David Baker photo the TUG FORK of the Big Sandy River Obie Williams photo 22 Kentucky 22 Kentucky Afield Afield Summer Summer 2018 2018 fw.ky.govfw.ky.gov Paddling the eastern borderlands in search of big fish and rich history By Lee McClellan Obie Williams photo HE VIOLENT COLLISIONS The first riffle downstream of the Hatfield- 9-inch muskellunge in partnership with between Earth’s tectonic plates and McCoy Park is the longest of the float. West Virginia. Each state will contribute Tthe resulting uplifts that formed the 195 fish,” Dreves said. “We intend to keep southern Appalachians in Kentucky find any found in Kentucky. doing this through 2021.” their most stark and dramatic relief in east- “The smallmouth bass in the Tug Fork ernmost Pike County. The nearly vertical are one of its most popular fish and doing WATER FLOW MAttERS mountains and narrow valleys provide vistas very well,” said Kevin Frey, Eastern Fisher- Two floats showcase the history and as arresting as any in the state. ies District biologist for the Kentucky De- beauty of the Tug Fork Valley. One is a short The Tug Fork of Big Sandy River, partment of Fish and Wildlife Resources. but productive journey through the heart which forms part of the boundary between “The fishery continues to improve from the of the Hatfield-McCoy feud country. The Kentucky and West Virginia, flows through late 1980s.” other is a longer voyage featuring excellent this maze of steep ridges. The Tug carries Fisheries crews used to find 10-15 scenery and smallmouth bass fishing. in its waters healthy smallmouth bass, large smallmouth bass per hour while doing Paddlers must consult the weather flathead catfish and the detritus of long- population sampling there. “Now, we aver- forecast before heading out. Runoff from term human habitation of the valley. The age 50 fish per hour,” Frey said. “The size the steep mountains of the headwaters can ruggedness of the Tug Fork Valley rubbed distribution is really good. We have small- turn the normally placid river into a muddy, off on its settlers; this is a land of notori- mouths in the 21- to 22-inch range on the foamy froth in a matter of hours. ous family feuds, rugged individualism and larger end. We have plenty of 3- to 4-pound “You’ll do better if the Tug is clear, so labor conflicts. fish to go after.” you can pinpoint where to cast and fish,” It’s fitting that even the name of the riv- Muskellunge will be another top shelf Frey said. er derives from the toughness of its people. predator for Tug Fork anglers to pursue in Finding the flow’s sweet spot for pro- In the winter of 1756, early in the French the coming years due to a joint stocking ef- ductive fishing and enjoyable floating is the and Indian War, a group of Virginia soldiers fort between the West Virginia Department key for paddling the Tug. Go online to the returning home followed the North Fork of of Natural Resources and Kentucky Fish Williamson gauge on the United States “Sandy Creek.” Their stomachs empty for and Wildlife. Geological Survey streamflow webpage to days, they boiled, then ate the leather straps, Dave Dreves, assistant director of fish- find the latest information. Flows of 200 to or “tugs,” that they used to tie gear to their eries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, said 700 cfs (cubic feet a second) offer the best packs. They also drank the “tug” soup in an the department stocked 100 muskellunge conditions for paddling and fishing. Pad- effort to avoid starvation. measuring 13 inches in May 2017, along dlers will likely need to walk their boats Afterward, soldiers began calling the with 25,000 muskie fry at Hatfield-McCoy over drops and shallow shoals if flows are river Tug Fork. Park in McCarr. A similar stocking oc- lower. The Tug’s mild drops are perfect The river wears a long history of human curred at Burnwell while for families, beginners and inter- exploitation of the valley’s timber and coal the river near South Wil- mediate paddlers. resources. It is scarred, but not defeated, liamson received 190 of and in the process of healing. Water quality the larger muskellunge, HAtfIELD-MCCOY in the Tug Fork has dramatically improved along with 52,300 fry. PARK TO MATEWAN during the past few decades. It now supports “This year, in late “ The first float begins at a population of smallmouth bass that rivals summer, we are going to stock the Hatfield-McCoy Park in the McCarr community in Pike County. It ends about three miles downstream at a public This is a land of notorious family feuds, ramp in Matewan, West Virginia. rugged individualism and labor conflicts. To reach the Hatfield-McCoy Park, take U.S. 119 east from Pikeville for ap- proximately 23 miles. Turn right onto “fw.ky.gov Summer 2018 Kentucky Afield 23 Obie Williams photo KY 319 for 7 miles then left (east) on KY its southern fringes awaits the site of the The Matewan floodwall illustrates 1056 for 3 miles. The parking lot for the Randolph McCoy Cabin. Here, an attack significant events in the town’s history. launch lies just after the playground and by nine members of the Hatfield family on paved walking path at Hatfield-McCoy Jan. 1, 1888, resulted in the deaths of two tied to trees and shot. Park. of Randolph McCoy’s children. The attack After putting in at Hatfield-McCoy Paddlers will need to leave a shuttle ve- also severely injured McCoy’s wife, Sally. Park, this short float gives anglers time to hicle at the take-out, located across the state Just down from the junction of KY 319 paddle upstream past the old railroad bridge line and a few miles away. To reach the take- and KY 1056 stands the cabin of the Rev. and fish the long hole back to the launch. out, take KY 1056 across the Tug into West Anderson “Preacher Anse” Hatfield, who Anglers should fish the rocky mouth of Virginia. After 1 mile, turn left onto WV 49 served as a justice of the peace. This is the Blackberry Creek with a 3-inch, electric at the T-intersection. After 2 miles, look for site of the Hog Trial, in which Randall Mc- blue swimbait. This imitates some of the na- a tennis court and playground on the left. A Coy accused Floyd Hatfield of stealing a tive shiners that smallmouth bass favor. road beside the tennis court leads you to the hog. McCoy’s loss at the trial intensified the Local anglers say this hole holds flat- take out. feud between the families. head catfish topping 20 pounds. “The cat- The route to the put-in is steeped with Also near the cabin is the site of the fish in the Tug are phenomenal, both chan- the history of the Hatfield-McCoy feud, a “Election Day Fight” in early August 1882. nel and flathead catfish,” Frey said. “When murderous conflict between two families Tolbert McCoy jumped Elias Hatfield, the we electroshock the river during population that lasted nearly three decades. brother of “Preacher Anse” Hatfield, over sampling, the channels are so thick you The drive, followed by the float down $1.75 owed Tolbert from the sale of a fiddle. could practically walk across the river on the river, touches many significant sites of Family member Ellison Hatfield joined the them. There are plenty of numbers of chan- America’s most notorious feud. A little his- fight. Tolbert, along with two of his broth- nels from 16 to 24 inches, prime eating size.” tory helps paddlers understand the under- ers, stabbed Ellison 26 times then shot him Target flatheads in rocky areas with live pinnings of the conflict along the way. for good measure. Ellison died two days bait such as shiners, bluegill and green sun- Driving on KY 319 brings travel- later, leading to the famous “Paw Paw In- fish on a slip-sinker rig. Anglers have good ers through the coal town of Hardy. On cident” in which the McCoy brothers were motivation to try this kind of fishing. “We 24 Kentucky Afield Summer 2018 fw.ky.gov RANDOLph MCCCCOY “DEVIL” ANSE HATFIELD Patriarch of the McCoy Clan Patriarch of the Hatfield Clan regularly see flatheads above 30 pounds, and up to 45 pounds or so,” Frey said. Good smallmouth bass fishing begins at the first drop downstream of the launch. Cast a beaver-style creature bait in hues of green pumpkin and blue in the flowing wa- ter just above the drop. A 1/8-ounce, green pumpkin or black skirted double-tailed grub also works well here. RANDOLph MCCCCOY “DEVIL ANse” HaTFIELD Paddlers negotiating the braided wa- Patriarch of the McCoy Clan Patriarch of the Hatfield Clan ter just downstream of the launch should take the chute on river left. What follows Photos courtesy www.tourpikecounty.com are a series of mild riffles bordered by -wa VOLATILE COUNTRY ter willows that hold smallmouth bass. This The dramatic events that unfolded during the Hatfield and McCoy feud have is a good place to work a black, 4-inch fi- become part of Kentucky’s lush historical tapestry. Landmarks highlighting violent nesse worm rigged on a 1/8-ounce jig. Black confrontations between the two families are scattered throughout eastern Pike is a productive color for smallmouth bass in County. Many are open to the public. summer and fall. The Tug next flows over a long shoal before taking a hard left.