Frankfort, Ky. – Anglers noticed in the last few years that fishing for smallmouth bass, walleye and rainbow trout on Paintsville Lake isn’t what it used to be. A modification in the way water is released from the lake through the dam and into the Paint Creek tailwater is being tried in an attempt to rejuvenate fishing for those species in the lake.

“Previously, water was released from gates in the dam at deeper depths,” said Benjy Kinman, director of fisheries for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “By discharging water from that level, potentially more cool water needed by walleye, smallmouth bass and rainbow trout was pulled from the lake, especially during periods of high rainfall.”

Water from that level in the lake typically ranged from the low-60s to the mid-70s in the late summer months. This is the preferred temperature range of smallmouth bass, walleye and rainbow trout. Temperatures above this level are not within the preferred range for these species and ultimately lead to poor fishing.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, working with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, modified the procedure for discharging water through the dam in an attempt to better preserve the cool water habitat in the lake while still providing for the trout fishery in the Paint Creek tailwater.

“By doing this, we are trying to better maintain the habitat in the lake for walleye, smallmouth bass and trout,” said Gerry Buynak, assistant director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “We want to also keep the quality trout fishery in the Paint Creek tailwater. We are going to monitor the water temperatures in the lake and in the tailwater to determine if our goals are met.”

The new regimen will hopefully lead to better fishing in the future for these species.