Found this map/text showing the Russell Fork put-in & take-out areas of the Russell Fork

http://fw.ky.gov/pdf/russellfork.pdf

Looks like a fishing trip in the making to me

Looks like 3 rapids just after put-in,..now if we can find a daily water flow release to make sure the water isn't to high.

Ratliff's Hole is put in site ,..I've been there a few time.

believe I have photo here somewhere of Ratliff's Hole

Sounds good to me, It may be that you may have to call to get the release times because of the spring rains, most dams keep the level at winter stage up into the spring. But what ever the case I'm ready to go and give it a try. I'll check the stocking times for the Russel.

I've been checking stocking and seems they aren't keeping it updated the way they usually do.

Just found one photo of river below Elkhorn City. I'll try to find the other and post them tomorrow.

To be honest I don't think they are going to be stocking like they usally do. The reason I say this is becase of the problems at the dam where they raise the trout for the whole state. I know that last year they didn't stock near as many fish as they did in the previous years. I'm sure that the Russel is probaably full of smallies, bluegill and rockbass especially down river where water temps are higher.

Ok the first photo is below Elkhorn City,..Photos taken 7-29-07



Looking down river Ratliff's Hole


Looking up river Ratliff's Hole

Man that looks good and there has to be a few smallies laying around(especially near those big boulders in the water).

Don't no why ,,but I never did fish this portion of Russell Fork.

I've fished several miles down stream where the russell & levisa meet.

Catch crappie , bass , trout below Fishtrap spillway.

The backwaters Feds Creek area is well known for white bass run this time of year.
I have a buddy that some guy's bring him garbage cans full of white bass. He leaves the garbage can out near his yard fence and they pick it up every morning they go fishing,..to return later it full.
I

sounds like you have some good fishing in that area. In the smallmouth streams section they show the Russel fork (Levisa fork to the WVa line). Is that downstream from Elkhorn city or farther up stream?

In that area probably taking about Virginia

Both rivers come out of Virginia

I have floated the Levisa coming out of Grundy,..this would be the head waters area of Fishtrap lake.

The Russell comes from Flangon (miss spelled) Dam in Breaks area.

They both meet about 5 miles below Fishtrap Dam which is on the Levisa Fork

Just found this page, looks like some info on water levels.

http://www.russellfork.info/

Sounds like here there is a lot of areas to explore in that area. We could keep busy for the rest of our lives and never fish the same area "LIFE IS GOOD". I'm going to get off here and try to get some sleep got to get some things done in the morning, Talk to you tommorrow.

I checked out some of the pics of that whitewater, I've been in water up to a class five many times. Yet at my age it looks a lot less inviting than it did . We will for sure go down when water levels are low.

The photo on top of the maps page appears to me to be at the Ratfiffs Hole,..below that is only class ll, lll rapids.

Ratliffs Hole would be near the S in legends on the photo

http://www.russellfork.info/maps.htm

Do you know how to get a map of the Eastern ky water shed? If we could get a map of all the rivers and creeks in Eastern Ky it would be of great help. It would assist in planning trips and showing pepole where we are talking about when we talk about a river or stream.

Here's one ,..I'll look for something better

You are good . thanks