4 HUNTING & FISHING GUIDE 2020
Messenger-Inquirer Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Adventuring Across Kentucky BY LEE MCCLELLAN KENTUCKY AFIELD
Photo courtesy of Kentucky Afield
With nearly 90 public wildlife management areas covering 525,000 acres of land, residents and visitors alike can find plenty to do outdoors in Kentucky. Where to go exploring? Start here. Ed Maybry-Laurel Gorge WMA This 1,393-acre property in Elliott County is one of Kentucky’s most unique and overlooked areas. This valley of Laurel Creek is a smaller version of Red River Gorge, full of gorgeous bluffs, rockhouses, moss-covered boulders the size of small houses and some impressive waterfalls. It is rugged countr y, but great for hiking and exploring. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife annually stocks 2,750 rainbow trout in April, May and October along with 250 brown trout in spring. The Laurel Creek Gorge grants trout anglers a mountain-like setting in an area of unparalleled beauty.
Rolling Fork WMA The Knobs region is one of Kentucky’s forgotten places of beauty. These erosional remnants of escarpments are often cone-shaped and capped by erosion resistant rock. The knobs resemble a small, narrow mountain range, one of Kentucky’s unique landscapes. The 2,890 acres of Rolling Fork WMA provide ample room to explore a slice of knob country on the border of Nelson and Larue counties. The Rolling Fork River bisects the area, carving gorgeous rock bluffs into the knobs. The area has three miles of river frontage for fishing, mainly for spotted bass. The former owners of the property used it for hunting and horseback riding and installed an extensive trail system that aids visitors wanting to explore.
