The Cumberland River below Lake Cumberland is one of the premier trout fishing destinations in the southeastern United States. Home to the state record 21-pound brown trout and a 14-pound, 6-ounce rainbow trout, the 75-mile Kentucky portion of the Cumberland tailwater rivals the White River of Arkansas and the Caney Fork in Tennessee.
The Cumberland River gets its start where the Clover Fork, Martin’s Fork and Poor Fork Creeks meet in Harlan Kentucky. The upper Cumberland Basin, from Harlan to Celina, Tennessee, drains roughly 6,400 square miles of land and gathers water from over 7,900 miles of tributary streams and rivers. Cumberland Lake covers 65,530 acres and has 1,255 miles of shoreline. It is impounded by Wolf Creek Dam. The construction of Wolf Creek Dam was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938 and the River Harbor Act of 1946. Construction began in 1941 and was completed in 1951. Our area of focus is the seventy five mile stretch of river flowing from Wolf Creek Dam to the Kentucky / Tennessee State Line. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife stock somewhere between 200,00 and 250,000 Trout Annually in the Cumberland River. Rainbows, Brown, Cutthroat and Brook Trout are distributed all along this amazing seventy-five mile Tailwater.
The Cumberland River is one of the best Trout Fisheries in the Eastern United States right now. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife has done a spectacular job of managing this fishery over the years and it never ceases to amaze me as to the quantity of quality trout that we catch each year on this watershed. The Cumberland is one of the hardest rivers to fish due to its large fluctuation in water flows, so a good fly fishing guide is a great start to wrap your head around this amazing trout fishery. The primary hatches on the Cumberland River are Caddis, Blue Wing Olives, and Sulphurs. There is also a prolific Stone Fly population and what may be one of the best Terrestrial Bites you will see in the Southeast. The scud and the sowbugs populations are also on the comeback with the improved amount of vegetation that has taken root again on the gravel bars.
Wolf Creek Dam, which holds back the waters of Lake Cumberland, unleashes a powerful current that can be dangerous to paddlers. At lower water flows and when the dam is not generating electricity through its turbines, however, the Cumberland is ideal for small boats.
The first 16 miles of water from Lake Cumberland’s Wolf Creek Dam to Winfrey’s Ferry is a great place for canoeists, kayakers and owners of small johnboats to float and fish. A few mildly challenging shoals exist in this stretch, perfect water for beginning canoeists and kayakers to hone their skills.
TBH Olive, Black and Grey Zebra Midges 18,20,22
TBH Standard Pheasant Tails Scud Hook 16,18,20
TBH Jig Pheasant Tails 14,16,18,20
TBH CDC Soft Hackle Pheasant Tails 14,16,18
TBH Walts Worm in Tan and Olive 14,16,18,20
TBH Partridge Soft Hackles Orange, Yellow14,16,18
TBH Pats Rubber Legs Various Sizes and Colors
TBH San Juans in Red 10,12
TBH Mops in Various Colors
TBH Prince Nymphs 12-18
TBH Dark Prince 12-16 tied on a scud hook
TBH Scuds various Colors 12-20
Hotels and Lodging:
Alpine Hotel - Burkesville, Ky. - 270-864-7100
Traces on the Cumberland - Burkesville, Ky. - Brenda Whicker - 270-433-5898
The Cumberland River gets its start where the Clover Fork, Martin’s Fork and Poor Fork Creeks meet in Harlan Kentucky. The upper Cumberland Basin, from Harlan to Celina, Tennessee, drains roughly 6,400 square miles of land and gathers water from over 7,900 miles of tributary streams and rivers. Cumberland Lake covers 65,530 acres and has 1,255 miles of shoreline. It is impounded by Wolf Creek Dam. The construction of Wolf Creek Dam was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938 and the River Harbor Act of 1946. Construction began in 1941 and was completed in 1951. Our area of focus is the seventy five mile stretch of river flowing from Wolf Creek Dam to the Kentucky / Tennessee State Line. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife stock somewhere between 200,00 and 250,000 Trout Annually in the Cumberland River. Rainbows, Brown, Cutthroat and Brook Trout are distributed all along this amazing seventy-five mile Tailwater.
The Cumberland River is one of the best Trout Fisheries in the Eastern United States right now. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife has done a spectacular job of managing this fishery over the years and it never ceases to amaze me as to the quantity of quality trout that we catch each year on this watershed. The Cumberland is one of the hardest rivers to fish due to its large fluctuation in water flows, so a good fly fishing guide is a great start to wrap your head around this amazing trout fishery. The primary hatches on the Cumberland River are Caddis, Blue Wing Olives, and Sulphurs. There is also a prolific Stone Fly population and what may be one of the best Terrestrial Bites you will see in the Southeast. The scud and the sowbugs populations are also on the comeback with the improved amount of vegetation that has taken root again on the gravel bars.
Wolf Creek Dam, which holds back the waters of Lake Cumberland, unleashes a powerful current that can be dangerous to paddlers. At lower water flows and when the dam is not generating electricity through its turbines, however, the Cumberland is ideal for small boats.
The first 16 miles of water from Lake Cumberland’s Wolf Creek Dam to Winfrey’s Ferry is a great place for canoeists, kayakers and owners of small johnboats to float and fish. A few mildly challenging shoals exist in this stretch, perfect water for beginning canoeists and kayakers to hone their skills.
TBH Olive, Black and Grey Zebra Midges 18,20,22
TBH Standard Pheasant Tails Scud Hook 16,18,20
TBH Jig Pheasant Tails 14,16,18,20
TBH CDC Soft Hackle Pheasant Tails 14,16,18
TBH Walts Worm in Tan and Olive 14,16,18,20
TBH Partridge Soft Hackles Orange, Yellow14,16,18
TBH Pats Rubber Legs Various Sizes and Colors
TBH San Juans in Red 10,12
TBH Mops in Various Colors
TBH Prince Nymphs 12-18
TBH Dark Prince 12-16 tied on a scud hook
TBH Scuds various Colors 12-20
Hotels and Lodging:
Alpine Hotel - Burkesville, Ky. - 270-864-7100
Traces on the Cumberland - Burkesville, Ky. - Brenda Whicker - 270-433-5898
Fishing Access Type:
Boat Yes under under safe generation
Kayak Yes under safe generation
Wading Yes under safe generation
Boat Yes under under safe generation
Kayak Yes under safe generation
Wading Yes under safe generation
Fishing Access:
Kendall Campground
Boat Ramp right below the dam
Hatchery Creek Access
Located below hatchery at the dam
Old Kendall Ferry Ramp - See Map Below
River Map
Kendall Campground
Boat Ramp right below the dam
Hatchery Creek Access
Located below hatchery at the dam
Old Kendall Ferry Ramp - See Map Below
River Map
Fishing Style:
Nymph
Midge Larva
Midge Pupae
Terrestrials
Streamers
Nymph
Midge Larva
Midge Pupae
Terrestrials
Streamers
Equipment:
3wt rod to 7wt rod
3wt rod to 7wt rod
Flies:
Hatch Chart
Hatch Chart
Water Flow:
Data
Data
|
Generation Flows to River Areas
1 Generator Hours to: Helms - 1.6 Rockhouse - 4 Winfrey's Ferry - 5 Bakerton Bar - 9 Burkesville - 11 2 Generators Helms - 1 Rockhouse - 2 Winfrey's Ferry - 3 Bakerton Bar - 5 Burkesville - 11 |
Species:
Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout |
Misc. Information: Fishing License
