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1997-98 Kentucky Sport Fishing
and
Boating Guide
INTRODUCTIONThis guide is an accurate summary of the laws regarding fishing and boating. It is not a reprint of any referenced statute (KRS) or regulation (KAR) in its entirety and should not be used as such. If you have questions regarding the information in this publication, contact Ky., Dept. Fish and Wildlife Resources' information, (502) 564-4336, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern, M-F. Numbers listed under section headings in this guide refer to the pertinent Kentucky Administrative Regulation (KAR) or Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS). LICENSES AND SEASONSFISHING SEASON IS OPEN YEAR-ROUND IN KENTUCKY. SPORT FISHING LICENSES AND FEES
Licenses are valid March 1 through last day of February. With the implementation of the new automated licensing system, KDSS, licenses for the 1997-98 hunting and fishing season will be available thru license agents across the state. To obtain a listing of agents nearest you, write to the Ky. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), #1 Game Farm Rd., Frankfort, KY 40601. Buyers will be required to provide two pieces of information to obtain a license: a driver's license number and date of birth. If a driver's license number is not available, a social security number will be accepted. The computerized system will offer all licenses and permits immediately.
LICENSE REQUIREMENTS AND EXEMPTIONSA resident is anyone who has established permanent and legal residence in Kentucky and resided here at least 30 days immediately prior to applying for a license. Full-time students enrolled in an educational institution for at least a six-month term and service personnel on permanent assignment in Kentucky are also classed as residents. All others are nonresidents and are required, unless under age 16, to purchase nonresident licenses. Tenant means any resident sharechopper or lessee who lives and works on farmland owned by his/her landlord. All persons must possess the proper license to fish ponds, lakes and streams or body of water except (see section on trout fishing for more on permit requirements): 1. No license or trout permit required of persons under age 16. 2. Residents 65 years old or older may fish without licenses by carrying on person proof of year of birth and place of residence. If fishing for trout, a permit must be obtained. 3. Resident Kentucky farmland owners, their spouses and dependent children may fish on their land without a license or trout permit. Tenants, their spouses and dependent children may fish without a license or trout permit on farmlands where they live and work. 4. Resident servicemen on furlough of more than three days may fish statewide without a license, but must carry proper identification and papers showing furlough status, as well as trout permit, if applicable. 5. Resident veterans who are 50 percent permanently disabled as the result of a military-related injury are not required to purchase a fishing license, but must carry a card certifying disability and a trout permit if applicable. (For further information on how to obtain card, contact your regional representative with the Veteran's Administration.) 6. Kentucky residents declared totally and permanently disabled by the federal Social Security Administration or a state Workers' Compensation Board are not required to purchase a fishing license, but must carry an exemption card certifying disability and a trout stamp if applicable. Applications/instruction sheets are available from the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Div. of Administrative Services, #1 Game Farm Rd., Frankfort, KY 40601. Nonresidents 16 years of age and older must have appropriate licenses.
DEFINITIONSFishing-related definitions not listed here are included in appropriate sections of this guide. A list of Kentucky's sport fish species appears in this guide; all other fish found in Kentucky are considered rough fish. Fishing is taking or attempting to take fish in any manner, whether or not fish are in possession. Angling means taking or attempting to take fish by hook and line in hand, rod in hand, jugging, setline or sport fishing trotline. Artificial baits are lures or flies made of wood, metal, plastic, feathers, preserved pork rind or similar inert materials and having no organic baits. (Inert materials do not contain properties that could cause a chemical or biological action.) Organic baits are insects, minnows, fish eggs, worms, corn, cheese and similar substances. Daily limit is the maximum number of a particular species or group of species a person may legally take in a day or have in possession while fishing. Possession limit means the maximum number of fish a person may hold in the field after two or more days of fishing. Size limit means the minimum legal length of a fish. Slot limit means protecting fish within a specified minimum and maximum size range. Daylight hours begin one-half hour before sunrise and end one-half hour after sunset. Lake means impounded waters. Impounded waters are any waters backed up behind a dam and include all waters upstream from the dam to the first riffle or shoal on any main or tributary stream. (The first riffle or shoal can vary depending on lake elevation.) A single hook has one point. A regulation is a written document adopted and approved by the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission and approved by legislative committees.
SPECIAL FISHING REGULATIONSNEW for 1997:New regulations will be enforced beginning March 1, 1997. CUMBERLAND RIVER below Wolfe Creek Dam to Tennessee state line: Eight trout daily limit, only one of which can be a brown trout. RAINBOW TROUT -- no size limit. BROWN TROUT -- 20 inch size limit, 1 fish daily limit. CYPRUS AMAX Wildlife Management Area (WMA): Open year-round, except on Starfire Lake where the season will be from June 1 - December 31. Size and creel limits on Starfire Lake apply to all Cyprus Amax WMA lakes. These are: CHANNEL CATFISH -- 15-inch size limit, 4 fish daily limit. LARGEMOUTH BASS -- 20-inch size limit, 1 fish daily limit. Bluegill and all other SUNFISH -- no size limit, 10 fish daily limit. GAME FARM LAKE: lower lake of Game Farm in Frankfort -- only children 12 years or younger may fish, 3 fish daily limit regardless of species. KENTUCKY AND BARKLEY LAKES: LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15 inch size limit. LAUREL LAKE: LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15 inch size limit. TAYLORSVILLE LAKE: CRAPPIE -- 9 inch size limit. SYMPSON LAKE in Nelson County: LARGEMOUTH BASS -- 15 in size limit.
SPECIAL RESTRICTIONSThe public waters listed below have more restrictive size and/or creel limits than statewide regulations allow. Unless otherwise specified in this section, statewide size and creel limits apply. Some privately owned waters may have special size and creel limits as posted by signs. Always ASK FIRST before entering privately owned land. Barkley Lake: See Kentucky & Barkley Lakes listing. Barren River Lake & Barren River above Barren River Lake (including all tributaries above dam): CRAPPIE -- 9-inch size limit. LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit except 1 fish of a daily limit or 2 of the possession limit may be less than 15 inches long. WHITE BASS, YELLOW BASS, STRIPED BASS and their HYBRIDS -- daily limit 20, possession limit 40, singly or combined. No more than 5 in the daily limit or 10 in the possession limit may be 15 inches or longer. Bert Combs Lake: Possession and use of shad for bait is prohibited. Briggs Lake: Possession and use of shad for bait is prohibited. Boltz Lake: Possession and use of shad for bait is prohibited. Brook Trout Streams: Only artificial lures or flies with a single hook may be used to fish for trout in some streams as posted by signs. Buckhorn Lake: LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit. Carpenter Lake: Possession and use of shad for bait is prohibited. Carr Fork Lake: CRAPPIE -- 9-inch size limit. LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit. Carter Caves State Park Lake: Fishing during daylight hours only. LARGEMOUTH BASS -- 20-inch size limit, 1 fish daily or in possession. Possession and use of shad for bait is prohibited. Cave Run Lake: LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 13-16 inch protective slot limit. All largemouth and smallmouth bass between 13 and 16 inches in length must be released. Corinth Lake: Possession and use of shad for bait is prohibited. Cumberland Lake: CRAPPIE -- 10-inch size limit. LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit. STRIPED BASS -- 24-inch size limit, 2 fish daily limit. Cumberland River below Lake Cumberland from Wolfe Creek Dam to the Tennessee state line: Daily limit of eight trout total. BROWN TROUT -- 20 inch size limit, 1 fish daily limit. Cumberland River from Barkley Lake Dam downstream to confluence with Ohio River: SAUGER -- 14-inch size limit STRIPED BASS -- 3 fish daily or in possession. Cyprus Amax & Robinson Forest WMAs: Fishing open year-round, except on Starfire Lake (see Starfire listing below). In addition to a fishing license, a $10 user permit is required for persons age 16 and over. Permits sold locally, or apply by writing Cyprus Amax-Robinson Forest WMAs Permit, #1 Game Farm Rd., Frankfort, KY 40601. CHANNEL CATFISH -- 15-inch size limit, 4 fish daily limit. LARGEMOUTH BASS -- 20-inch size limit, 1 fish daily limit. Bluegill and all other SUNFISH -- no size limit, 10 fish daily limit. Cyprus Amax WMA's Starfire Lake: Fishing open June 1 - December 31. CHANNEL CATFISH -- 15-inch size limit, 4 fish daily limit. LARGEMOUTH BASS -- 20-inch size limit, 1 fish daily limit. Bluegill and all other SUNFISH -- no size limit, 10 fish daily limit. Dale Hollow Lake: MUSKIE -- 1 fish daily. SAUGER -- 14-inch size limit, 10 fish daily limit. SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 18-inch size limit, 2 fish daily limit. RAINBOW and LAKE TROUT -- April 1-Oct. 31: no size limit, 7 fish daily limit (only 2 may be lake trout). Nov.1-March 31: 22-inch size limit, 2 fish daily limit. WALLEYE -- 16-inch size limit, 10 fish daily limit. Dewey Lake: LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit. WHITE BASS, YELLOW BASS, STRIPED BASS and their HYBRIDS -- 15-inch size limit, 5 fish daily limit or in possession, singly or combined. Dix River above Herrington Lake dam: See Herrington Lake & Dix River listing. Dix River from Herrington Lake Dam downstream for two miles: Fishing with artificial lures or flies only. BROWN TROUT -- 15-inch size limit. Elkhorn Creek, Franklin Co., from confluence of North and South forks downstream to Kentucky River: LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 12-16 inch slot limit. Largemouth and smallmouth bass between 12 and 16 inches long must be released. Daily limit may include no more than 2 bass longer than 16 inches. Elmer Davis Lake: BLACK BASS -- 12-16 inch slot limit. All black bass bass between 12 and 16 inches in length must be released; BLACK BASS between 12 and 16 inches must be released. Possession and use of shad for bait is prohibited. Fagan Branch Lake: LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit. CRAPPIE -- 9-inch size limit, 15 fish daily limit. BLUEGILL and SHELLCRACKERS -- 30 fish daily limit. CHANNEL CATFISH -- 15 fish daily limit. Fishtrap Lake: LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit. WHITE BASS, YELLOW BASS, STRIPED BASS and their HYBRIDS -- 15-inch size limit; 5 fish daily limit or in possession, singly or combined. Game Farm Lakes: UPPER LAKE: Fishing during daylight hours only. CHANNEL CATFISH -- 3 fish daily limit. LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit, 2 fish daily limit. Possession and use of shad for bait is prohibited. LOWER LAKE: Fishing during daylight hours only. Only children 12 years of age and younger may fish, 3 fish daily limit regardless of species. Shad prohibited. Grayson Lake: LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit. Green River Lake: CRAPPIE -- 9-inch size limit. Greenbo Lake: Possession and use of shad for bait is prohibited. Guist Creek Lake: WHITE BASS, YELLOW BASS, STRIPED BASS and their HYBRIDS -- 15-inch size limit; 5 fish daily limit or in possession, singly or combined. Herrington Lake & Dix River upstream from Herrington Lake (including all tributaries above dam): WHITE BASS, YELLOW BASS, STRIPED BASS and their HYBRIDS -- 20 fish daily limit, possession 40, singly or combined. No more than 5 of a daily limit or 10 of the possession limit may be 15 inches or longer. Kentucky & Barkley Lakes (and their connecting canal): CRAPPIE -- 10-inch size limit. LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit. SAUGER -- 14-inch size limit Lake Malone: LARGEMOUTH BASS -- 12-15 inch slot limit. Largemouth bass between 12 and 15 inches in length must be released. Laurel Lake: LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit. Leary Lake: Fishing during daylight hours only. BLUEGILL -- 12 fish daily. CHANNEL CATFISH -- 2 fish daily. LARGEMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit, 1 fish daily. Lebanon City Lake: See Fagan Branch Lake. Lincoln Homestead State Park Lake: Fishing during daylight hours only. BLUEGILL and REDEAR SUNFISH -- 10 fish longer than 7 inches daily limit, singly or combined; fish less than 7 inches may be kept. CHANNEL CATFISH -- 3 fish daily limit. LARGEMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit; 3 fish daily limit. Possession and use of shad for bait is prohibited. McNeely Lake: Possession and use of shad for bait is prohibited. Marion County Lake: LARGEMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit. Possession and use of shad for bait is prohibited. Mauzy Lake: LARGEMOUTH BASS -- no size limit. Mill Creek Lake: Possession and use of shad for bait is prohibited. Nolin River Lake: CRAPPIE -- 9-inch size limit. LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15 inch size limit except 1 fish less than 15 inches may be kept as part of daily limit. Ohio River: WALLEYE, SAUGER and their HYBRIDS -- no size limit, 10 fish daily limit, singly or combined. WHITE BASS, YELLOW BASS, STRIPED BASS and their HYBRIDS -- 30 fish daily limit, 4 fish in daily limit may be 15 inches or longer. Paintsville Lake: LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit. Peabody WMA's Goose, Island & South Lakes: Fishing open July 1 through Oct. 15, during daylight hours only. In addition to a fishing license, a $10 user permit is required of persons age 16 and over. Permits sold locally, where licenses are sold or apply by writing Peabody Permit, #1 Game Farm Rd., Frankfort, KY 40601. BLUEGILL -- 15 fish daily limit, no size limit. CHANNEL CATFISH -- 15-inch size limit, 2 fish daily limit. CRAPPIE -- no size limit,10 fish daily limit. LARGEMOUTH BASS -- 20-inch size limit, 1 fish daily limit. REDBREAST SUNFISH -- no size limit, 15 fish daily limit. WALLEYE & HYBRIDS -- 15-inch size limit, 1 fish daily limit. Frogs may not be taken by any method. Reba Lake: LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit. Possession and use of shad for bait is prohibited. Robinson Forest WMA: See Cyprus Amax & Robinson Forest WMAs. Rough River Lake: CRAPPIE -- 9-inch size limit. LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15 inch size limit except 1 fish less than 15 inches may be kept as part of daily limit. HYBRID STRIPED BASS -- For purposes of identification, hybrid striped bass are distinguished from white bass as follows: the rear patch of teeth on the tongue of the hybrid striped bass is separated; the rear patch of teeth on Shanty Hollow Lake: LARGEMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit. Possession and use of shad for bait is prohibited. Spurlington Lake: Possession and use of shad for bait is prohibited. Sympson Lake in Nelson County: LARGEMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit. Taylorsville Lake: CRAPPIE -- 9-inch size limit, 15 fish daily limit, possession limit 30. LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit. WHITE BASS, YELLOW BASS, STRIPED BASS and their HYBRIDS -- 15-inch size limit, 5 fish dailylimit or in possession, singly or combined. Tennessee River from Kentucky Lake Dam downstream to confluence with Ohio River: SAUGER -- 14-inch size limit. STRIPED BASS -- 3 fish daily limit or in possession. Yatesville Lake: LARGEMOUTH and SMALLMOUTH BASS -- 15-inch size limit.
Under the terms of an interim agreement, Kentucky and Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio and Kentucky and Illinois will honor the other state's sport licenses along their common borders on the main stem of the Ohio River (excluding tributaries and embayments). Anglers must obey the regulations of the state where they are licensed. Anglers licensed in Kentucky may fish Missouri portions of the Mississippi River without buying a Missouri fishing license. This reciprocal agreement applies only to fishing the main stem of the river, not to tributaries, bayous or backwaters of the Mississippi River in Missouri. The center of the Mississippi River channel is the state line. Anglers fishing across these state lines must abide by both states' regulations and when conflict occurs, observe the more restrictive regulation. CUMBERLAND GAP NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK and LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES NATIONAL RECREATION AREA Special fishing regulations are in effect for Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. Anglers should contact these areas for complete information on fishing: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, PO Box 1848, Middlesboro, KY 40965, phone (606) 248-2817; Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, Golden Pond, KY 42231, phone (502) 924-2000. STATEWIDE SIZE AND CREEL LIMITSExcept that some waters have more restrictive limits (as listed in the previous "Special Size and Creel Limits" section of this guide), statewide size and creel limits apply to all Kentucky waters, public and private.
MEASURING FISHMeasure all fish from the end of the lower jaw to the tip of the tail with fish laid flat on rule, mouth closed and tail lobes squeezed together. Undersized fish must be returned immediately to the waters from which they were taken in the best possible physical condition.
TROUT FISHINGA trout permit ($5.00) is required for trout anglers. Those not required to purchase a trout permit are landowners, tennants and their spouses and dependent children when fishing on their own land and persons under 16. If you're not fishing for trout but catch one anyway, release the trout immediately and you won't be in violation. For a complete list of trout-stocked waters, see the "Kentucky Trout Waters" pamphlet available from the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources. FREE FISHING DAYSEvery year Kentucky offers free fishing days the first weekend in June (June 6-7, 1997). On free fishing days no license is required of residents or nonresidents to fish any Kentucky waters. All other fishing regulations remain in effect. Free fishing days are offered to highlight fishing fun and National Fishing Week. BLACK BASS IDENTIFICATIONA Kentucky bass is legally defined as any black bass, except the smallmouth, with a patch of teeth on its tongue. A smallmouth bass doesn't have a horizontal stripe; it's generally a brownish color with vertical markings and the jaw does not extend beyond the back of the eye.
OTHER SPECIESGRASS CARP HARVEST PROHIBITEDHarvesting grass carp from any department-owned lake is prohibited. Anglers who catch a grass carp from a department-owned lake must immediately return the fish to the water where it was caught. Grass carp are being used to control aquatic vegetation. ZEBRA MUSSELS PROHIBITEDIt is illegal to import or possess zebra mussels in Kentucky. Zebra mussels have infested the Great Lakes area and are present in the Kentucky and Ohio Rivers and Kentucky, Barkley, Taylorsville and Green River lakes. They are tiny, usually less than one inch across, with an elongated striped shell ranging in color from brown to brown and yellow striped to yellow. Zebra mussels attach themselves to any solid submerged surface, reproduce rapidly and tend to cluster. They can live 8-10 days out of water and can be transported from one body of water to another while attached to a boat. Check for the presence of zebra mussels before entering Kentucky and prior to putting any boat or other water-related equipment into any Kentucky waters. SHAD PROHIBITEDPossession and use of all shad species for bait is prohibited on the following state-owned lakes: Bert Combs, Briggs, Boltz, Carpenter, Carter Caves, Corinth, Elmer Davis, Game Farm, Greenbo, Lincoln Homestead, McNeely, Marion County, Mill Creek, Reba, Shanty Hollow and Spurlington.
LIVE BAIT FOR PERSONAL USEHolders of sport fishing licenses may seine live bait from public waters and may possess up to 500 minnows, 500 crayfish, 100 salamanders, 100 frogs (other than bullfrogs), 100 tadpoles, 100 native lampreys, 500 other aquatic invertebrate organisms other than mussels, 500 shad (except on lakes where shad possession/use is prohibited), 500 herring and any number of Asiatic clams. A commercial license is required to take live bait from public waters open to commercial fishing for the purpose of selling. Live bait may be taken with the following gear: Dip Nets: Maximum size of 3 feet in diameter is legal in the Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi rivers, Cumberland River below Barkley Dam, Kentucky River below Lock No. 14, and all lakes having 1,000 or more surface acres. Minnow Traps: Maximum size of 3 feet long, 18 inches in diameter, 1-inch openings for catching is legal statewide. Seines: Maximum size legal statewide: 10 feet long, 4 feet deep, 1/4-inch mesh. Maximum size of 30 feet long, 6 feet deep and 1/4-inch bar mesh is legal only in the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and Kentucky and Barkley lakes. Sport Cast Nets: Maximum size of 9 feet in diameter and 3/8-inch mesh is legal in the Tennessee, Ohio and Mississippi rivers, Cumberland River below Barkley Dam, Kentucky River below Lock No. 14, and all lakes having 1,000 or more surface acres. In Lake Cumberland only, the legal maximum size is 16 feet in diameter, 3/4-inch bar mesh. All sport fish incidentally taken while capturing live bait with seines, dip nets or cast nets must be released immediately and unharmed into the water. No live fish, live minnow or live bait organisms, not native or established in Kentucky waters shall be bought, sold, possessed, imported, or in any way used or released into waters of this Commonwealth. Regardless of size or how obtained, it is illegal to use any sport fish for bait. (See sport fish species listed in "Statewide Size and Creel Limits" section.) Minnows are defined as all fishes, except sport fish species, less than 6 inches long. Bluegill is not a sport fish species and may be taken for bait as described above. BULLFROGSThe taking season for bullfrogs opens at noon on the third Friday in May and runs through Oct. 31. If a gun or bow and arrow is used, a hunting license is required. If frogs are taken by pole and line, a fishing license is required. If frogs are taken by gig or by hand, then either a hunting or fishing license is valid. The daily noon-to-noon creel limit for bullfrogs is 15. The possession limit is 30. TURTLESAnglers may take turtles by the same methods legal for taking rough fish species. A hunting license is required to take turtles with the aid of a firearm or archery equipment. The following also applies to harvesting turtles: 1) All devices used to take turtles must be constructed and set so that no other animals or fish could reasonably be expected to be caught. Anything other than turtles caught in such a device must be released immediately. 2) Turtle-taking devices must be inspected and catch removed at least once every 24 hours. Devices that cannot be inspected during any 24-hour period must be removed. 3) Barrel or drum devices using a tilting board as the trigger or catching device or floating log rafts using an enclosed bag of twine or wire mesh, in which the turtle must enter by climbing over the enclosing logs are permitted. 4) Turtles may be taken year-round by hand or hooked rod while angler is wading, but only in waters open for gigging or snagging or tickling and noodling (see appropriate sections in this guide). 5) A commercial fishing license is required to sell turtles.
OTHER FISHING METHODSSPORT FISHING TROTLINES, JUGGING and SETLINESA sport fishing trotline is a line with no more than 50 single or multibarbed baited hooks which must be at least 18 inches apart. A sport fishing trotline must be set at least three feet below the water's surface. Jugging is fishing with a single baited line attached to any floating object. A jug line may have no more than one single or multibarbed hook. A setline is a line with one single or multibarbed hook. A setline may be attached to a tree limb, tree trunk, bank pole or other stationary object on the bank of a stream or impoundment. One person may use no more than two sport fishing trotlines, 50 jug lines or 50 setlines at any one time. Each sport fishing trotline, jug line or setline must be: 1) permanently labeled with the name and address of the user; 2) baited, checked and all fish removed at least once every 24 hours; 3) removed from water, bank or tree when finished fishing. PROHIBITED AREAS: Sport fishing trotlines are not allowed in Department owned/managed lakes having less than 500 surface acres, except those located on Ballard and Peal WMAs. No sport fishing trotlines are allowed within 700 yards below Kentucky Dam, the area between Barkley Dam and Highway 62 bridge, or below the following Ohio River dams from the face of the dam to the end of the outer lock wall: Smithland, Newburgh, Cannelton, Markland, Meldahl and Greenup; McAlpine downstream to the K&I railroad bridge; Uniontown to the end of the outer lock wall and that portion of the split channel around the southern part of Wabash Island from the fixed weir dam to the first dike. Jug lines are not allowed in Department owned/managed lakes having less than 500 surface acres except Bullock Pen, Carter Caves, Elmer Davis, Greenbo and Kincaid lakes and those lakes located on Ballard, Peal and Swan Lake WMAs. GIGGING AND SNAGGINGGigging means spearing or impaling fish on any pronged or barbed instrument attached to the end of any rigid object. Snagging means taking fish or other aquatic animals by a rapid drawing motion (rather than enticement by bait) using a hand-held pole and attached line with single or multiple fish hooks. The season for gigging and/or snagging rough fish is from February 1 through May 10. It is illegal to possess a gig on a stream or lake or in a boat from November 1 through January 31. Regardless of condition, all sport fish taken by this method must be immediately returned to the water except in the Tennessee River below Kentucky Dam (see following subsection B). Persons may gig or snag from the bank, but not from a boat or platform or within 200 yards of a dam on any stream. Gigging from boats may be conducted only on lakes with 500 or more surface acres of water and only during daylight hours. Otherwise, gigging/snagging is permitted day or night in all portions of lakes and streams open to these methods. Persons who use these harvest methods should consult the regulation (1:075) listed above for a complete list of waters CLOSED to gigging and snagging. Persons may gig rough fish through the ice any time the surface is frozen thick enough to stand on, and gigger must gig while supported by the ice. A) In Green River, Rolling Fork River and their tributaries, up to five single or treble hooks may be used for snagging. B) Snagging in the Tennessee River Below Kentucky Dam is permitted anytime during the year from the banks only. The daily creel limit is 15 fish, and cannot exceed the daily creel limit set for any sport species, even if the daily limit for a sport species is more than 15. All fish snagged below Kentucky Dam must be kept except shad or herring, and if the legal limit of any sport fish species is reached before the combined limit of 15, snagging must stop immediately. A snagging rod, including the handle, may not be longer than 7-1/2 feet and must be equipped with line, guides and reel. Only one hook may be attached to the line, either single or treble. Any person in the act of snagging may not possess more fish than the combined daily limit or the legal limit for black bass and sauger.
TICKLING AND NOODLINGThe tickling and noodling (hand grabbing) season for rough fish is June 10 through August 31, during daylight hours only. Tickling and noodling means taking fish directly by hand, or with the aid of a handled hook. These methods are permitted during daylight hours in all waters. The daily creel limit is 15 rough fish, no more than 5 of which can be catfish. BOW FISHINGRough fish may be taken year-round by bow and arrow with line attached, but only rough fish with scales may be taken during nighttime hours. No bow and arrow may be used within 700 yards below Kentucky Dam or within 200 yards of any other dam in the state. Waters where gigging and snagging are not permitted (see "Gigging and Snagging" section) are also closed to bow fishing. Persons using a bow and arrow for fishing must have the appropriate fishing license and may take rough fish from bank or boat. No limit on rough fish species taken. SPEARFISHINGUnderwater spearing of rough fish with hand-held or mechanically propelled spear is permitted year-round in lakes having 1,000 surface acres or more. All participants in this sport must be submerged while spearfishing. Only rough fish may be taken and the appropriate fishing license is required. The daily limit is 15 fish. GENERAL INFORMATIONGOT A QUESTION? ---- NEED INFORMATION? Call (502) 564-4336 COMMON QUESTIONSHere are some bits and pieces of information that just didn't seem to fit anywhere else in this guide like -- Fish may not be taken with the aid of a firearm -- or -- It's unlawful to use public waters for the private or commercial propagation of fish. An oft-asked question is "How many fishing poles am I allowed to have while fishing?" The answer is -- as many as you want. There is no limit on the number of fishing poles (or fishing rods) an angler may use at one time. "Can I clean my fish while on the water?" That would be unwise. The law says anglers shall not remove any part of the head or tail of any fish for which there is a size or creel limit until finished fishing and off the water. "Can I keep sport fish in my aquarium?" Yes, you can. Just be sure the fish are legally obtained. You can fish for them, abiding by legal size and creel limits, or purchase the sport fish from a licensed fish propagator. Keep the receipt or other written proof showing the fish were legally acquired. "If I turn 65 this year do I still have to buy a fishing license?" You must be 65 or older to fish without a license. If you haven't turned 65, you must buy a license or wait until you are age 65 to fish. Licenses are valid March 1 through the last day of February. Unauthorized stockings of fish (including baitfish) in public waters are strictly prohibited. This means don't dump the contents of your bait bucket in the water when you're finished fishing. Find another angler who'll use the bait or properly discard it away from water. Report all fish kills as soon as possible by calling any state conservation officer, fisheries biologist or dial 1-800-25ALERT. This toll-free, 24-hour Report-a-Poacher hotline, 1-800-25ALERT, is also the number to call to report poaching or other fish and wildlife law violations. Callers aren't required to give their names and all information is kept confidential. ASK FIRST: All persons must obtain permission to enter private lands for any reason, including fishing. Any person engaged in hunting, fishing or trapping upon either public or private property shall not commit any acts of depredation, such as setting fires, destruction of fences, shooting livestock or poultry, theft or cause damage to any property in any manner. Fishing tournaments involving 100 or more boats are regulated and scheduled by the Division of Law Enforcement, (502) 564-3074.
CATCH AND RELEASEThe Department supports catch and release of sport fish species not needed for the table. Releasing of sport fish in a healthy state is an excellent conservation tool helping to maintain quality fishing opportunities. When releasing a fish, keep the fish in the water as much as possible. Do not allow the fish to flop in the boat or ground; the use of a net will assist you in controlling the fish. Gently handle the fish with wet hands and do not squeeze the fish or touch the gill or eye areas. Trout are better immobilized if held upside down and black bass may be held by the lower jaw. Remove hooks quickly utilizing needle-nosed pliers. Deeply hooked fish should be released by clipping the line close to the mouth; don't attempt to remove the hook. Sliding the fish back and forth through the water a few times will help it to become reoriented, and sometimes aids in its recovery. STATE RECORD FISH PROGRAMAnglers who think their catch may qualify as a state record should contact the district fishery biologist for the county where the fish was caught. A list of state record fish caught in Kentucky appears here. TROPHY FISH/MASTER ANGLER AWARD PROGRAM Anglers who catch exceptional fish by pole and line methods may qualify for the Trophy Fish/Master Angler Awards Program.
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