Here is what some of you have asked for

Public input sought on proposed creel limit reductions for crappie in Kentucky and Barkley lakes, smallmouth bass in Laurel River Lake

May 14, 2007 Contact: Lee McClellan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1-800-852-0942, ext.330

Frankfort, Ky. – Fisheries officials with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources invite public comment on two new proposed fishing regulations that will be presented to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission at its June 8 meeting.

Acting at the request of anglers, commission members will consider a reduction of the daily creel limit on crappie in both Kentucky and Barkley lakes. The current daily creel limit is 30 crappies a day. The proposed regulation would reduce the daily creel limit to 20 crappies a day. Anglers may keep crappie 10 inches or longer on both lakes.

Kentucky Lake had a below average crappie spawn in 2005 and 2006. Anglers reported catching fewer crappies under the 10-inch size limit, prompting concerns about potential over-harvest.

A canal links Kentucky and Barkley lakes and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife desires similar fishing regulations in both lakes.

Anglers have also requested a reduction of the daily creel limit for smallmouth bass at Laurel River Lake. The lake currently has an 18-inch minimum size limit and is under the statewide black bass limit of 6 largemouth, smallmouth or Kentucky spotted bass in aggregate per day. The Commission will consider a proposal to reduce the smallmouth bass daily creel limit to 2 fish per day at Laurel River Lake.

If approved, both proposals would go into effect on March 1, 2008. The public is invited to submit comments or attend the June 8 meeting of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission in Frankfort, when these proposals will be discussed. Comments about either proposal may be e-mailed to Fisheries Director Benjy Kinman at [email protected], or by sending a letter to:

Benjy Kinman
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife
#1 Sportsman’s Lane
Frankfort, Ky. 40601

Make sense. With the number of hardcore crappie fishermen growing each year, eventually something had to give. Either people would stop coming because of the bad fishing, or they'd have to reduce creel limits.

sounds like a good thing. gotta keep slabs in the lake

I'm still looking forward to when the public opinion is questioned in regards to smallmouth in Lake Cumberland.

[QUOTE=Chubminnow;295251]I'm still looking forward to when the public opinion is questioned in regards to smallmouth in Lake Cumberland.[/QUOTE]

Me too Chub......

Although I've not gotten to fish a tourney yet this year, I'd love to see a state wide regulation that prohibits culling. I'd love to see the strategy added to the decision whether or not to keep a bass as you don't have a chance to cull up to bigger fish, but if you release it right away, will you catch another???

Would be a lot of fun.

Danny