Thread: Blood River

Pretty cool stuff there. Thanks!

Guess have to launch from Irvin Cobb.

Originally Posted by Quackrstackr

Thanks for the update. Can you get them to do something about the water clarity while they're there?

Why did they tear out the ramp to begin with? There weren't any holes or anything in it and they didn't appear to be making it any wider than what they ripped out. What they need there is a much larger parking lot.

The old ramp was in decent shape for launching at higher water levels but when the lake was at winter pool there were some issues. One lane of the ramp was OK but the other side was too short and people were backing off the end of the ramp. I can see why some would think it was perfectly fine if they have a boat that doesn't take too much water to get off the trailer (they don't back in as far). Additional parking would be a great improvement for the area and this issue was investigated in 2002. Unfortunately the parking lot is surrounded by hills and there is a significant grade from the top of the parking to the bottom (10%), it would be very expensive to add any significant amount of parking. The federal Boating Access funds are divided yearly to maintain 167 sites and building a few new ones along the way. Hopefully a time will come when money is available to expand the parking or possibly add a new site somewhere in Blood River.

I know it may not be a viable option but there is a remote access point in the upper end of Blood River that may get you away from the crowd. It is far enough into the narrow portion of Blood River that sometimes a fallen tree will keep you from getting to the main lake and the lake may have to be above winter pool, you may want to scout it out. This is a single lane ramp with limited gravel parking. Again this is remote and you have to go almost to New Concord and turn left towards Parkers Field.

I know where that one is. You'll not be launching a boat there unless it's at summer pool or above. It's also not really a ramp, just a spot through the trees where you launch on mud with a tiny gravel parking area barely big enough for 4 vehicles to park. I'm not sure if you could even make it out to navigable water this time of year without solely using your trolling motor for a good stretch.

Can the department not investigate taking ownership of the beach area parking lot for parking? The campground leasee gated and locked it after the beach was privatized to the campground some years back and there's nothing but boats that seasonal campers leave sitting there.

Also, what about this writing of tickets for parking on the road shoulder I've been hearing about? Is that even legal? I would think that a right of way exists on that road and the campground leasee would have no say in who could park there. Otherwise, what's to stop the camp manager from locking the gate at the entrance and blocking everyone out except his campers?

It's a shame that KY can't fund it's public areas like TN has. There's a public boat ramp in every nook and cranny below the 79 bridge. Other than the mud launch, you're going to be driving 10-15 miles to get to the next nearest public launch from Wildcat. BR is one of the most fished bays on all of KY Lake and it has one legit ramp with inadequate parking that is destroyed and another primitive "ramp" that can really only be utilized by small jon boats when the water is up.

Originally Posted by Quackrstackr

I know where that one is. You'll not be launching a boat there unless it's at summer pool or above. It's also not really a ramp, just a spot through the trees where you launch on mud with a tiny gravel parking area barely big enough for 4 vehicles to park. I'm not sure if you could even make it out to navigable water this time of year without solely using your trolling motor for a good stretch.

Can the department not investigate taking ownership of the beach area parking lot for parking? The campground leasee gated and locked it after the beach was privatized to the campground some years back and there's nothing but boats that seasonal campers leave sitting there.

Also, what about this writing of tickets for parking on the road shoulder I've been hearing about? Is that even legal? I would think that a right of way exists on that road and the campground leasee would have no say in who could park there. Otherwise, what's to stop the camp manager from locking the gate at the entrance and blocking everyone out except his campers?

It's a shame that KY can't fund it's public areas like TN has. There's a public boat ramp in every nook and cranny below the 79 bridge. Other than the mud launch, you're going to be driving 10-15 miles to get to the next nearest public launch from Wildcat. BR is one of the most fished bays on all of KY Lake and it has one legit ramp with inadequate parking that is destroyed and another primitive "ramp" that can really only be utilized by small jon boats when the water is up.

First I want to give an update on the Wildcat Ramp. The crew is ahead of schedule and they have more concrete ordered for today. If everything works out they will be done with all concrete work this afternoon. This means we should have one lane open for Friday and both lanes open for Saturday.

We upgraded the remote Blood River site in 2012 so it may be better than you remembered. We added gravel to the parking and built a new concrete ramp. I still think the parking only holds 4 or 5 trucks but you may be able to pull of the road in spots. I haven't heard if the ramp has silted back in. I am not sure what water level it takes to reach the main lake but maybe someone will post if they know.

I believe that the beach parking lot is tied up in a long term agreement between the campground operator and the TVA. I will contact the TVA and relay your questions and concerns.

I understand your frustration with the access in Blood River and the parking at Wildcat. I was wondering if you could provide an estimate of how many more spaces you think are needed to satisfy the normal high use during crappie season and summer months?

Originally Posted by whitehat

I believe that the beach parking lot is tied up in a long term agreement between the campground operator and the TVA. I will contact the TVA and relay your questions and concerns.

I understand your frustration with the access in Blood River and the parking at Wildcat. I was wondering if you could provide an estimate of how many more spaces you think are needed to satisfy the normal high use during crappie season and summer months?

I would say at least 20. I have seen that many parked along the road and anywhere off the road they could back a trailer during peak crappie times.

At least twenty. I have seen vehicles parked nearly from the current parking lot to the campground entrance. That is a very long hike and I suspect many people may have turned around and gone somewhere else rather than hike the half mile uphill from the closest parking spot.

The water around the small ramp you are talking about might be three feet deep at winter pool, if that.

Is there an easy way to get to that ramp from Hwy.68? I was there once, but got lost for a while. It was very hard to find. Then got lost again on the way back.