These larger fish are ones that have eluded anglers in the put-and-take section and moved downstream and continued to grow. Paint Creek has been stocked for some time; most of the fishing pressure has been limited to or near the put-and-take release sites. This has helped the fishery downstream to be less pressured.

Around 16,000 rainbow trout are released into the tailwaters each year from April through November. These fish all go into the put-and-take section near the dam. Additional trout are released into Paintsville Lake each year. Around 15,000 rainbows with an average length of 8 inches are stocked in the lake during January. It would be reasonable to believe that some of these fish may also make it into the tailwaters through the dam.

Brown trout were also stocked there in years past. Most streams in the area will reach water temperatures near 80 degrees in the summer, which will not support a brown trout fishery. Paint Creek stays much cooler due to the deep, cool water coming from Paintsville Lake through the dam.

Brown trout stocking will resume in 2005 with a one-time stocking in probably June or July. There will be approximately 300 brown trout and 600 rainbow trout added to the trophy section of Paint Creek. Additionally, biologists have discovered some degree of natural reproduction for brown trout, which has helped add to the overall number of available fish.

The trophy section of Paint Creek runs mostly through private property. There are four access points along the route. The aforementioned SR 40 and U.S. Route 460 bridges are the main access points. Two other bridges located within the section are also utilized. Most anglers will access the stream from the bridge sites and then wade- or float-fish. Consideration is currently being given to the addition of a small-boat access sometime in the future.

There are two groups of anglers who utilize the stream. One group consists of those who like to harvest trout for fun and consumption. The other group is mainly interested in trophy caliber fish. The new regulations at Paint Creek will satisfy both groups. Harvest-minded anglers can fish the put-and-take section, while trophy hunters can utilize the section farther downstream.

Prior to the implementation of the new trophy regulations, the KDFWR conducted an attitude survey with both anglers and property owners located along the waterway. Both groups seemed to be highly in favor of the proposal. Hopefully, this will develop into a win-win situation for both groups of people as well as the fishery itself.

HERRINGTON TAILWATERS

The last stop on our trophy trout tour is the Herrington tailwaters. The first two miles of the Dix River below the dam at Herrington Lake has trophy regulations in place for brown trout. This section of the river is fertile, remains cold all year long, and gives trout an opportunity to continue growing even through the summer months.

This trophy trout water is not without its problems, though. This location provides a more limited opportunity for access and also can have its share of water problems, which affects the quality of the fishery. Things were going pretty well from 2000 through 2002, but began to turn for the worse sometime in 2003. Although this particular tailwaters has been in a down period recently, it will hopefully rebound soon if the weather cooperates.

In the late 1990s and early 2000, local anglers took brown trout in the 20-inch range. Rainbows up to 16 inches were also caught. Seeing that quality of fish lately has not been possible. During sampling in 2003, biologists were only able to sample eight fish in a one-hour period.