BOATING GUIDE KENTUCKY FISHING - Kentucky Department of Fish ...

 
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BOATING GUIDE KENTUCKY FISHING - Kentucky Department of Fish ...
KENTUCKY FISHING
                                      & BOATING GUIDE
                                                     MARCH 2018 - FEBRUARY 2019
                        FISH & WILDLIFE:
Photo © Obie Williams

                        1-800-858-1549 • fw.ky.gov

                        Report Game Violations
                            and Fish Kills:
                            1-800-25-ALERT

   KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE RESOURCES #1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601
BOATING GUIDE KENTUCKY FISHING - Kentucky Department of Fish ...
DEFINITIONS
(301 KAR 1:201, KRS 150.010)                                   fore sunrise and end one-half hour after                        and approved by the KDFWR Commis-
     Fishing-related definitions not listed                    sunset.                                                         sion and approved by legislative commit-
here are included in appropriate sections of                   Daily limit is the maximum number of a                          tees.
this guide.                                                    particular species or group of species a per-                   Release means return of the fish, in the best
                                                               son may legally keep in a day or have in                        possible condition, immediately after re-
Angling means taking or attempting to                          possession while fishing.                                       moving the hook, to the water from which
take fish by hook and line in hand, rod in                     Fishing is taking or attempting to take fish                    it was taken in a place where the fish’s im-
hand, jugging, set line or sport fishing trot-                 in any manner, whether or not fish are in                       mediate escape shall not be prevented.
line.                                                          possession.                                                     Resident is anyone who has established
Artificial baits are lures or flies made of                    Lake means impounded waters, from the                           permanent and legal residence in Kentucky
wood, metal, plastic, hair, feathers, pre-                     dam upstream to the first riffle on the main                    and residing here at least 30 days.
served pork rind or similar inert materi-                      stem river and tributary streams or as speci-                   Size limit is the legal length a fish must be
als and having no organic baits including                      fied in regulation.                                             if it is in possession. (Fish length is mea-
dough bait, putty or paste type baits de-                      Length means the distance from the front                        sured from the tip of the closed lower jaw
signed to attract fish by taste or smell.                      tip of a fish’s lower jaw with mouth closed                     to the tip of the tail with fish laid flat on
Authorization number is the number as-                         to the tip of its tail with the fish laid flat on               rule and tail lobes squeezed together.)
signed to a person in lieu of fishing or                       a rule with its tail lobes squeezed together.                   Slot limit means fish within a specified
hunting license when the license is pur-                       Organic baits are insects, minnows, fish                        minimum and maximum size range must
chased over the phone or Internet.                             eggs, worms, corn, cheese, cut bait or simi-                    be released.
Black bass includes largemouth, small-                         lar substances used as a lure.                                  Single hook is a hook with only one point.
mouth, Kentucky (spotted) and Coosa bass.                      Possession limit is the maximum number                          Tenant is any resident sharecropper or
Culling: Replacing a fish in the daily creel                   of unprocessed fish a person may hold after                     lessee who lives and works on farmland
limit with another fish of the same species.                   two days or more of fishing.                                    owned by his/her landlord.
Daylight hours begin one-half hour be-                         Regulation is a written document adopted

                                                                 QUICK REFERENCE
FISHING                                                        Measuring Fish..................................	�����3         Navigating
Asian Carp.............................................22      New Laws..........................................	�����2         Crossing..............................................34
Bordering Waters...................................15          Nuisance Species....................................22            Meeting..............................................34
Brook Trout Streams..............................26            Parasites and Grubs in Fish....................17                 Overtaking..........................................34
Bullfrogs..................................................9   Possession Limits...............................	�����3         Equipment
Consumption Advisories..........................17             Size and Creel Limits.........................	�����3           		Fire Extinguishers...............................35
Didymo..................................................25     Special Regulations............................	�����4          		Marine Sanitation Devices...................36
FINS Lakes..............................................4      Sport Fish List...................................	�����3         Muffling Devices.................................36
Fish Species Identification......................19            State Record Fish...................................28          		Navigation Lights................................36
Fishing Methods                                                Trophy Fish/Master Angler Program.......27                      Personal Flotation Devices......................35
  Trotlines, Jugging and Set Lines..........10                 Trout Seasonal Catch and Release...........23                   Signaling Devices...................................36
  Gigging and Snagging.........................11              Trout Stocking........................................23        Ventilation.............................................36
  Tickling and Noodling.........................11             Turtles.....................................................9   Idle Speed..............................................33
  Bow Fishing.......................................11         Zebra Mussels........................................22         Inflatables..............................................32
  Spear Fishing.....................................11                                                                         Locks and Dams.....................................33
Fishing Tournaments...............................16           BOATING                                                         Personal Watercraft...............................32
Grass Carp...............................................9     Accidents                                                       Prohibited Riding...................................34
Licenses                                                         First Aid.............................................37      Reckless Operation.................................32
  Fees....................................................12   		Hypothermia.......................................37          Registration
  Requirements and Exemptions.............13                     Rendering Aid.....................................37            Display of Numbers and Decals............30
  Senior/Disabled License.......................14               Reporting Requirements.......................37                 Fees....................................................30
  Trout Permit.......................................13        Age Restrictions.....................................31           Transfers.............................................30
  Pay Lakes...........................................13       Airborne Devices....................................31          Restricted Zones.....................................33
  Free Fishing Days................................14          Alcohol..................................................33     Scuba Diving..........................................32
Littering................................................32    Boat, Motor and Lake Restrictions..........31                   Swimming..............................................32
Live Bait................................................10    Buoys.....................................................34    Waterway Markers.................................34
                                                                                                                               Water Skiing .........................................31
BOATING GUIDE KENTUCKY FISHING - Kentucky Department of Fish ...
March 2018 - February 2019

                                                        KENTUCKY FISHING
                                                        & BOATING GUIDE
                                                                                            Obie Williams photo

ABOUT THIS GUIDE
This is a SUMMARY of the laws regarding fishing and boating.
This guide is intended solely for informational use. It is not a
                                                                      3    FISHING REGULATIONS
reprint of any referenced statute or regulation in its entirety and
should not be used as such. Questions about the information con-
tained in this guide should be directed to the Kentucky Department
of Fish and Wildlife Resources BEFORE engaging in the activities
                                                                      16   GENERAL INFORMATION
referenced. Actual wording of any Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS)
or Kentucky Administrative Regulation (KAR) can be viewed at
www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar/frntpage.htm.                                 23   TROUT WATERS
OTHER GUIDES AVAILABLE
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife also produces regulation guides for
spring and fall hunting and trapping, waterfowl and other migra-
                                                                      27   TROPHY FISH
tory bird hunting. Call 1-800-858-1549 weekdays, look for a copy

                                                                      30
of these regulation guides where hunting licenses are sold, or log
on to fw.ky.gov.                                                           BOATING

                                                                                                                  1
BOATING GUIDE KENTUCKY FISHING - Kentucky Department of Fish ...
NEW THIS YEAR
                                                                                The items highlighted in bright blue          mouth bass is now removed.
                                                                           throughout this guide are a quick overview       • Beech Fork Reservoir (Powell County):
     Commonwealth of Kentucky                                              of the changes to this year’s regulations.         Largemouth bass are now under a 15-
          Matthew G. Bevin, Governor                                                                                          inch minimum size limit. Bluegill are
                                                                           FISHING                                            now under a 15-fish daily creel limit.
    FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION                                           • The statewide daily creel limit for crap-      • Benjy Kinman Lake (Henry County):
    1st District: Dr. Harry W. Carloss, Paducah                              pie is now 20 fish per angler per day.           Crappie, bluegill and sunfish now
    2nd District: C.F. “Frank” Williams, Madisonville
    3rd District: Russell J. Gailor, Louisville
                                                                           • The statewide daily creel limit for rain-        under statewide regulations.
    4th District: Kenny Knott, Glasgow                                       bow trout is now 8 fish. The statewide         • Southland Christian Church Lake
    5th District: Kevin R. Bond, Burlington                                  daily creel limit for brown trout is now 1       ( Jessamine County) is now enrolled in
    6th District: Jimmy Bevins, Frankfort                                    fish with a 16-inch minimum size limit.          the Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs)
    7th District: Paul Horn, Prestonsburg
    8th District: Richard Storm, Carlisle                                  • Anglers may use dip nets to collect              program.
    9th District: Dr. Karl Clinard, Somerset                                 baitfish statewide.                            • Willisburg Park Pond (Washington
    Commissioner Emeritus: Dr. James R. Rich, Taylor Mill                  • Anglers using jugs, trot lines or limb lines     County): Largemouth bass are now
                                                                             must now use the Customer Identifica-            under a 1-fish daily creel limit with a
    Department of                                                            tion Number provided on their fishing li-        15-inch minimum size limit, sunfish
    FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES
                                                                             censes to tag their jugs, trot lines or limb     are under a 15-fish daily creel limit
    Commissioner: Gregory K. Johnson
    Deputy Commissioner: Charles Bush
                                                                             lines instead of their name and address.         with no minimum size limit while
    Deputy Commissioner: Karen Waldrop                                     • Barren River Lake: Blue and channel-             channel catfish are under a 4-fish daily
    Wildlife Director: Steve Beam                                            catfish now under a 15-fish daily creel          creel limit with no minimum size limit.
    Fisheries Director: Ron Brooks                                           limit, only one fish may be longer than        • Possession or use of live shad for bait
    Law Enforcement Director: vacant
    Information & Education Director:                                        25 inches.                                       is now prohibited on all Fishing in
     Norm Minch (acting)                                                   • Taylorsville Lake: Crappie minimum               Neighborhoods (FINs) lakes.
    Administrative Services Director: Billye Haslett                         size limit is now 10 inches.                   • Some fishing license and boater
    Engineering, Infrastructure and                                        • Beaver Lake (Anderson County): The               registration fees changed for the 2018
     Technology Director: David Bruce
    Marketing Director: Brian V. Blank                                       15-inch minimum size limit on large-             license year.

    FISHING & BOATING GUIDE
    Editor: Lee McClellan                                                   Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
    Art/Design Director: Adrienne Yancy
    Contributors: Dane Balsman, Ron Brooks,
    Shane Carrier, Dave Dreves, Mike Hardin                                Who We Are                                       Commission, a nine-member citizens
    and Jeff Ross                                                              Created as the Kentucky Game and             board selected by licensed hunters, boat-
                                                                           Fish Commission on March 12, 1912, the           ers and anglers, and appointed by the
                                                                           agency known today as the Kentucky De-           Governor, meets quarterly in Frankfort to
                                                                           partment of Fish and Wildlife Resources          make policy decisions. With input from
                                                                           was established in its present form by the       the agency’s director, program adminis-
                                                                           Kentucky General Assembly in 1944. An            trators and staff biologists, the Commis-
                                                                           agency of the Tourism, Arts & Heritage           sion adopts regulations that must meet
                                                     Obie Williams photo

                                                                           Cabinet, the department today has about          with the approval of the Kentucky Gen-
                                                                           500 full-time employees.                         eral Assembly.

                                                                           What We Do                                       Our Budget
                                                                                Through the decades the department’s              Revenue sources are: hunting and
    Landowner permission required
                                                                           role has expanded to include managing            fishing licenses (51%); boat registration
    for hunting and fishing
                                                                           both game and non-game fish and wildlife         fees (7%); federal program funds (34%);
    A person shall not enter upon the lands
    of another to hunt, fish or trap without                               resources, creating regulations, enforcing       program income (3%); interest income, tax
    the oral or written permission of the                                  wildlife and boating laws, hatching, rear-       check-off donations, and other miscella-
    landowner, tenant or person who has au-                                ing and stocking fish, assisting landowners      neous receipts (5%).
    thority to grant permission. Those who                                 with fish and wildlife habitat improvement,            Budgeted expenditures are: capital
    fail to obtain permission are subject to                               educating youth about the importance of          projects and land acquisitions (4%), admin-
    arrest and prosecution. Railroad tracks                                fish and wildlife and their habitats, stream     istration (11%), wildlife (28%), fisheries
    and rights of way are privately owned                                  restoration, passing on the heritage of ar-      (18%), information and education (12%),
    property and permission to hunt, fish                                  chery and shooting sports, buying land for       and law enforcement (27%).
    or trap must be obtained prior to entry.                               public use, and building boat ramps for an-            The department receives no tax dollars
    (KRS 150:192)                                                          gler access to the state’s public waterways.     from the state’s General Fund, and man-
                                                                                The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife              ages fish and wildlife for all citizens.
2
BOATING GUIDE KENTUCKY FISHING - Kentucky Department of Fish ...
FISHING REGULATIONS

                                                                                                                                                FISHING REGULATIONS
                           STATEWIDE REGULATIONS
Some waterbodies have different size and creel limits, please refer to the “Special Fishing Regulations” section for more details.
Fish not included in this list are considered rough fish. There are no size or creel limits for rough fish, unless special regulations apply.
For daily creel and fishing license purposes, one fishing day equals one calendar day. Except for trout, anglers may cull fish
of a particular species until reaching the daily creel limit. Any additional fish caught in excess of the daily creel limit must be
released immediately.

         SPORT FISH SPECIES                                   Daily Limit               Possession Limit           Minimum Size Limit
                   Largemouth Bass                                 6*                           12*                         12”
BLACK
 BASS

                   Smallmouth Bass                                 6*                           12*                         12”
                Kentucky (Spotted) Bass                            6*                           12*                         none
                      Coosa Bass                                   6*                           12*                         none
                   Rock Bass                                       15                           30                          none
                 Redear Sunfish                                    20                           40                          none
                                                                                                                    15” on walleye and
        Walleye, Sauger and their Hybrids                          6*                           12*
                                                                                                                  hybrids; none on sauger
                 Muskellunge                                        1                          2                            30”
                Chain Pickerel                                      5                         10                            none
                Northern Pike                                     none                       none                           none
          White & Hybrid Striped Bass                             15**                       30**                         none**
                 Striped Bass                                       5                         10                            15”
                  Yellow Bass                                     none                       none                           none
           Crappie (Black & White)                                 20*                        40*                           none
                Rainbow Trout                                       8                         16                            none
                 Brown Trout                                        1                          2                            16”
                 Brook Trout                                                       Catch and release only***
                Lake Sturgeon                                                       Catch and release only
* Singly or combined; a total of these species ** No more than 5 fish in the daily creel limit may be more than 15 inches long.
*** Except for the Cumberland River downstream of Wolf Creek Dam and the upper section of Hatchery Creek, see Special
Regulations section for details.

STATEWIDE SIZE and CREEL                        except some waters have different limits         squeezed together. Undersized fish must
LIMITS (301 KAR 1:060, 1:201; KRS               (see “Special Fishing Regulations”).             be returned immediately to the waters
150.010)                                                                                         from which they were taken in the best
     Fishing season is open year-round          MEASURING FISH 		                                possible physical condition.
in Kentucky, except on waterfowl refug-         (301 KAR 1:201)
es and as otherwise noted in this guide.            Measure all fish from the tip of the
Statewide size and creel limits apply to        lower jaw (closed) to the tip of the tail
all Kentucky waters, public and private,        with fish laid flat on rule with tail lobes         Q: How is a daily creel limit
                                                                                                    different than a possession limit?

                                                            Squeezed tail                           A: The daily creel limit is the
                                                                                                    number of a particular sport fish
                                                                                                    species you may keep in one day’s
                                                                                                    fishing. A possession limit is two
                                                                                                    times the daily creel limit for all
                                                                                                    fish species with a daily creel limit
                                                                                                    and excludes processed fish.
                                       length
                                                                                                                                                        3
BOATING GUIDE KENTUCKY FISHING - Kentucky Department of Fish ...
FISHING REGULATIONS                    SPECIAL FISHING REGULATIONS
                      (301 KAR 1:080, 1:180, 1:201, 2:222            Recreation Park Lake (Mason County),          • Blue and Channel Catfish: 15-fish
                      4:100, KRS 150.010, 150.025)                   Middleton Mills Long Pond and Shel-             daily creel limit, only 1 fish may be
                                                                     terhouse Ponds (Kenton County), Mike            longer than 25 inches.
                      SPECIAL REGULATION WATERS                      Miller Park Lake (Marshall County),           • Crappie: 9-inch minimum size limit.
                      LISTED ALPHABETICALLY                          Miles Park Lakes ( Jefferson County),         • Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:
                           The public waters listed below have       Millennium Park Pond (Boyle Coun-               15-inch minimum size limit except 1
                      different size and/or creel limits than        ty), Panther Creek Park Lake, (Da-              fish in the daily creel limit or 2 in the
                      statewide regulations allow. Statewide         viess County), Prisoner’s Lake (Kenton          possession limit may be less than 15
                      size and creel limits apply unless other-      County), Rotary Park Lake (Hickman              inches long.
                      wise mentioned below. Special boating          County), Scott County Park Lake (Scott        • Walleye: 2 fish daily creel limit; 18- to
                      regulations are listed in the Boating sec-     County), Southgate Lake (Campbell               26-inch protective slot limit. All wall-
                      tion of this guide.                            County), Southland Christian Church             eye caught from 18 to 26 inches long
                           Some privately owned waters may           Lake ( Jessamine County), Three                 must be immediately released.
                      have special size and creel limits as post-    Springs Lake (Warren County), Tom
                      ed by signs.                                   Wallace Park Lake ( Jefferson Coun-           BEAVER CREEK from the KY 90
                                                                     ty), Upper Sportsman’s Lake (Franklin         bridge upstream to the KY 200
                      FINs LAKES:                                    County), Waverly Park Lake ( Jefferson        bridge
                           Lakes in the Fishing In Neighbor-         County), Waymond Morris Park Lake             Wayne County
                      hoods (FINs) program have uniform              (Daviess County), Whitehall Park Lake              All trout caught from October 1
                      regulations for daily creel and size limits:   (Madison County), Yellow Creek Park           through March 31 must be immediately
                      • Rainbow Trout: 5-fish daily limit.           Lake (Daviess County)                        released and only artificial baits shall be
                      • Catfish: 4-fish daily limit.                                                               used during this period.
                      • Sunfish: 15-fish daily limit.                BARK CAMP CREEK
                      • Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum             Whitley County                                BEAVER LAKE
                        size limit, 1 fish daily limit.                   All trout caught from October 1          Anderson County
                      • Possession or use of live shad for bait      through March 31 must be immediately             Possession or use of live shad for
                        is prohibited.                               released and only artificial baits shall be
                           The follwing FINs lakes are now           used during this period.
                      under these special regulations:
                                                                                                                     NEED A PLACE TO FISH?
                           Alexandria Community Park Lake            BARKLEY, KENTUCKY LAKES
                      (Campbell County), Anderson Coun-              (and their connecting canal)                    Find new fishing information
                      ty Community Park Lake (Anderson               • Crappie: 10-inch minimum size limit.          on Kentucky waterbodies by
                      County), Bloomfield Park Lake (Nel-            • Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:               visiting fw.ky.gov. Click on the
                      son County), Bob Noble Park Lake                 15-inch minimum size limit.                   “Find A Place To Fish” tab on
                      (McCracken County), Brickyard Pond             • Sauger: 14-inch minimum size limit.           the left side of the home page.
                      (Knox County), Camp Ernst Lake                                                                 Anglers may search lakes, riv-
                      (Boone County), Carlson Lake (Ft.              BARKLEY TAILWATER – See Cum-                    ers and creeks for boat ramps
                      Knox, Meade County), Cherokee Park             berland River                                   and access points, what species
                      Lake ( Jefferson County), Easy Walk-                                                           are available and maps of how
                      er Park Pond (Montgomery Coun-                 BARREN RIVER upstream of                        to get there plus other useful
                      ty), Fisherman’s Park Lakes ( Jefferson        Barren River Lake; downstream of                information.
                      County), Flemingsburg Old Reser-               the lake to Lock and Dam 1 and all
                                                                                                                     Also under the “Find a Place to
                      voir (Fleming County), Jacobson Park           tributaries
                                                                                                                     Fish” tab is the 2018 Fishing
                      Lake (Fayette County), James D. Beville        • Walleye: 2 fish daily creel limit; 18- to
                                                                                                                     Forecast. This report details the
                      Park Lake (Grayson County), Kentucky             26-inch protective slot limit. All wall-
                                                                                                                     anticipated fishing success for
                      Horse Park Lakes (Fayette County),               eye caught from 18 to 26 inches long
                                                                                                                     each species in major waterbod-
                      Kess Creek Park Lake (Graves County),            must be immediately released.
                                                                                                                     ies based on population samples
                      Kingdom Come State Park Lake (Har-
                                                                                                                     conducted by KDFWR fisheries
                      lan County), Lake Mingo ( Jessamine            BARREN RIVER LAKE
                                                                                                                     biologists.
                      County), Lake Pollywog (Grant Coun-                 The boundaries of Barren Riv-
                      ty), Leary Lake (Grant County), Lo-            er Lake are from the dam upstream to            Although the VPA program is
                      gan Hubble Park Lake (Lincoln Coun-            the KY 100 bridge, Long Creek to the            now in a reduced capacity, many
                      ty), Lower Sportman’s Lake (Franklin           KY 100 bridge, Beaver Creek to the KY           sites remain open to public use.
                      County), Lusby Lake (Scott County),            1297 bridge, Skaggs Creek to the Mat-           Check the Kentucky Fish and
                      Madisonville City Park Lakes (Hop-             thews Mill Road bridge and Peter Creek          Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov.
                      kins County), Maysville-Mason County           to the Peter Creek Road bridge.
  4
BOATING GUIDE KENTUCKY FISHING - Kentucky Department of Fish ...
bait is prohibited.                                                                            1 fish daily creel limit for brown trout

                                                                                                                                             FISHING REGULATIONS
• Channel Catfish: 12-inch minimum              Did you know?                                  and only artificial baits may be used.
  size limit.
                                                Camping is prohibited on KDFWR
                                                owned or managed lakes.                        CLEAR CREEK
BEECH FORK RESERVOIR                                                                           Bell County
Powell County                                                                                       All trout caught from October 1
• Bluegill: 15-fish daily creel limit.        CARPENTER LAKE                                   through March 31 must be immediately
• Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum            Daviess County                                   released and only artificial baits shall be
  size limit.                                      Possession or use of live shad for          used during this period.
                                              bait is prohibited.
BERT COMBS LAKE                                                                                CORINTH LAKE
Clay County                                   CARR CREEK LAKE                                  Grant County
     Possession or use of live shad for       • Crappie: 9-inch minimum size limit.                 Possession or use of live shad for
bait is prohibited.                           • Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:                bait is prohibited.
                                                15-inch minimum size limit.                    • Channel Catfish: 12-inch minimum
BIG BONE CREEK                                                                                   size limit.
Boone County                                  CARTER CAVES STATE PARK LAKE
     All trout caught from October 1          (also called Smoky Valley Lake)                  CUMBERLAND GAP NATIONAL
through March 31 must be immediately               Fishing during daylight hours only.         HISTORICAL PARK
released and only artificial baits shall be        Possession or use of live shad for          (301 KAR 1:035)
used during this period.                      bait is prohibited.                                   Special fishing regulations are in
                                              • Largemouth Bass: 12- to 15-inch                effect on Cumberland Gap Nation-
BOLTZ LAKE                                      protective slot limit. All largemouth          al Historical Park. For complete fishing
Grant County                                    bass caught between 12 and 15 inch-            information on this area contact: Cum-
     Possession or use of live shad for         es in length must be immediately re-           berland Gap National Historical Park,
bait is prohibited.                             leased; 6 fish daily creel limit, only 1       P.O. Box 1848, Middlesboro, KY 40965,
• Channel Catfish: 12-inch minimum              fish may be longer than 15 inches.             phone (606) 248-2817.
  size limit.
                                              CASEY CREEK                                      CUMBERLAND RIVER upstream
BRIGGS LAKE                                   Trigg County                                     from Cumberland Falls and all
Logan County                                       All trout caught from October 1             tributaries:
     Possession or use of live shad for       through March 31 must be immediately             • Walleye: 2 fish daily creel limit; 18- to
bait is prohibited.                           released and only artificial baits shall be        26-inch protective slot limit. All wall-
                                              used during this period.                           eye caught from 18 to 26 inches long
BUCKHORN LAKE                                                                                    must be immediately released.
• Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:             CAVE RUN LAKE
  15-inch minimum size limit.                       Gigging and snagging prohibited            CUMBERLAND RIVER from Wolf
• Muskellunge: 36-inch minimum size           in the main lake and all tributaries up          Creek Dam to the Tennessee state
  limit.                                      to the first riffle. The location of the first   line
• Crappie: 9-inch minimum size limit.         riffle may change depending on water                  All licensed anglers must possess a
                                              levels.                                          trout permit on this portion of Cumber-
BULLOCK PEN LAKE                              • Largemouth Bass: 13 to 16-inch pro-
Grant and Boone counties                         tective slot limit. All largemouth bass
• Channel Catfish: 12-inch minimum
  size limit.
                                                 caught between 13 and 16 inches in
                                                 length must be released immediately.
                                                                                                 Q: Is fishing allowed around a
                                                                                                 dock or a marina?
                                              • Smallmouth Bass: 18-inch minimum
CANE CREEK
Laurel County
                                                 size limit.
                                              • Muskellunge: 36-inch minimum size
                                                                                                 A: It depends. Public marinas
                                                                                                 on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
     All trout caught from October 1             limit.                                          Lakes have contractual agreements
through March 31 must be immediately
                                                                                                 that address lease space on public
released and only artificial baits shall be   CEDAR CREEK LAKE                                   waters. The Corps presently allows
used during this period.                      Lincoln County                                     the marina owners or operators to
                                              • Largemouth Bass: 20-inch minimum                 post signs that prohibit fishing with-
CARNICO LAKE                                    size limit, 1 fish daily creel limit.            in 150 feet of their floating struc-
Nicholas County                               • Channel Catfish: 12-inch minimum                 tures. These agreements do not pro-
• Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum              size limit.                                      hibit a person from fishing in their
  size limit.                                                                                    boat rental slip. This policy does not
                                              CHIMNEY TOP CREEK                                  apply to privately owned boat docks
                                              Wolfe County                                       on Corps lakes.
                                                 A 16-inch minimum size limit and
                                                                                                                                                     5
BOATING GUIDE KENTUCKY FISHING - Kentucky Department of Fish ...
land River. This includes Hatchery Creek        may be kept daily.                           ELK SPRING CREEK
FISHING REGULATIONS   and all tributaries up to the first riffle.
                           Anglers may not attract or chum
                                                                    • Sauger: 14-inch minimum size limit,
                                                                      10 fish daily creel limit.
                                                                                                                   Wayne County
                                                                                                                        All trout caught from October 1
                      trout with bait, corn or other attractants    • Rainbow and Brown Trout: 7-fish              through March 31 must be immediately
                      designed to draw numbers of trout to a          aggregate daily creel limit.                 released and only artificial baits shall be
                      specific area. This includes all tributar-    • Walleye: 16-inch minimum size limit,         used during this period.
                      ies up to the first riffle and in Hatch-        5 fish daily creel limit.
                      ery Creek. For regulations on Hatchery                                                       ELMER DAVIS LAKE
                      Creek, refer to the Hatchery Creek sec-       DEWEY LAKE                                     Owen County
                      tion on page 7.                               • Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:                   Possession or use of live shad for
                      • Brown Trout: 20-inch minimum size             15-inch minimum size limit.                  bait is prohibited.
                        limit, 1 fish daily creel limit, also ap-   • Blue and Channel Catfish: 15 fish            • Largemouth Bass: 12 to 15-inch pro-
                        plies to all tributary streams, except        daily creel limit, only 1 fish may be          tective slot limit. All largemouth bass
                        Hatchery Creek.                               longer than 25 inches.                         caught between 12 and 15 inches in
                      • Rainbow Trout: 15 to 20-inch pro-           • Muskellunge: 36-inch minimum size              length must be immediately released.
                        tective slot limit. All trout caught be-      limit.                                       • Channel Catfish: 12-inch minimum
                        tween 15 and 20 inches in length                                                             size limit.
                        must be immediately released. Five          DIX RIVER from Herrington Lake
                        fish daily limit, only one rainbow          Dam downstream for two miles                   FAGAN BRANCH LAKE (also called
                        trout may be longer than 20 inches.         Fishing with artificial lures or flies only.   Lebanon City Lake)
                        Also applies to all tributary streams,                                                     Marion County
                        except Hatchery Creek.                      DOE RUN LAKE                                   • Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:
                      • Brook Trout: 1 fish daily creel lim-        Kenton County                                    12 to 15-inch protective slot limit.
                        it with a 15-inch minimum size limit.            Possession or use of live shad for          All largemouth and smallmouth bass
                        Also applies to all tributary streams,      bait is prohibited.                              caught between 12 and 15 inches in
                        except Hatchery Creek.                      • Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum               length must be released immediately.
                                                                      size limit, 3 fish daily creel limit.
                      CUMBERLAND RIVER from Lake                    • Channel Catfish: Four fish daily creel       FISHTRAP LAKE
                      Barkley Dam downstream to conflu-               limit, no minimum size limit.                • Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:
                      ence with Ohio River                                                                           15-inch minimum size limit.
                            Gigging and snagging only permit-       DOG FORK                                       • Crappie: 9-inch minimum size limit.
                      ted downstream of U.S. 62 bridge with a       Wolfe County                                   • Blue and Channel Catfish: 15 fish
                      daily creel limit of 8 fish. Harvesting of        Only artificial baits with a single          daily creel limit, only 1 fish in the dai-
                      sportfish by gigging or snagging is pro-      hook shall be used. Brook trout must be          ly creel limit may be longer than 25
                      hibited. All snagged or gigged rough fish     immediately released.                            inches.
                      including paddlefish, with the exception                                                     • Walleye: 2 fish daily creel limit; 18- to
                      of shad, herring or Asian carp, shall be      EAST FORK INDIAN CREEK                           26-inch protective slot limit. All wall-
                      taken into possession and not be culled.      Menifee County                                   eye caught from 18 to 26 inches long
                      Snagged or gigged fish must not be dis-            All trout caught from October 1             must be immediately released.
                      posed of on the bank. Disposing of fish       through March 31 must be immediately
                      on the bank is littering and subject to a     released and only artificial baits shall be    FLOYD’S FORK from U.S. 60 bridge
                      fine. See the gigging and snagging sec-       used during this period.                       downstream to U.S. 150 bridge
                      tion on page 11 of this guide for addi-                                                      Jefferson County
                      tional information. Snagged paddlefish        ELKHORN CREEK in Franklin                      • Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:
                      or their roe cannot be sold.                  County from confluence of North                  15-inch minimum size limit, 1 fish
                      • Sauger: 14-inch minimum size limit.         and South forks downstream to                    daily creel limit.
                                                                    Kentucky River                                 • Rainbow Trout: All trout caught from
                      DALE HOLLOW LAKE                              • Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:                Oct. 1 through Mar. 31 must be im-
                      • Crappie: 10-inch minimum size limit,          12 to 16-inch protective slot lim-             mediately released and only artificial
                        15 fish daily creel limit.                    it. Largemouth and smallmouth bass             baits shall be used during this period.
                      • Black Bass creel: includes largemouth,        caught between 12 and 16 inches in
                        smallmouth and Kentucky (spotted)             length must be immediately released.         GENERAL BUTLER STATE PARK
                        bass – 5 fish daily creel limit on black      Daily limit of 6 may include no more         LAKE
                        bass singly or combined, only two of          than 2 fish longer than 16 inches.           Carroll County
                        which may be smallmouth bass.               • For regulatory purposes, the bound-               Possession or use of live shad for
                      • Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum              ary of Elkhorn Creek is a permanent          bait is prohibited.
                        size limit.                                   marker just below the first shoal up-        • Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum
                      • Smallmouth Bass: 16 to 21-inch pro-           stream from its confluence with the            size limit, 3 fish daily creel limit.
                        tective slot limit. One fish over 21          Kentucky River.                              • Channel Catfish: 4 fish daily creel
                        inches and one fish under 16 inches                                                          limit, no minimum size limit.
  6
BOATING GUIDE KENTUCKY FISHING - Kentucky Department of Fish ...
GOLDEN POND (Land Between The              • Walleye: 2 fish daily creel limit, an 18-   bait is prohibited.

                                                                                                                                     FISHING REGULATIONS
Lakes National Recreation Area)              to 26-inch protective slot limit. All       • Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum
• Channel Catfish: 15-inch minimum           walleye caught from 18 to 26 inches           size limit.
  size limit, 5 fish daily creel limit.      long must be immediately released.
                                                                                         LAKE MALONE
GRAYSON LAKE                               KENTUCKY RIVER WMA BOONE                      • Largemouth Bass: 12 to 15-inch pro-
• Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:          TRACT, Henry County                             tective slot limit. All largemouth bass
  15-inch minimum size limit.              Benjy Kinman Lake:                              caught between 12 and 15 inches in
                                           • Largemouth Bass: No harvest.                  length must be immediately released.
GREENBO LAKE                               • Catfish: 4 fish daily creel limit.          • Channel Catfish: 12-inch minimum
Greenup County                             • Trolling motor only.                          size limit.
     Possession or use of live shad for    All other ponds:
bait is prohibited.                        • Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum            LAKE REBA
• Bluegill and other Sunfish: 15 fish        size limit; 1 fish daily creel limit.       Madison County
  daily creel limit.                       • Bluegill and other sunfish: 15 fish              Possession or use of live shad for
• Areas marked by signage and buoys          daily creel limit.                          bait is prohibited.
  near the Jesse Stuart Lodge are peri-    • Crappie: 15 fish daily creel limit.         • Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:
  odically closed to fishing.              • Catfish: 4 fish daily creel limit.            15-inch minimum size limit, 3 fish
                                           • Trolling motor only.                          daily creel limit.
GREEN RIVER LAKE                                                                         • Blue and Channel Catfish: 12-inch
• Crappie: 9-inch minimum size limit.      KINCAID LAKE                                    minimum size limit.
• Muskellunge: 36-inch minimum size        Pendleton County
  limit.                                   • Channel Catfish: 12-inch minimum            LAKE SHELBY
                                             size limit.                                 Shelby County
GUIST CREEK LAKE                                                                         • Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum
Shelby County                              LAKE BESHEAR                                    size limit, 3 fish daily creel limit.
• Channel Catfish: 12-inch minimum         Caldwell County                               • Channel Catfish: 4 fish daily creel
  size limit.                              • Channel Catfish: 12-inch minimum              limit, no minimum size limit.
                                           size limit.
HATCHERY CREEK                                                                           LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES
Russell County                             LAKE BLYTHE                                   NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
  Anglers must possess a trout permit      Christian County                              (301 KAR 1:031)
  to fish Hatchery Creek.                  • Largemouth Bass: 12 to 15-inch pro-              Special fishing regulations are in
• Brook, Rainbow and Brown Trout:            tective slot limit. All largemouth bass     effect for ponds and small lakes within
  Upper section: As designated by signs,     caught between 12 and 15 inches in          Land Between The Lakes National Rec-
  5 trout aggregate daily creel limit.       length must be immediately released.        reation Area. For complete fishing in-
  Lower section: Catch and release                                                       formation on this area, anglers should
  only and only artificial baits may be    LAKE CHUMLEY                                  contact: Land Between The Lakes Na-
  used. The lower boundary of Hatch-       Lincoln County                                tional Recreation Area, Golden Pond,
  ery Creek is delineated as a straight        Fishing during daylight hours only.       KY 42231, phone (270) 924-2000.
  line between opposite points where
  Hatchery Creek meets the main stem       LAKE CUMBERLAND                               LAUREL RIVER LAKE
  of the Cumberland River.                      The boundaries of Lake Cumber-           • Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum
                                           land are defined as Cumberland Falls            size limit.
KENTUCKY, BARKLEY LAKES                    on the Cumberland River, Devils Jump          • Smallmouth Bass: 18-inch minimum
(and their connecting canal)               on the Big South Fork, the Narrows of           size limit, 2 fish daily creel limit.
• Crappie: 10-inch minimum size limit.     Rockcastle River and Laurel River Lake        • Crappie: 9-inch minimum size limit,
• Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:          Dam on Laurel River.                            15 fish daily creel limit.
  15-inch minimum size limit.              • Crappie: 10-inch minimum size limit.
• Sauger: 14-inch minimum size limit.      • Lake Sturgeon: Catch and release only.      LEARY LAKE
                                           • Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum            Grant County
KENTUCKY LAKE TAILWATER –                    size limit.                                     Fishing during daylight hours only.
see Tennessee River                        • Smallmouth Bass: 18-inch minimum
                                             size limit.                                 LEBANON CITY LAKE – see Fagan
KENTUCKY RIVER, upstream of                • Striped Bass: 22-inch minimum size          Branch Lake
Lock and Dam 14, the North Fork              limit, 2 fish daily creel limit.
and tributaries including Carr Fork                                                      LEFT FORK, BEAVER CREEK
below Carr Creek Lake along with           LAKE JERICHO                                  Floyd County
the Middle and South Forks and all         Henry County                                      All trout caught from October 1
                                              Possession or use of live shad for         through March 31 must be immediately
tributaries
                                                                                                                                             7
BOATING GUIDE KENTUCKY FISHING - Kentucky Department of Fish ...
released and only artificial baits shall be     size limit, 3 fish daily creel limit.       fish daily creel limit on trout and only
FISHING REGULATIONS   used during this period.                      • Channel Catfish: 4 fish daily creel
                                                                      limit, no minimum size limit.
                                                                                                                  artificial baits shall be used.

                      LEVISA FORK OF BIG SANDY                                                                    PAINTSVILLE LAKE
                      RIVER above Fishtrap Lake and all             NOLIN RIVER LAKE                              • Largemouth Bass: 12 to 15-inch pro-
                      tributaries                                        Lake upper boundary is the Wheel-          tective slot limit. All largemouth bass
                      • Walleye: 2 fish daily creel limit; 18- to   ers Mill Road bridge in the Nolin Riv-          caught between 12 and 15 inches in
                        26-inch protective slot limit. All wall-    er arm and to the KY 728 bridge in the          length must be released immediately.
                        eye caught from 18 to 26 inches long        Bacon Creek arm.                              • Smallmouth Bass: 18-inch minimum
                        must be immediately released.               • Crappie: 9-inch minimum size limit.           size limit.
                                                                    • Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:
                      LINCOLN HOMESTEAD STATE                         15-inch size limit, except 1 fish in the    PARCHED CORN CREEK
                      PARK LAKE                                       daily limit or 2 in the possession limit    Wolfe County
                      Washington County                               may be less than 15 inches long.                Only artificial baits with single
                           Fishing during daylight hours only.                                                    hook shall be used. Brook trout must be
                      Possession or use of live shad for bait is    OHIO RIVER – see also, “Bordering             immediately released.
                      prohibited.                                   Waters” page 15
                      • Channel Catfish: 4 fish daily creel         • Walleye, Sauger and their Hybrids:          PEABODY WMA LAKES
                        limit, no minimum size limit.                 No minimum size limit, 10 fish daily             In addition to a fishing license, a
                      • Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum              creel limit, singly or combined.            $15.00 user permit is required of per-
                        size limit; 3 fish daily creel limit.       • White Bass, Striped Bass and their          sons age 16 and over while on Peabody
                                                                      Hybrids: 30 fish daily creel limit, only    WMA. Permits can be purchased where
                      MARION COUNTY LAKE                              4 fish may be 15 inches or longer.          fishing licenses are sold. Fishing open
                           Possession or use of live shad for       • Blue, Channel and Flathead Cat-             Mar. 16 - Oct. 14 on Goose, Island and
                      bait is prohibited.                             fish: Anglers may keep one blue cat-        South Lake, all other lakes open year-
                      • Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum              fish and one flathead catfish 35 inches     round.
                        size limit.                                   or longer and one channel catfish 28
                                                                      inches or longer daily. No daily creel      PIKEVILLE CITY LAKE
                      MARTIN’S FORK LAKE and all                      limit on catfish under those limits.        Pike County
                      tributaries                                                                                 • Largemouth Bass: All largemouth
                      • Walleye: 2 fish daily creel limit; 18- to   OTTER CREEK                                     bass caught must be immediately
                        26-inch protective slot limit. All wall-    Meade County                                    released.
                        eye caught from 18 to 26 inches long        • Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:
                        must be immediately released.                 12- to 16-inch protective slot limit.       POOR FORK and its tributaries
                                                                      All largemouth and smallmouth bass          Letcher County
                      McNEELY LAKE                                    caught between 12 and 16 inches in              Downstream to the first crossing of
                      Jefferson County                                length must be immediately released;        KY 932, only artificial baits with single
                           Possession or use of live shad for         6 fish daily creel limit, only 1 fish may   hook shall be used. Brook trout must be
                      bait is prohibited.                             be longer than 16 inches.                   immediately released.
                      • Blue and Channel Catfish: 12-inch                All trout caught in Fort Knox Mil-
                        minimum size limit.                         itary Reservation and in Otter Creek          REFORMATORY LAKE
                                                                    Park from Oct. 1 through Mar. 31 must         Oldham County
                      MIDDLE FORK, RED RIVER                        be immediately released and only artifi-      • Blue and Channel Catfish: 12-inch
                      Powell County                                 cial baits shall be used during this peri-      minimum size limit.
                           Within the Natural Bridge State          od. There is a one-mile section of Otter
                      Park, all trout caught from October 1         Creek as posted by signs in Fort Knox         ROCK CREEK from Bell Farm Bridge
                      through March 31 must be immediately          Military Reservation where trout fish-        upstream to Tennessee state line
                      released and only artificial baits shall be   ing is open to statewide regulations. Fort    McCreary County
                      used during this period.                      Knox Military Reservation requires the             All trout caught from October 1
                                                                    purchase of a $10 permit to fish and is       through March 31 must be immediately
                      MILL CREEK LAKE                               closed to fishing on Tuesdays. Anglers        released and only artificial baits shall be
                      Powell and Wolfe counties                     must check-in with the Fort Knox Hunt         used during this period.
                           Possession or use of live shad for       Control Office at (502) 624-2712 before
                      bait is prohibited.                           each day’s fishing.                           ROUGH RIVER LAKE
                      • Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum                                                          • Crappie: 9-inch minimum size limit.
                        size limit; 3 fish daily creel limit.       PAINT CREEK from the KY 40                    • Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:
                                                                    bridge downstream to the first U.S.             15-inch minimum size limit except 1
                      NEW HAVEN OPTIMIST LAKE                       460 bridge                                      fish in the daily creel limit or 2 in the
                      Nelson County                                 Johnson County                                  possession limit may be less than 15
                      • Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum                16-inch minimum size limit and 1            inches long.
  8
SHANTY HOLLOW LAKE                             TAYLORSVILLE LAKE                               roe cannot be sold. Gigging is prohibited

                                                                                                                                             FISHING REGULATIONS
Warren County                                       Lake upper boundary is Dry Dock            in the Tennessee River below Kentucky
     Possession or use of live shad for        Road on Salt River.                             Dam. See the Gigging and Snagging sec-
bait is prohibited.                            • Crappie: 10-inch minimum size limit,          tion on page 11 for more information.
• Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum               15 fish daily creel limit.                    • Sauger: 14-inch minimum size limit.
  size limit.                                  • Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:
• Channel Catfish: 12-inch minimum               15-inch minimum size limit.                   TRAMMEL CREEK
  size limit.                                  • Blue and Channel Catfish: 15-fish             Allen County
                                                 daily creel limit, only 1 fish may be              All trout caught from October 1
SHILLALAH CREEK                                  longer than 25 inches.                        through March 31 must be immediately
Bell County                                                                                    released and only artificial baits shall be
     Outside the Cumberland Gap Na-            TENNESSEE RIVER from Ken-                       used during this period.
tional Park as posted, only artificial baits   tucky Lake Dam downstream to                    • Brown Trout: 16-inch minimum size
with single hook shall be used. Brook          confluence with Ohio River                        limit, 1 fish daily creel limit.
trout must be immediately released.                  The area from Kentucky Dam to             • RainbowTrout: 5 fish daily creel limit.
                                               the new U.S. 62 bridge will be open to
SPORTSMAN’S LAKES                              snagging 24 hours per day from January          WILLISBURG PARK POND
Franklin County                                1 through May 31. From June 1 through           Washington County
    Fishing during daylight hours only.        December 31, the area is open to snag-          • Channel Catfish: 4-fish daily creel-
                                               ging from sunset to sunrise. The area of          limit, no minimum size limit.
SPURLINGTON LAKE                               the Tennessee River from the new U.S.           • Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum
Taylor County                                  62 bridge to the I-24 bridge is closed            size limit, 1-fish daily creel limit.
     Possession or use of live shad for        to snagging year round. The area from           • Sunfish: 15-fish daily creel limit, no
bait is prohibited.                            the I-24 bridge to the confluence with            minimum size limit.
                                               the Ohio River is open to snagging year
SWIFT CAMP CREEK                               round. There is now a daily snagging creel      WOOD CREEK LAKE
Clifty Wilderness, Wolfe County                limit of 8 fish in aggregate and shall not      Laurel County
     All trout caught from October 1           exceed the daily creel limit for any sport      • Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:
through May 31 must be released im-            fish in which the creel limit is under 8          15-inch minimum size limit.
mediately and only artificial baits shall      fish per day. Snagging must cease if any        • Walleye: 2 fish daily creel limit; 18- to
be used during this period.                    sport fish daily creel limit is attained. All     26-inch protective slot limit. All wall-
                                               fish snagged including paddlefish, ex-            eye caught from 18 to 26 inches long
SYMPSON LAKE                                   cept shad, herring or Asian carp, must            must be immediately released.
Nelson County                                  be taken into possession and not culled.
• Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum             Snagged fish must not be disposed on            YATESVILLE LAKE
  size limit.                                  the bank. This action is littering and sub-     • Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:
                                               ject to a fine. Snagged paddlefish or their       15-inch minimum size limit.

                                           OTHER SPECIES
BULLFROGS		                                          Anglers may take snapping turtles         one decoy turtle may remain. Any other
(301 KAR 1:082)                                (except alligator snapping turtles) and         species (except soft shelled and snapping
     The taking season for bullfrogs           softshell turtles year round by the same        turtles) caught in a turtle trap must be
opens at noon on the third Friday in           methods legal for taking rough fish spe-        released unharmed.
May (May 18, 2018) and runs through            cies. Commercial fishing gear may not
Oct. 31. If a gun or bow and arrow are         be used to take turtles. A hunting license      GRASS CARP HARVEST
used, a hunting license is required. If        is required when taking turtles by gun          PROHIBITED
frogs are taken by pole and line, a fishing    or by bow and arrow. Otherwise a fish-          (301 KAR 1:201)
license is required. If frogs are taken by     ing license is required. Turtles can not be          Harvesting grass carp is prohib-
gig or by hand, then either a hunting or       sold.                                           ited in any lake owned or managed by
fishing license is valid. The daily noon-            Turtle traps may be one of two            the Kentucky Department of Fish and
to-noon creel limit for bullfrogs is 15.       kinds: either a barrel or drum with a tilt-     Wildlife Resources. Anglers who catch
The possession limit is 30.                    ing trigger board or a floating log raft        a grass carp from one of these lakes must
                                               with an enclosed twine or wire mesh             immediately return the fish to the water
TURTLES                                        bag. Turtle traps must be inspected daily.      where it was caught. Grass carp are used
(301 KAR 1:058)                                All turtles must be removed daily except        to control aquatic vegetation.
                                                                                                                                                     9
LIVE BAIT FOR PERSONAL USE                   herring and shad may only be used in             diameter is legal statewide.
FISHING REGULATIONS   (301 KAR 1:130, 1:122)                       the waters from which they were col-
                                                                   lected. A commercial license is required
                                                                                                                  • Minnow Traps: Maximum legal size
                                                                                                                    statewide: 3 feet long, 18 inches in di-
                            No live fish, live bait fish or live
                      bait organisms that are not native or        to take live bait from public waters open        ameter, 1-inch openings for catching.
                      established in Kentucky waters shall be      to commercial fishing for the purpose of       • Seines: Maximum legal size statewide:
                      bought, sold, possessed, imported, or in     selling.                                         10 feet long, 4 feet deep, ¼-inch mesh.
                      any way used or released into waters of            Regardless of size or how obtained,        Maximum legal size in the Ohio and
                      this Commonwealth. Blueback herring          it is illegal to use any sport fish for bait     Mississippi rivers and Kentucky and
                      are not native to Kentucky and may not       (except redear sunfish less than 6 inches        Barkley lakes: 30 feet long, 6 feet deep
                      be imported or possessed in this state.      long). (Sport fish species listed on page        and ¼-inch bar mesh.
                            Holders of sport fishing licenses      3). Live bait fishes are defined as red-       • Sport Cast Nets: Maximum sport cast
                      may take live bait from public waters        ear sunfish less than 6 inches long and          net size is 20 feet in diameter with
                      and may possess up to 500 live bait fish-    rough fish except blackside dace, pale-          maximum 1-inch bar mesh statewide
                      es which include shad (except on lakes       zone shiner, Cumberland darter, relict           except in the following waters. Sport
                      where possession or use of live shad is      darter and tuxedo darter. Also, see page         cast nets prohibited in: 1) lakes hav-
                      prohibited) and herring, 500 crayfish, 25    21 for a description of these protected          ing fewer than 500 surface acres, 2)
                      spring lizards or dusky salamanders, 5       fish species. Bluegills are not sport fish       Hatchery Creek in Russell County.
                      frogs (other than bullfrogs), 5 tadpoles,    and may be taken for bait as described
                      100 native lampreys, 500 other aquatic       above.                                              All sport fish incidentally taken
                      invertebrate organisms other than mus-             Live bait may be taken with the fol-     while capturing live bait with seines, dip
                      sels, and any number of unshelled Asi-       lowing gear:                                   nets or cast nets must be released imme-
                      atic clams. Live wild caught Asian carp,     • Dip Nets: Maximum size of 3 feet in          diately unharmed into the water.

                         KNOW YOUR TURTLES!

                         COMMON SNAPPING TURTLE                                                          ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE
                         Legal to take                                                                                 Illegal to take

                                                           FISHING METHODS
                                                                   must be set at least three feet below the      trotlines or 25 set lines. Each sport fish-
                         No firearms                               water’s surface. Jugging is fishing with a
                                                                   single baited line attached to any float-
                                                                                                                  ing trotline, jug line or set line must be:
                                                                                                                  1) permanently labeled with the cus-
                         Fish may not be taken with use of         ing object. A jug line may have no more        tomer identification number provided
                         a firearm.                                than one single or multi-barbed hook. A        on fishing licenses; 2) baited, checked
                                                                   set line is a line with one single or multi
                                                                   barbed hook. It may be attached to a tree
                      SPORT FISHING TROTLINES,                     limb, tree trunk, bank pole or other sta-        Q: What is legal equipment for
                      JUGGING and SET LINES (LIMB                  tionary object on the bank of a stream or        sport fish?
                      LINES)                                       impoundment.
                      (301 KAR 1:410; KRS 150.010)                       One person may use no more than            A: Anglers may legally take
                           A sport fishing trotline is a line      two sport fishing trotlines or 50 jug lines      sport fish by hook and line in hand,
                      with no more than 50 single or multi-        or 25 set lines at any one time. Each boat       rod in hand, jugging, setline or
                      barbed baited hooks that must be at least    may not use more than 50 jug lines, but          sport fishing trotline.
                      18 inches apart. A sport fishing trotline    each occupant may use two sportfishing
  10
and all fish removed at least once every       into possession and cannot be culled or

                                                                                                                                              FISHING REGULATIONS
24 hours; 3) removed from water, bank
or tree when fishing ceases.
                                               released. Anglers must cease gigging or
                                               snagging once they attain the 2 paddle-
                                                                                                 Q: May you clean your fish
                                                                                                 while on the water?
                                               fish daily creel limit. It is illegal to sell
      Prohibited Areas: Sport fish-
ing trotlines, jug lines or set lines may
                                               paddlefish or their roe taken by sportfish
                                               snagging methods. No daily limits on
                                                                                                 A: Anglers shall not remove any
                                                                                                 part of the head or tail of any fish
not be used within 200 yards below any         any other rough fish. Regardless of con-          for which there is a size or creel
dam. Sport fishing trotlines, jug lines or     dition, all sport fish taken by gigging and       limit until finished fishing and off
set lines are not allowed in Department        snagging must be immediately returned             the water.
owned/managed lakes having less than           to the water (except snagging in the
500 surface acres, except those located        Tennessee River below Kentucky Dam.
on Ballard and Boatwright WMAs.                See special regulations on page 9).             methods are permitted in all waters. The
No sport fishing trotlines are allowed              Persons may gig rough fish through         daily creel limit is 15 rough fish, no more
within 700 yards below Kentucky Dam,           the ice any time the surface is frozen          than 5 of which can be catfish.
the area between Barkley Dam and U.S.          thick enough to stand upon. The gigger
62 bridge, or below the following Ohio         must gig while supported by the ice.            BOW FISHING
River dams from the face of the dam to                                                         (301 KAR 1:410)
the end of the outer lock wall: Smith-              Gigging and snagging are pro-                    Rough fish (except alligator gar)
land, Newburgh, Cannelton, Mark-               hibited in the following waters or              may be taken year-round by long bow,
land, Meldahl and Greenup; McAlpine            areas:                                          crossbow, compound bow, recurve bow
downstream to the K&I railroad bridge;         • Cave Run Lake including all tributar-         or pneumatic air arrow launching de-
J.T. Meyers (Uniontown) to the end of            ies up to the first riffle (The location of   vice. Sport fish may not be taken with
the outer lock wall and that portion of          the first riffle may change depending         this gear. Arrows must have a barbed or
the split channel around the southern            on water level).                              retractable style point that has a line at-
part of Wabash Island from the fixed           • Cumberland River, below Wolf Creek            tached for retrieval. Catfish have a daily
weir dam to the first dike.                      Dam downstream to the Tennessee               creel limit of 5 (in aggregate) and pad-
                                                 line including all of Hatchery Creek          dlefish have a daily creel limit of 2. There
GIGGING AND SNAGGING FISH                        and all tributaries for ½ mile upstream       is no limit on other rough fish. Bow
(301 KAR 1:410, 1:082; KRS 150.010)              of their confluence with the Cumber-          fisherman may fish within 200 yards of
     Gigging means spearing or impal-            land River.                                   a dam, except by boat in boat restricted
ing fish on any pronged or barbed in-          • Within 200 yards of a dam, except be-         areas. Bow fishing is prohibited on the
strument attached to the end of any rig-         low Kentucky Dam.                             Cumberland River below Wolf Creek
id object. Snagging means taking fish or       • Cumberland River, below Barkley Dam           Dam downstream to the Tennessee line,
other aquatic animals by a rapid drawing         downstream to the U.S. 62 bridge.             including Hatchery Creek and all tribu-
motion (rather than enticement by bait)        • Tennessee River, below Kentucky Dam           taries for ½ mile upstream of their con-
using a hand-held rod and attached line          from the new U.S. 62 bridge to I-24           fluence with the Cumberland River.
with one single treble hook. Except, in          bridge.                                             Persons using a bow and arrow for
Green River, Rolling Fork River and            • Middle Fork of Kentucky River from            fishing must have the appropriate fish-
their tributaries, up to five single or five     Buckhorn Lake downstream to the               ing license and may take rough fish from
treble hooks may be used for snagging. A         Breathitt County line.                        bank or boat. Bow anglers cannot sell
rod legal for snagging must be equipped        • Rough River, below Rough River Dam            paddlefish or their roe taken by bow
with line, guides and a reel.                    to KY 54 bridge                               and arrow. Paddlefish and catfish taken
     The statewide season for gigging          • In the Tennessee River below Ken-             by bow and arrow must be taken into
and/or snagging rough fish is from Feb-          tucky Dam, gigging prohibited year-           immediate possession and cannot be
ruary 1 through May 10. It is illegal to         round.                                        culled. Fish taken by bow must not be
possess a gig on a stream or lake or in a           For special regulations concerning         discarded on the bank. Bank disposal is
boat from November 1 through January           gigging and snagging in the Cumber-             littering and subject to a fine.
31. A person may gig or snag fish from         land River below Barkley Dam and in
the bank of a stream during the day or         the Tennessee River below Kentucky              SPEAR FISHING
night. Gigging and snagging is not legal       Lake refer to Special Regulations on            (301 KAR 1:410)
from a platform or boat, except that gig-      pages 6 and 9 of this guide.                         Underwater spearing of rough fish
ging is legal from a boat on lakes 500                                                         with hand-held or mechanically pro-
surface acres or larger and only during        TICKLING AND NOODLING                           pelled spear is permitted year-round, but
daylight hours.                                (301 KAR 1:410; KRS 150.010)                    only in lakes having 1,000 surface acres
     There is a statewide limit of 2 pad-          The tickling and noodling (hand             or more. All participants in this sport
dlefish for either gigging or snagging         grabbing) season for rough fish is June         must be submerged while spear fishing.
(except for the Tennessee River below          1 through August 31, during daylight            Only rough fish may be taken and the
Kentucky Lake and the Cumberland               hours only. Tickling and noodling               appropriate fishing license is required.
River below Lake Barkley). All gigged          means taking fish directly by hand, or          The daily limit is 15 fish of which only 5
or snagged paddlefish must be taken            with the aid of a handled hook. These           may be catfish.
                                                                                                                                                 11
FISHING REGULATIONS                        LICENSE AND PERMIT FEES (effective March 1, 2018)
                                                                LICENSE / PERMIT                                               Resident             Nonresident
                                  Annual Fishing                                                                                  $23                   $50
                                  Joint Married Couple Annual Fishing                                                             $42               Not available
                                  1-Day Fishing                                                                                    $7                   $10
                                  3-Year Fishing (available online at fw.ky.gov only)                                             $55               Not available
                                  Nonresident 7-Day Fishing                                                                   Not available             $30
                                  Nonresident 15-Day Fishing                                                                  Not available             $40
                       LICENSES

                                  Trout Permit                                                                                                $10
                                  Annual Hunting                                                                                  $27                  $140
                                  1-Day Hunting (not valid for deer, elk, turkey or bear)                                          $7                   $15
                                  7-Day Hunting (not valid for deer, elk, turkey or bear)                                     Not available            $55
                                  Annual Youth Hunting (ages 12-15 only)                                                           $6                  $10
                                  Shooting Area License (available online at fw.ky.gov only)                                                  $5
                                  Annual Trapping                                                                                 $20                  $130
                                  Annual Landowner/Tenant Trapping                                                                $10               Not available
                                  Annual Youth (ages 12-15) Trapping                                                               $5               Not available
                                  Annual Combination Hunting/Fishing                                                              $42               Not available
                                  Senior/Disabled Sportsman’s License* (includes same license and permits
                                                                                                                                  $12               Not available
                                  as Resident Sportsman’s License, plus additional deer permits.)
                       COMBOS

                                  Sportsman’s License* (Includes combination hunting/fishing, statewide deer
                                  permit, spring and fall turkey permits, state migratory game bird-waterfowl                     $95               Not available
                                  permit and trout permit.)
                                  Youth (ages 12-15) Sportsman’s License*
                                                                                                                                  $30               Not available
                                  (Includes youth hunting license, 2 youth deer permits and 2 youth turkey permits.)
                                  Statewide Deer Permit (two deer)                                                                $35                  $120
                       DEER

                                  Youth (ages 12-15) Deer Permit (one deer)                                                       $10                   $15
                                  Additional Deer Permit (two deer)                                                                           $15
                                  Spring Turkey Permit (statewide) (two turkeys)                                                  $30                   $75
                                  Youth (ages 12-15) Turkey Permit (one turkey, spring or fall)                                   $10                   $15
                       BIRDS

                                  Fall Turkey Permit (statewide)(four turkeys)                                                    $30                   $75
                                  Migratory Bird–Waterfowl Permit                                                                             $15
                                  Federal Duck Stamp (available at post offices and online at www.duckstamp.com)                              $25
                                  Pheasant Quota Hunt Permit (if drawn)                                                                       $25
                                  Elk Drawing Application (deadline April 30; available online at fw.ky.gov only)                             $10
                                  Youth WMA Elk Drawing Application (deadline April 30; available at fw.ky.gov only)                          $10
                                  Quota Bull Elk Permit (if drawn; available online at fw.ky.gov only)                           $100                  $550
                       ELK

                                  Quota Cow Elk Permit (if drawn; available online at fw.ky.gov only)                             $60                  $400
                                  Youth Elk Permit (if drawn; available online at fw.ky.gov only)                                 $30                   $40
                                  Out-of-Zone Elk Permit (Nonresident available online at fw.ky.gov only)                         $30                  $400
                                  Bear Permit                                                                                     $30                  $250
                       BEAR

                                  Youth Bear Permit                                                                               $10               Not available
                                  Bear Chase Permit                                                                               $30               Not available
                                  Youth Bear Chase Permit                                                                         $10               Not available
                                  Peabody WMA User Permit                                                                                     $15
                                  Land Between The Lakes (LBL) Hunter Use Permit                                            $25, or $35 with Backcountry Camping
                       AREAS

                                  Otter Creek ORA Admission Fees (per person)                                                       Daily: $3, annual: $30,
                                  (available online at fw.ky.gov)                                                                   children under 12: free.
                                  Otter Creek ORA Special Activity Fees (per person, for use of horse trails,
                                                                                                                                    Daily: $7, annual: $70
                                  mountain bike trails and shooting range) (available online at fw.ky.gov)
                                  Temporary Hunter Education Exemption Permit (Hunter Apprentice
                       OTHER

                                                                                                                                              $5
                                  Opportunity; available online at fw.ky.gov only)
                                  Habitat Improvement and Public Access Donation (voluntary; available at fw.ky.gov only)                 Any amount
                      *Peabody, LBL and Otter Creek permits, elk drawing application, elk quota hunt permit, out-of-zone elk permit, bear permit,
                      federal duck stamp and trapping license not included. An additional deer permit is not included with a Sportsman’s License.
                      Kentucky’s license year begins March 1 and continues through the last day of February. New licenses are required annually,
                      except for the 3-year fishing license. A 1-day or 7-day hunting license is valid only for the period shown on license. Resident and
  12                  nonresident youths under the age of 12 are not required to purchase licenses or permits (except the elk drawing application).
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