Stream access is from bridge crossings and through a park immediately downstream of the dam. Below the dam, long riprap banks and a series of artificially formed pools provide anglers access to good trout habitat.

FREE-FLOWING STREAMS
Most of Kentucky's free-flowing brown trout streams are fairly small mountain creeks. Annual stocking rates range from 200 to 700 fish, depending on the length of the section managed for browns and the amount of quality brown trout habitat.

Fishing may be somewhat down on some of the mountain streams this spring, Axon noted. Three major flood events in much of Kentucky's mountainous region likely took a toll on brown trout populations, although no specific surveys have been conducted to show that. Habitat remains good in all the streams and the fisheries will come back after a couple years' stocking classes get added to the mix; however, numbers of larger fish are apt to be somewhat down this year.

Slabcamp and Minor creeks in Rowan County and Chimney Top Creek in Wolfe County are distinctive among the state's brown trout streams by the fact that only browns are stocked in these streams. Slabcamp and Minor are small streams that are part of the headwaters to the North Fork of the Licking River. While access to and casting along these streams gets pretty tight, both tumble through fair amounts of Forest Service land and create nice backcountry-type brown trout opportunities for fishermen.

On Chimney Top, only fingerling brown trout are stocked, and the browns have done very well, according to Axon. He said Chimney Top generally is one of the state's best brown trout streams. Chimney Top Creek is remote and rugged, and access to the stream can only be gained by wading up the creek or hiking. The creek's remoteness, along with the fact that no catchable-sized rainbows get stocked in its waters, keeps fishing pressure quite light. Chimney Top, along with East Fork Indian Creek, is part of the Red River Gorge Natural Area.

The East Fork of Indian Creek, although small, has some big holes scattered along it. The East Fork is stocked annually with 700 brown trout. It also gets stocked heavily with rainbow trout and is part of the popular delayed-harvest program. Although located in a very rugged wilderness-type area, the West Fork of Indian Creek has a Forest Service road running close to it and is easy to access in several places.

Otter Creek in Meade County stands out from most other brown trout streams in a couple of ways. First, it is located in the north-central part of the state, away from any mountains. Also, it flows through Fort Knox. Otter Creek offers good brown trout fishing at times, and also is stocked heavily with rainbows. It is a delayed-harvest stream as well. However, since much of the stream does run through Fort Knox, special permit requirements apply. Call (502) 624-2712 for more information.

Other streams that the KDFWR stocks include Bark Camp Creek, a small tributary of the Upper Cumberland River in Whitley County, Big Caney and Laurel creeks in Elliott County and Trammel Fork in Allen County.

Axon notes that while each stream has unique characteristics, all have been selected because they offer good brown trout habitat, and fishing can be good on each. Anglers, therefore, are wise to try the stream or streams closest to home before moving on to other waters.

BEFORE YOU GO
The Kentucky Sport Fishing & Boating Guide, available from fishing license dealers or online at http://fw.ky.gov/fishboat04.asp, includes a guide to Kentucky trout fishing, which details regulations, stocking figures and other information about trout waters throughout the Commonwealth. The KDFWR Web site www.kdfwr.state.ky.us/ also offers a wealth of additional fishing information.