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Land of Surprises       By Craig Ritchie

Thousands of snowbirds pass through Kentucky every winter, and miss out on some of the most incredible natural wonders and cultural treasures anywhere. It seems like every time you turn around, you discover something wonderful and new. Like thousands of other Canadian snowbirds, my first visit to Kentucky consisted of simply driving through it on the I-75. I think we pulled over and bought gas, then got back on the Interstate and continued on our way to Florida. Such a shame. Had I known then what I know now, Kentucky wouldn't have been just a gas stop, but my final destination. Last year I made a point of exploring the bluegrass state, and I'm glad that I did. With its rich history and beautiful natural areas, Kentucky truly is a destination with something for everyone. I arrived in Lexington two days after the Kentucky Derby, so the miles of horse farms took on a novel relevance as I headed southwest along the Harrodsburg Road (US 68), which crosses the Kentucky River with spectacular views of the river's gorge. My destination was Green River Lake, an 8,210-acre impoundment in the south-eastern part of the state near the beautiful community of Campbellsville. One of Kentucky's longest navigable rivers, the Green originates near the village of Stanford, then meanders over a westerly course through forests and farmland until it meets the Ohio River near Evansville, Indiana. Green River Lake was the result of a US Army Corps of Engineers dam, and is a playground for recreational boaters and fishermen. Besides healthy populations of smallmouth, largemouth and Kentucky bass, Green River Lake offers some of the best muskie fishing anywhere. My first priority was to hook up with Bill Jarboe, the best muskie guide on the lake. Muskie are known far and wide as the fish of 10,000 casts. Some people fish for years before they ever see one. As we left the dock at Emerald Isle Marina, I readied my camera equipment and jokingly said "Okay Bill, the pressure's on." Jarboe just smiled at me. He didn't look the least bit concerned, and I understood why a few minutes later as I hooked a solid muskie on just my second cast. By the time we returned to Emerald Isle Marina three hours later for a barbecue dinner, we had boated seven muskies between us, ranging from six to more than 20 pounds. It was by far the best muskie fishing I'd ever experienced, so I almost fell out of the boat when Bill apologized for the slow action. Over dinner, Jarboe explained that muskie populations in Green River Lake are the result of an ambitious stocking program. Thanks to an abundance of forage, relatively warm water and a year-round growing season (Green River Lake rarely freezes), muskie grow quickly there, and put on serious weight. Anglers boat 35 pounders every year, and much bigger fish are sometimes caught. ... (Read full article in the magazine) (Page Top)