McClellan: Elkhorn Creek Smallmouth Over 16 Inches Hit Record Highs

Stretches of whitewater and long riffles make Elkhorn Creek in Kentucky’s Bluegrass Country a premier destination for smallmouth bass anglers.

The Elkhorn offers world-class smallmouth fishing in a small-stream setting, as reported on November 12, 2026. On good days, anglers can catch 15 to 20 smallmouth over 12 inches, while great days yield upwards of 40 fish of that size, with a handful topping 18 inches.

The creek begins as two forks. The North Fork originates east of Lexington, and the South Fork begins southwest of the city. They merge at the Forks of Elkhorn, just east of Frankfort.

Ed Councill founded Canoe Kentucky, a canoe livery on the Elkhorn, and said that lately things have been real good on the creek.

“All streams have their ups and downs,” Councill said. “But lately, things have been real good here on the Elkhorn. I attribute a lot of that to the slot limit Kentucky Fish & Wildlife has in place on the creek, and my general perception that the fishermen who come here have changed. We see a lot more catch-and-release, and much more use of barbless hooks, nowadays.”

Lee McClellan, formerly an associate editor of Kentucky Afield, also noted the creek’s potential.

McClellan: Elkhorn Creek Smallmouth Over 16 Inches Hit Record Highs

“The Elkhorn is on an upswing,” McClellan said. “When a creek has a run of good, productive spawning, you can usually expect great fishing four to six years down the road. The Elkhorn is right on the edge of one of those really good periods.”

Data gathered during electrofishing surveys shows the highest number of smallmouth over 16 inches ever recorded from the Elkhorn, according to McClellan.

Public access and walk-in opportunities remain limited on the creek. Historically, wade anglers have accessed the water from the T.N. Sullivan Wildlife Management Area and the Peter W. Pfeiffer Fish Hatchery north of Frankfort. Many anglers use canoes, kayaks, or rafts to cover productive habitat.

Fly selection for the creek includes smallmouth staples such as Clouser Minnows and Woolly Buggers. Local favorites include the Blue Dixie Devil popper and D&H Cray in chartreuse, olive, and black.