Bam! The angler feels a sudden jerk and the rod tip surges into a dramatic bend. A few cranks on the reel and the surface of the water explodes in a shower of water and a fighting fish. Yes, it's another scene from our state's great smallmouth action.

Kentucky has many streams that offer excellent smallmouth fishing. Trouble is, neither biologists nor anglers know as much about the stream smallies as they would like. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) is working to change that, though.

There has been only a limited amount of management done on smallmouths in our state streams. However, biologists with the KDFWR have started doing various studies to determine the success of spawning, health and longevity, as well as stocking needs and options.

Jeff Ross of the KDFWR said district fisheries biologists have been making a concerted effort to collect as much data as possible on stream smallmouths. Although angling is great now, they hope to be able to better enhance the stream fishery in the future.

The biologists intend to study the streams extensively. They want to identify any problem areas and also which streams are doing well. Information gained from the various research projects will be used to rank the best streams for smallmouths, determine management regulations, and develop stocking strategies.

Biologists know they will find that stocking will be the best fix for some streams. They will be collecting genetic information to determine which particular strains of smallmouths are doing best in individual areas. Some strains of smallmouths may be better suited for a particular type of habitat and water condition. The biologists can then use this genetic information to know what strains of smallmouths to stock in order to ensure the greatest degree of success.

These studies may result in some dramatic new information in the near future. Until then, the KDFWR has an excellent publication available for smallmouth enthusiasts. It covers stream smallmouths in Kentucky and was compiled by Jeff Ross. The publication has much information on our streams, including smallmouth biology, stream locations and accessibility, floating opportunity and fishing tips.

There are dozens of streams where anglers can enjoy smallmouth fishing in Kentucky. The smallmouth publication lists them, as well as highlights the KDFWR's picks for the top 25 best streams. Following is a look at three of our top picks.

ELKHORN CREEK
One of the best-known smallmouth streams in Kentucky is Elkhorn Creek. It has been a favorite with anglers for many years and has received much acclaim. As with most any fishery, the stream has seen up and down years with its smallmouths.