"We're on an excellent trend upward for more higher quality fish. The low, clear water of last summer gave us a higher algae content. That may have also helped create more food availability, and the trout probably actually benefited from that."

Last fall, Dreves says, the drought might have possibly caused a natural brown trout spawn. Under normal conditions, natural spawns for either species don't happen because daily water levels are up and down. This constant fluctuation wreaks havoc on the laying and fertilizing of eggs.

"It would be great if we got a natural spawn," Dreves said. "But the probability of having wild trout is pretty low. There's even a chance rainbows might have spawned, but we'll wait and see."

He attributes an upswing in bigger rainbows over the last two years to the slot limit the agency imposed in 2004. The slot protects the 15- to 20-inch rainbows from harvest, and lets anglers keep five under 15 inches and one over 20 inches. Based on growth rates, Dreves suspects it will take another two years to fully realize how the slot will improve the average-sized rainbow being caught.

"It takes about five years for a rainbow to reach 15 inches in the Cumberland River," he said. "So for us to see how many more fish 15 inches or larger we can expect in the population should be known after a couple more growing cycles."

"What we've seen the first three years is pretty encouraging so far, and I believe trout fishermen are really going to enjoy having more large rainbows to catch than in past years."

For trophy browns and rainbows, no other place in Kentucky can match what you'll find along the Cumberland River.

HOT TIPS
Trout angler Lee McClellan has fished the river often with good success for rainbows and browns. He recommends choosing days that are overcast with maybe a little light rain dimpling the surface.

For big browns or rainbows, his top trout-catching lure is a Yo-Zuri Pins minnow jerkbait.

"I have particularly good luck on the green-backed, silver version or the baby-brook-trout patterns. But others work well, too.