East Kentucky: Make it Your Fall Destination

By Chris Erwin

It shouldn’t be long before the nights fall in the 50s and 60s. This will wake up the fishing, and reports will begin to improve as the water cools, pulling the overall water temperature below 80. This temperature is the benchmark to better fishing. Once we see water temperatures in the mid 70s, just about every local species of fish will become active.

I hear from fisherman all year about making trips to Guntersville, Watts Bar, Toledo Bend and every other location you can think of. However, when we start to approach fall, it’s not necessary to travel long distances to have great fishing and hunting trips.

We are blessed with some of the best fishing anyone could ask for. We have striped bass, hybrids and huge catfish in the Ohio River, muskie fishing at Cave Run Lake, smallmouth fishing at Laurel River Lake, trout fishing at Paintsville and bass fishing just about everywhere.

If you are thinking about coming to the area, we have good campgrounds at all the locations around our lakes. If you’re interested in the Ohio River, there is lodging at any pool you choose to fish.

Fall deer and turkey are abundant in Greenbo State Park. (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife)

From September to November, Cave Run will produce muskie in the 40 to 50 inch class with regularity. If you would like to learn how to catch these trophy fish, there are professional guides who can put you right on the fish. It is my mission to help our readers experience all that eastern Kentucky has to offer.

With gas making long trips more costly, you might find that you can catch just as many fish right here in eastern Kentucky as anywhere else. I personally took three trips this spring, where we caught over a hundred bass in a weekend. I expect this fall to be just as productive.

If your personal passion happens to be hunting instead of fishing, I want to tell you about a great deal, for both locals and visiting hunters.

Greenbo State Park has put together some hunting packages that you might find to be just what you’re looking for.

To begin with let’s talk Turkey. Oct. 27-29, Dec. 4-7, April 15-17 and April 22-24, Greenbo is offering a hunting package that includes two days hunting, lodging, and three meals a day for $225 plus tax for single occupancy or $150 for double occupancy.

If turkey isn’t your choice, they have put together a Bow Hunting Deer package that just might be a great way to go, too. Here are the dates and package details: Oct. 7-10, Nov. 1-4, Nov. 29- Dec. 2 or Dec. 13-16, the package includes three days of hunting and three meals a day for  $335 plus tax for single occupancy or $225 plus tax for double occupancy. If you’re interested in any of these chances to hunt Greenbo State Park call 1-800-325-0083 or email Stephanie.poplin@Ky.gov. Greenbo has very limited hunting so your chance of success is very good.

Eastern Kentucky in the fall is one of the most beautiful places on earth to be. When our trees are in full color, our lakes, mountains and streams are the things that memories are made of. If you haven’t been to Kentucky, you need to plan a trip. If you live here, it’s a great time to be outside.  Until next time, may God bless you and guide you to the wonders of Kentucky.

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About mudfoot1 246 Articles
Carrie "Mudfoot" Stambaugh is the managing editor of KentuckyAngling.com. Carrie is an outdoor adventurer! She's an avid hiker and a burgeoning angler. Carrie and her husband, Carl, also enjoy canoeing eastern Kentucky lakes and rivers with their dog Cooper. The couple live in Ashland.

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