West Liberty, Kentucky, is an angler’s paradise. Nothing relieves stress like a calm day of fishing, and whether you favor fishing in lakes, on rivers, or along a quiet creek, West Liberty and the surrounding area has an ideal fishing spot for you. Take a look at some of the best places for fishing in the area.
1. Red River Gorge
Red River Gorge is about an hour away from West Liberty, inside Daniel Boone National Forest. The landscape around it is beautiful, and the sandstone near the gorge features breathtaking arches and steep cliffs carved by ages of water erosion. You can enter the gorge through the 900-foot Nada Tunnel. Built as a railway tunnel in the early 1900s, this gateway is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Permits are required for camping, and you can fish in Indian Creek or the Red River itself. Catches include spotted bass, smallmouth bass, and sunfish, and the area is ideal for kayaking. You can take a break from fishing at Gladie Cabin, a reconstructed log home from the late 1800s. Nearby Gladie Creek once had a small town with a school, a cemetery, and a small store.
2. Cave Run Lake
Cave Run Lake is also inside Daniel Boone National Forest and covers 8,270 acres. It has some of the best fishing in the state, and people call it the muskie capital of the South. It also supplies clean water to many nearby communities. You can also angle for largemouth bass, white bass, spotted bass, and smallmouth bass on its peaceful waters. Nearly 400 campsites are available, and some include RV utility hookups.
Boating is allowed on the lake for a small fee, and there are 12 boat ramps in the area. At the Shallow Flats Fishing Site, there’s a wheelchair-accessible fishing platform and a wildlife observation deck with an excellent view of the wetlands nearby. It’s a great destination for young kids who aren’t familiar with boating.
3. Blackwater Creek
If peaceful fishing with plenty of solitude is your cup of tea, you’ll love this stretch of water near West Liberty. Big Blackwater Creek has five major branches: the Pretty, Tarkiln, Whites, Open Fork, and Gladie. The best fishing is in the afternoon or early morning. The fish in this creek haven’t been cataloged, so you could end up with an interesting catch. Little Blackwater Creek includes four major branches: Meetinghouse, Greasy Fork, Swango Fork, and Long Branch. It often contains bass and crappie.
Whether you’re interested in appreciating the beauty of nature, trying out new fishing techniques, or hooking the biggest fish, you can find an excellent spot around West Liberty. You can spend a few hours on your fishing trip or spend the weekend with friends or family members. You can also take some beautiful photos, see the fall leaves, and learn more about the ecology of the area, the local plant life, and the animals that use the waterways around West Liberty.
Image via Pixabay.com
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