Photo by Ron Sinfelt.

Not often do waters become known as "trophy" fisheries. There are so many factors involved in creating -- and then maintaining -- a favorable environment to grow consistently big fish that it's unusual for a lake or river to earn that reputation.

First of all, before any fishery can be tweaked and managed for optimum production, Mother Nature has to deal the water a good hand. If you don't have that base to work from, managing for trophy fish won't be as effective. Habitat, good water conditions, forage and weather patterns also play a role in getting the most out of an established fishery.

In recent years, the portion of the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam in south-central Kentucky has blossomed into perhaps the highest-quality rainbow and brown trout fishery in the southeastern United States.

All the necessary characteristics are present in the environment, and the management has been right on target for the delicate balance required to create trophy trout.

Dave Dreves is a research fishery biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) who monitors the Lake Cumberland tailwater trout fishery.

"Our most recent data," he said, "indicates that our catch rate for quality trout in the Cumberland River puts us right there with more well-known fisheries, such as the White River in Arkansas, for example."

Why is this portion of the Cumberland River better for trout than anywhere else in Kentucky? According to Dreves, the primary reason is the supply constant of cold water from the lake. This becomes vitally important during the summer months, when ambient air temperatures usually warm the water in most rivers and streams above the 70-degree mark.

Above that point, it's pretty hard to grow trophy trout. In temperatures in the high 60s, trout begin to suffer stress. When the mid-70s arrive, that stress leads to death pretty quickly. But not so in the Cumberland River.

To get an idea of how crucial the coldwater factor is, you only have to look at this past summer's drought. The drastic lack of rainfall caused a reduction in the amount of water that could be released downstream from the lake.

While the drawdown continues for dam repairs on Cumberland, taking the lake level any lower than it already was just wasn't a good option.