A Tale of Two Rivers
Kentucky is home to some great waterways that offer plenty of recreational opportunities. Green River and Barren River are no exception. These two river systems offer canoe and kayak adventures, hiking, camping, and great smallmouth bass fishing. Green and Barren are known for their great smallmouth fishery and it’s about to get even better. The removal of century-old dams on the two rivers will create a safer environment for paddlers as well as better habitat for fish like the smallmouth bass.
These dams were built to allow the passage of steamboats and other watercraft to move goods along the river. While the dams were crucial to area commerce at one time, they eventually outlived their usefulness and were removed. The most recent dam removal was on Barren River in the fall of 2022. Not only will the dam removals provide added public access for paddlers and anglers alike it will also help restore sections of the two rivers to a more natural state. This improvement to the ecosystem will only enhance vital habitat that all fish in the rivers will benefit from.
I spoke with Big Rivers Fisheries Research Biologist at Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Jason Herrala about what to expect from the fishery from these recent dam removals. My focus was on one of my favorite fish species, the smallmouth bass. Jason told me that because of the time to get the removals approved that data was collected in a way to compare the dammed-up sections before and after dam removal. He also says that while the removals are recent that there are already noticeable improvements for smallmouth bass in these sections.
“The slow-moving water created by the dams causes higher water temperatures than in flowing sections,” Jason says. “Returning these sections back to normal will reduce temperatures in these sections and flush out the built-up sediment that accumulated for so long. This will improve the smallmouth fishery. It will take time, but the river bottom will eventually return to its natural state and provide the smallmouth more habitat as well as the minnows and crayfish that they love to eat.”
Jason shared his favorite lures to use to catch smallmouth bass on the rivers. His go-to bait is a green pumpkin colored worm rigged wacky style. He says that this bait will catch smallmouth both big and small and is why he prefers it. “There are times when a small topwater bait is the way to go. The most important thing on catching smallmouth bass on these rivers is to keep your bait profile small. The baitfish on these rivers aren’t very big and your bait should match that to get more strikes.” Jason concluded.
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- Habitat Restoration: Impounded pools trap heavy sediment, burying the clean gravel, cobble, and rock bars where smallmouth bass spawn and hunt. Freeing the river flushes away the muck, exposing the rocky substrates smallmouths love. [1, 2]
- Water Quality & Food Supply: Water trapped behind dams gets warm and loses dissolved oxygen. Restoring natural flow drops water temperatures and increases oxygenation. This helps native populations of mussels, crayfish, and minnows bounce back, providing an abundant food supply for predatory sport fish. [1, 2, 3]
- Species Transition: While slow, dammed pools primarily host bluegill and largemouth bass, free-flowing sections see a massive resurgence of smallmouth bass and rock bass. [1, 2]
| Sport Fish Species | Catch Rate Improvement in Free-Flowing Sections |
|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 155% to 600%+ higher |
| Rock Bass | 2,600% higher |
| Overall Sport Fish | 114% higher (combined species) |
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- The Green and Barren Rivers: The historic removal of aging locks and dams (such as Green River Lock & Dam #5 and #6, and Barren River structures) reopened massive stretches of an elite, free-flowing aquatic blueprint. [1, 2, 3]
- North Fork Elkhorn Creek: In August 2025, crews removed the dangerous 200-foot Great Crossing Park dam in Georgetown. This eliminated a severe drowning hazard and converted a stagnant pool back into a prime, navigable smallmouth riffle. Other removals on the Elkhorn include the old Jim Beam dam. [1, 2, 3]
- Brushy Fork: The city of Vine Grove partnered with the Kentucky Waterways Alliance to tear down a century-old, obsolete mill dam. [1]
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