Hatchery Creek

Equipment & Notes

• TFO 3 wt Drift rod 10′ setup  loaded with Scientific Angler Mastery MPX 3 wt line.
• There are a couple decent top water spots to throw a #16-24 dry fly solo or behind a #12-14 dry fly acting as an indicator
• Streamers are effective and seeing the take of a large fly is awesome
• Nymphing is my most productive method making it hard to switch to a different tactic
• Catch & Release – ONLY

 

 

 

 

Hatchery Creek was featured in  American Angler, fly fishing magazine back in 2017, check it out!

 

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Hatchery Creek

50 Kendall Rd, Jamestown, KY 42629

Just below the Wolf Creek Dam sits the Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, home to a long-time public take and keep “trout stream” that was polluting the Cumberland River with sediment! The solution, a completely man-made trout stream giving us locals a taste of a  trout paradise right here in Kentucky! The next few years will be interesting as this creek continues to evolve.

 

If solitude is what you seek your best bet is somewhere else! I can guarantee you will be fished on top of at least once if you fish this creek enough! If you want to see how crowded the “catch and keep section” is check out a webcam the hatchery installed!

 

Everything below the migration barrier, the large waterfall marking the end of the “catch and keep section” where the nice concrete pads end is obviously the start of the CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY SECTION, USING ARTIFICIAL FLIES AND LURES ONLY! 

 

Park at the hatchery and walk down to the public section or head to the annex parking area and walk to the creek via road or trail! There are plenty of areas to fish so put on your hiking boots (or your snake boots in the summer) and head out to find some trout!

 

Rainbows, browns, and brook trout are targets in this creek. I’ve caught one of each, two species in a day but never a trifecta. I’ve also landed a few cutbow looking rainbows.

 

Spawning reds have been evident and catching some small trout isn’t uncommon! Get familiar with a spawning bed (Redd) and for no reason should you ever walk across them! This creek is narrow, wading the creek isn’t always necessary but if you do please keep your eyes out for any redds!

 

Nymphing seems to be the most productive tactic, especially the euro style for some anglers. I’ve seen small hatch like activity, mostly on rainy gloomy mornings and have had plenty of top water and wet fly success. Streamers are effective and very fun to fish, especially if the bite is visible!

 

A stealthy approach and getting your fly down in the water seem to play a large role in determining success on this creek. Be sure to have a good feel for your reel and its drag system as you’re typically utilizing the smaller sized leader/tippet material. The creek is skinny and full of debris and the larger trout will not hesitate to run you straight into it!

 

Being tail-water fed the flows are consistent all year round, including a weekly hatchery raceway flush out cleaning. I’ve heard its usually Monday or Tuesday.

 

It will be very exciting to watch this creek develop from bare rocks to a flourishing mat of bug filled vegetation, I wonder if the trout will ever target those massive top water hoppers!