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Photo: Kentucky State Parks
Experience the beauty of the Carter Caves Wildflower Pilgrimage April 21-22 at Carter Caves State Resort Park near Olive Hill.
Throughout the weekend guests will experience the beauty of the area during wildflower walks. This is the perfect weekend for experienced wildflower enthusiasts, beginner bloomers or those who just enjoy being in the woods to get outside and experience the natural beauty of spring.
The event is sponsored by the Friends of Carter Caves. All trips are free this year.
Participants will be able to sign up for the hikes at the park. Overnight lodging and camping is available. The park’s friends group will host a hot dog cook out on Saturday with proceeds benefiting the park.
Call the park at 606-286-4411 for more information or to make lodging reservations.
In addition to cave tours, Carter Caves offers hiking, mini-golf, fishing and a gem mine. Carter Caves also has a lodge, cottages and restaurant. For more information, call the park at 1-800-325-0059 or visit parks.ky.gov/
Now that the Kentucky-based teams are no longer in the NCAA basketball tournament, the Final Four isn’t nearly as exciting, and somewhat depressing, to watch.
The best cure for any bruised feelings left by March Madness is to get out in early April and chase largemouth bass. A huge largemouth bass shaking its head vigorously trying to throw your white spinnerbait soothes any broken basketball heart.
Water temperatures range from 52 degrees at Lake Cumberland in the east to 58 degrees on Kentucky Lake in the west. In other words, it is prime time.
“With water temperatures in the mid-50s, the big female largemouth bass are staging,” said Jeff Ross, assistant director of Fisheries for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “They are moving from their deeper winter locations to spawning locations in the shallows. They definitely work their way shallow in stages, but a cold front can push them back for a short period.”
At this time of year, the male largemouth bass move shallow first to build nests, followed by the female bass to lay their eggs.
“Recently, I caught a lot of largemouth bass, but they were all small male bass,” said Easton Copley, aquatic education program coordinator for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “When you look at their lips, they were roughed up and bloodied. They looked like they had lipstick on them from making spawning beds.”
Copley recommends looking for those staging areas to catch the large female largemouths. Female largemouth bass stage where large mud flats drop-off into deeper water. This is especially true on smaller state-owned lakes.
“At this time of year, I am not looking for numbers of bass,” Copley explained. “I am fishing for big females.”
Ross said to hit the secondary points or ledges near shallow water on the larger reservoirs, such as Kentucky Lake or Barren River Lake. “When the females hit those secondary points in spring, they are pretty close to spawning,” he said.
Copley said when water temperatures climb to 60 degrees, the larger female bass move into their shallow water spawning areas. “I look for rocky banks and transitional banks from rocky to mud,” he said. “If you can find a laydown tree on this kind of bank, all the better.”
Copley throws a variety of lures when spawning bass are up shallow. “I’ve caught a lot of bass on a square-billed crankbait in the Sexy Shad color,” he said. “I also catch quite a few on jigs. Black and blue is my go-to jig color for lakes with some color to the water. In clear water, I like the Cumberland Craw color for my jigs at this time of year.”
White spinnerbaits with a white and chartreuse trailer also draw strikes from shallow spring largemouth bass.
“When the bite gets tough, I pull out a Shakey head with a black and blue 7-inch straight-tailed worm,” Copley said.
Anglers who plan to release their catch need to release the female largemouth bass back to the same area during the spawn. “Take a photo and get them back in the water as soon as possible so they can get back to their spawning,” Copley said. “They are full of eggs.”
Kentucky anglers have oodles of options to catch spring largemouth bass. Check the 2017 Fishing Forecast
Photo: Kentucky Department Fish and Wildlife
for productive largemouth bass lakes near you.
Copley’s favorite lake is south-central Kentucky’s Green River Lake. He also likes 784-acre Cedar Creek Lake in Lincoln County. “Guist Creek Lake near Shelbyville has lots of big fish, but can be tough to fish because of high fishing pressure,” he said.
Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley ranked number 4 in the Southeast Region for 2016 on Bassmaster Magazine’s Best Bass Lakes in the Country rankings. These lakes offer arguably the best chance in Kentucky to catch largemouth bass 4 pounds and larger
“We have many lakes where you don’t need a 20-foot bass boat to catch a big bass,” Ross explained. “Our smaller state-owned lakes, such as Kincaid Lake in northern Kentucky and Lake Malone in western Kentucky, are trophy largemouth bass lakes. Both of these lakes have excellent facilities for anglers at Lake Malone State Park and Kincaid Lake State Park. Beshear Lake, mainly located inside Pennyrile State Forest in western Kentucky, is always a big bass producer. Cranks Creek Lake in southeastern Kentucky also has some huge bass in it.”
The Final Four may be a bummer for Kentuckians this year, but warm days and trophy largemouth bass will put the NCAA tournament in the rearview mirror.
Remember to buy your 2017-2018 fishing license if you haven’t already.
Photo: Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
Metro Parks and Recreation will be celebrating Arbor Day during the entire month of April. We know you love trees as much as we do!
Our city’s tree canopy includes approximately 270 species of trees found in the nearly 7,000 acres at Jefferson Memorial Forest and throughout 6,600 acres in 120 parks and six Olmsted-designed parkways.
We’ll be sharing interesting facts about trees throughout the month at our blog, Common Ground, where we’ve asked staff from our Forestry division to share their thoughts on trees and even asked them for their favorites. That’s where you come in! During the month of April, we’re also asking the public to share pictures of their favorite trees at our Instagram page (@loumetroparks). Those who do so can drop by our administrative offices afterwards at Joe Creason Park and pick up a free Tree Identification Poster, beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 5.
We’ll make the posters available until 5 p.m. Friday, April 28 – but you must participate (and share your picture/handle with us when you pick up). Also, only one poster per participant, please.
For more information, visit Common Ground here, and be sure to share your pics on Instagram.
Photo: Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation, Councilman David James, and many park neighbors celebrated the start of the much-anticipated revitalization of Victory Park.
After several public meetings with Victory Park neighbors in 2016, Olmsted Parks Conservancy and Louisville Metro Parks & Recreation finalized a Master Plan that outlined work needed for the park. The first phase of the project has started and includes relocating the basketball court to the northwest side of the park to create a larger open area for activities in the center of the park. A new walking path, more than a quarter mile in length, will surround the open area and will be ADA accessible as well as the installation of additional lighting, benches and trees will be part of phase one. Expected completion is early summer 2017.
“I’m very excited to see the construction begin at Victory Park. I’m thankful to Olmsted Parks Conservancy for all the hard work and financing they have put into this project. I know the citizens are excited to see their ideas come to fruition,” commented Councilman David James.
Donors to Olmsted Parks Conservancy’s recent Campaign for Extraordinary Parks, including the Humana Foundation, James Graham Brown Foundation, and PNC Foundation, makes this $467,000 project possible.
“Olmsted Parks Conservancy is excited to celebrate this project, in partnership with Metro Parks and Recreation, Mayor Fischer, Councilman David James, and the California neighborhood. Along with our donors, we are thrilled to be part of preserving this historic park, while providing modern amenities for this much loved greenspace,” said Rachel Kennedy, President/CEO Olmsted Parks Conservancy.
“The upcoming improvements to Victory Park is a testament to the need to adapt to the times and welcome change to make the site more welcoming while allowing for better and greater access. The near-thirty-year partnership with Olmsted Parks Conservancy continues to thrive,” stated Seve Ghose, Director Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation.
Later this summer, as part of the second phase, construction will begin to install a new playground, splash pad, picnic shelter and arbor.
Victory Park is located in the historic California neighborhood and was designed by the nationally significant Olmsted firm between 1919 and 1923. The park, which was originally named Greenwood Park, due to the presence of its magnificent trees, received its current name, Victory Park, six months after the end of World War I.
Olmsted Parks Conservancy and Louisville Metro Parks & Recreation will oversee the project.
As a special favor to the planet, Council Members Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5), David James (D-6) and Marianne Butler (D-15) will commemorate Earth Month in April by hosting the Earth Month Reusable Bag Event.
The Council members are partnering with the Louisville Metro Office of Sustainability, and the Jefferson County Solid Waste Management District to promote the use of reusable bags rather than single-use plastic bags.
“Many shoppers in our area have made the switch to reusable bags and this event will try to increase that number by offering something free to those who want to help our environment,” says Hamilton.
“Metro Louisville is moving forward with many innovative programs in recycling and the time has come to focus attention on the discarded plastic bags that can be found on our streets and alleys,” says James.
In the month of April, through this partnership, 2,400 free reusable bags will be distributed, which will help 1,200 citizens go green when shopping and should eliminate 1,800,000 single-use disposable bags in the first year.
“Reusable bags are one of the easiest ways to keep unnecessary plastic out of our landfill. Many people have already made the change and do not even think about it when they head to the store,” says Butler.
The giveaways will be held at four area Kroger stores from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
April 5th Portland Kroger, 520 N. 35th St.
April 12th Kroger at 3165 S. 2nd Street,
April 19th Kroger located at 2710 W. Broadway
April 26th Kroger located at 4211 S. 3rd Street.
Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith will host a series of three meetings in District 4 with the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) for discussion of MSD’s recently completed 20-year Critical Repair and Reinvestment Plan.
“These meetings are designed to offer information to the public as to how MSD plans to address future needs in the areas of wastewater, stormwater and flood protection infrastructure,” says Sexton Smith. “And most importantly how the agency intends to pay for the improvements.”
Three meetings have been scheduled in the district for the month of April from 6:00pm to 8:00pm:
- April 6th at Copper and Kings, 1121 E. Washington Street
- April 19th at Central High School, 1130 W. Chestnut Street
- April 24th at Central High School, 1130 W. Chestnut Street
At the encouragement of the Metro Council, MSD officials have been hosting public discussions throughout Metro Louisville to give the public more information about what is needed to maintain health and safety with regard to flooding issues and other infrastructure needs by hosting meetings to discuss proposed future projects and rate increases.
MSD’s 20-year Critical Repair and Reinvestment Plan contains a breakdown of the critical risks in six areas:
1. Ohio River flood protection system;
2. Stormwater drainage and inland flooding;
3. Viaducts;
4. Crumbling sewer infrastructure;
5. Wastewater treatment facilities; and
6. Consent decree and support systems
The estimated cost solutions total $4.3 billion over the next 20 years, including almost $500 million to satisfy the existing federal Consent Decree to reduce sewer overflows. The full plan is online at: www.LouisvilleMSD.org/CriticalRepairPlan
“As many of us know, the Central Business District boarders the Ohio River. Butchertown and the Russell Neighborhood, like many other areas, are dealing with stormwater runoff and sewer concerns,” says Sexton Smith. “It is a way to find out what MSD has planned and express your opinion about how the community should approach these concerns.”
For more information about the three MSD Community Meetings, contact Councilwoman Sexton Smith’s office at 574-1104.
Make plans to bring your family to a Kentucky State Resort Park for the annual Easter buffet on April 16 for a great meal.
The menu at the resort park restaurants includes roast beef carved on the line; baked country ham; catfish and hushpuppies; and a chef’s favorite entree selection. The meal will also include fresh fruit, a cheese bar, garden vegetables, salad and desserts.
The price for adults is $19.50, and children (12 and under) are $9.50, not including tax. The price includes a beverage. The buffet will be served starting at 11 a.m.
General Butler State Resort Park will have seatings at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30, 4, and 5:30. Please call 502-732-4384. Buckhorn Lake will have a slightly different menu.
Here are the Easter buffet closing times for all of the resort parks:
Buffet closes at 4 p.m.: Buckhorn Lake, Pine Mountain.
Buffet closes at 5 p.m.: Lake Cumberland, Kenlake, Kentucky Dam Village.
Buffet closes at 6 p.m.: Pennyrile Forest.
Buffet closes at 7 p.m.: Natural Bridge, General Butler, Carter Caves.
Buffet closes at 8 p.m.: Dale Hollow, Barren River, Rough River, Cumberland Falls, Jenny Wiley, Blue Licks Battlefield, Lake Barkley.
Several parks are planning egg hunts and other activities for guests in April and on Easter Sunday. For more information, or to make lodging reservations, visit www.parks.ky.gov.