct. 1 - Mar. 31; 3.6 miles |
| Chimney Top Creek* |
Wolfe |
|
6 |
450 |
|
| Clear Creek |
Bell |
1,200 |
4,10 |
|
Oct. 1 - Mar. 31; Hwy 190 bridge down stream to mouth – 4.5 miles |
| Craney Creek* |
Rowan |
1,000 |
10 |
|
|
| East Fork, Indian Creek* |
Menifee |
4,500 |
3,4,5,10 |
400 |
Oct. 1 - Mar. 31; 5.3 miles |
| East Fork, Little Sandy River |
Boyd |
400 |
4 |
|
|
| Elk Spring Creek |
Wayne |
1,600 |
4,5,6,10 |
|
Oct. 1 - Mar. 31; 2.8 miles |
| Floyds Fork |
Jefferson |
3,600 |
3,4,10 |
|
Oct. 1 - Mar. 31; US 60 downstream to
US 150 - 20 miles |
| Goose Creek |
Casey |
1,000 |
4,5 |
|
|
| Greasy Creek |
Leslie |
400 |
4 |
|
|
| Hatchery Creek (upper) |
Russell |
27,000 |
monthly |
|
|
| Jennings Creek |
Warren |
7,000 |
3,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
500 |
|
| Laurel Creek |
Elliott |
2,750 |
4,5,10 |
250 |
|
| Left Fork, Beaver Creek |
Floyd |
1,200 |
4,5,10 |
|
Oct. 1 - Mar. 31; Hwy 122 bridge upstream – 3.6 miles |
| Looney Creek |
Harlan |
1,500 |
4,5,10 |
700 |
|
| Lynn Camp Creek |
Hart |
2,500 |
4,5,6,7,10 |
|
|
| Middle Fork, Red River* |
Powell/Wolfe |
3,000 |
3,4,5,10 |
|
Oct. 1 - Mar. 31; inside of Natural Bridge State Park – 2.2 miles |
| North Fork, Triplett Creek* |
Rowan |
1,050 |
3,4,5 |
|
|
Otter Creek, Fort Knox
Otter Creek ORA |
Meade |
7,500
7,500 |
3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
2,3,4,5,10,11 |
500
(fort only) |
Oct. 1 - Mar. 31; Ft. Knox Military Reservation and Otter Creek ORA – 9.7 miles |
| Raven Creek |
Harrison |
400 |
4 |
|
|
| Right Fork, Beaver Creek |
Floyd |
1,200 |
4,5,10 |
|
|
| Right Fork, Buffalo Creek |
Owsley |
500 |
4,5 |
|
|
| Rock Creek* |
McCreary |
15,600 |
3,4,5,6,9,10,11,12 |
|
Oct. 1 - Mar. 31; Bell Farm bridge upstream to Tennessee border – 9.8 miles |
| Round Stone Creek |
Hart |
2,800 |
4,5,6,7, 8, 9,10 |
200 |
|
| Royal Springs |
Scott |
1,200 |
5, 6,7 |
|
|
| Russell Fork |
Pike |
2,250 |
4,5,10 |
|
|
| Sinking Creek |
Breckinridge |
1,200 |
4,5,6 |
|
|
| Station Camp Creek |
Estill |
050 |
4 |
|
|
| Sturgeon Creek |
Lee |
400 |
4 |
|
|
| Sulphur Spring Creek |
Simpson |
3,000 |
4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
200 |
|
| Swift Camp Creek* |
Wolfe |
1,000 |
4,10 |
|
Oct. 1 - May 31; within Clifty Wilderness Area – 8.0 miles |
| Trammel Creek |
Allen |
8,750 |
4,5,6,7,8,9,10 |
600 |
Oct. 1 - Mar. 31 - 4.4 miles |
| Triplett Creek |
Rowan |
1,200 |
3,4,5 |
|
|
| War Fork* |
Jackson |
2,500 |
3,4,5,6,10 |
|
|
| West Hickman Creek (Veteran's Park) |
Fayette |
1,000 |
2,10 |
|
|
| *Daniel Boone National Forest stream; stockings are not announced. |
Top TAILWATERS
Leave a note
When planning a boating trip, leave a note, or float plan, with someone to let them know where you are. Include your departure and expected return times, the waters where you will be boating, a description and/or license number of the vessel and where you can be reached in case of emergency.
The following tailwaters receive rainbow and brown trout. Stocking begins in spring and continues into the late fall; monthly totals will vary. Monthly schedules are available through Kentucky Fish and Wildlife by calling 1-800-858-1549 or clicking here.
| TAILWATERS |
Total Rainbows |
Total Browns |
Months |
| Buckhorn |
5,000 |
0 |
4,5,6,10,11 |
| Carr Creek |
5,000 |
0 |
4,5,6,10,11 |
| Cave Run |
6,800 |
0 |
4,5,6,10,11 |
| Cumberland* |
161,000 |
38,000 |
4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 |
| Dewey |
4,000 |
0 |
4,5,10,11 |
| Fishtrap |
10,000 |
0 |
4,5,6,10,11 |
| Grayson |
5,000 |
0 |
4,5,6,10,11 |
| Herrington |
4,500 |
1,000 |
1, 3,5,7,11 |
| Laurel River |
500 |
250 |
3,4,5,6,10 |
| Martins Fork |
3,750 |
0 |
4,5,6,10,11 |
| Nolin River |
9,000 |
0 |
4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 |
| Paintsville |
20,000 |
300 |
4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 |
| Taylorsville |
3,000 |
0 |
4,5,6,11 |
| Yatesville |
2,250 |
0 |
4,5,11 |
| *Stocking dates for Cumberland River (Lake Cumberland tailwater) will not be announced. Also, triploid rainbow and brook trout are stocked in March. |
THREAT TO TROUT FISHERIES
The invasive algae known as Didymo(Didymosphenia geminata) recently appeared in the Cumberland River (Lake Cumberland tailwater). Didymo, native to northern Europe and Canada, is a white, gray, light brown or beige mass on the stream bottom that resembles shag carpet. Didymo can choke the stream bottom with mats that cover up native plants and crowd out native insects that trout need for food. To prevent the spread of Didymo into other Kentucky tailwaters and streams, anglers who fish the Cumberland River and out-of-state waterways should:
- Inspect all wading gear and boat hulls, livewells, lower units and trailers for any vegetation after leaving the water and remove.
- If algae or vegetation is discovered later, 1. disinfect with a 2 percent solution of household bleach or, 2. a 5 percent solution of salt or, 3. you may also soak in undiluted vinegar. 4. Allow to air dry for at least 2 days.