Rainbow Trout

Silver and black or red and silver in-line spinners, small silver and black suspending jerkbaits, and small crawfish-imitating crankbaits produce well.

Zebra Midge fished beneath a strike indicator, Hare's Ear nymph, and Copper John as gold standards for the Cumberland tailwater. Smaller streamers, midge patterns, stonefly imitations, and e.g.g patterns work well throughout the season.

October through March provides the best trout fishing in Kentucky, with October seeing extensive stocking in streams, tailwaters, and lakes. Water temperatures are optimal during fall and early spring when they're below 70°F.

The dry dropper rig with a large dry fly acting as an indicator for a nymph below is highly effective. Zebra Midge fished beneath a strike indicator. When targeting the Cumberland River tailwater, check generation schedules - fish when two turbines or less are running, with no generation being optimal for safe wading.

Rainbow Trout are opportunistic feeders with a diet consisting primarily of terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, insects, zooplankton, and occasionally small fish. They're considered piscivorous and feed on drift organisms in streams, bottom-dwelling invertebrates in lakes, and seasonally available food sources.