Since this area is well-known for outdoors activities like hiking and camping, there are several related businesses there. You might ask some of the owners about the trout fishing and get some good tips of spots to try. It's surprising how much of a wilderness trout-fishing trip you can wind up on in this, one of Kentucky's most scenic and geographically interesting areas for outdoor recreation.

MIDDLE FORK OF THE RED RIVER
Another of the larger streams, the Middle Fork of the Red River runs through Powell and Wolfe counties. The Middle Fork is just south of the East Fork of Indian Creek, and meanders through the Natural Bridge State Park grounds.

Within the park is 2.2 miles of the river under the delayed-harvest trout regulation. One advantage to fishing this stream is that park boundaries mark where the special regulations apply, and it's not too hard to know where you are. Of course, if you want an extended weekend trip, you can stay at the park and literally be right there. Once inside the park, you'll have no "permission to fish" worries whether you're in the water or along the bank. And chances are, the park employees will have some reliable information about accessing the river, good locations, and what type of fishing methods might work best.

The Red River's Middle Fork is stocked with 5,000 rainbow trout in March, April, May and October. That should make April and May the top months when more fish should be available, and water conditions most likely excellent for fishing this river.

If you want to try corn and cheese, salmon eggs, worms or other organic or live bait in the summer months, this isn't a bad place to do it. Although the park may have tourists there day in and day out, it's doubtful that they realize this fishery is there. Chances are small they've come prepared to take advantage of it. In other words, the stream's banks shouldn't be lined with people, though the fishery is much more accessible than on many other streams.

Out of a total of almost 50 creeks and rivers where trout can survive, KDFWR biologists have selected this stream for its special, higher-quality fishing experience.

The delayed-harvest management is specifically designed to appeal to anglers who like to pursue larger fish, but don't have the ability or desire to do so in a big-water setting where a boat is required -- say, somewhere like the Lake Cumberland tailwaters.