The KDFW put out a call for volunteers to help stock 1500 rainbow trout and 500 brown trout at Bark Camp Creek in Corbin, KY so I took the day off and drove down. The weather was terrible at home but Bark Camp is three hours south and showed clear until early evening.
This was bucket stocking so we didn’t have as much time to go up trail as we would if these were oxygen-filled plastic bags like I’m used to doing. That being the case, most of the fish were released within sight of the stocking truck. I was able to manage 4 buckets in a short amount of time, but I did take two of those buckets around the bend to a larger pool.
There was plenty of day left after playing with the fish, so I set off on a hike to see Bark Camp Falls two and half miles downstream. There are many scenic points the entire way as huge outcroppings of rock and high cliffs line both sides of the creek. Lots of blowdown too, which can be tricky.
There are two bonus waterfalls about halfway that are right on the trail. The cliffs are perpetually in shadow and stay cool in this area as the water showers down from high overhead. It was tempting to hang out but I kept on going as daylight was ticking away and I wanted to see the ‘actual’ falls.
The Sheltowee Trace intersects the trail in this area and hikers can detour when there are floods. There is a nice bridge that has a bit of rot but shows signs of recent repair. The water is wider here at the bridge and I would love to come back and do some fishing.
The trail is above the river for a while and then the falls begin to become visible through the trees as you approach them. Eventually, there is an intersection where the trail goes on to the Cumberland River but I took the other trail that leads down. There is a rock pile along the way that I explored for a minute before finally making my way to the falls.
The water was running clear and cool and the entire area was about as scenic as it gets. I sat for a spell and just took it all in before breaking out the tenkara rod I’d brought with me. I had the place to myself and was able to work the deeper pools in between falls. I was getting good hits and had hopes of catching a holdout trout from a previous stocking but as I continued fishing, I could see that what was hitting my flies was a smaller fish with black stripes down its sides. I have no idea what species and didn't land one to examine or photograph. I even used the smallest flies I had. Maybe next time!
The weather was incredible all day but the storms did eventually find me. Repeated loud thunder, wind and dark clouds rolled in behind me as I hoofed it back to the trailhead. Just as I reached the truck and jumped in, the clouds burst and the rain didn’t let up all the way home. The highways were a mess and it was a bit tense at times with all the high winds and blinding downpour, but I made it home safely. March definitely came in like a lion this year.