SW Kentucky Area Fishing Options??

Hi Guys,

The wife wants to retire to SW Kentucky (Bowling Green area) in about 2 years. I'm a life long NJ guy. Almost everything I know fishwise is saltwater - stripers, blues, albies, cod, etc. - so I'm looking to prep for 3 transitions... retirement, Kentucky and freshwater.

If anybody is sitting through a stormy Sunday (at least from what I see on the weather channel) and would like to do some typing, I'd be interested in hearing about the year round fishing opportunities in KY (say within 150 miles of Bowling Green).

Also, any recommended books, magazines, etc. for learning the area would be appreciated.

Just some background, I fish 12 months a year (and want to in retirement), prefer artificials but I'm not a fly fisherman... HATE trolling, have saltwater boat now and will have a boat in KY (probably 16' aluminum something), I want a reasonable shot at big (for species, anyway) fish - that thread about the muskies got me going.

Any info would be appreciated.

(ps. Also, any info on public hunting areas/opportunities in the same area would be appreciated. I mostly hunt deer with shotgun & muzzleloader... hunted with a bow as a kid, and might do it again.

Oh, and what is the major league baseball team on TV down there... Cincinnati Reds?)

:)

Buy a home on Barren River Lake and you won't be sorry.

You will have those opportunities in Kentucky. Plenty of water to fish. Barren river lake, Nolin river lake, Green river lake, Lake Cumberland, Dale Hollow, and Ky/Barkley. There is plenty of public hunting opportunities as well. Barren river WMA,Green river WMA to mention a few. I am sure you will enjoy yourself.

I know there are musky, bass, crappie, catfish and other less popular species in the Barren River within the city limits of Bowling Green. Then there is Barren River Lake, various creeks, and Green River within 25 miles of Bowling Green. That is not counting Rough River, Nolin, Green River, Kentucky, Barkley, Cumberland, and Dale HollowLakes within the driving distance you specified. Then there is the Cumberland River and its lakes in Tennessee. Overall I guess there is not many places to fish around Bowling Green. LOL

Bowling Green is centrally located for some of the best fishing in the area. Cumberland for stripers, Barren for largemouth, Dale Hollow for smallmouth. Can't go wrong there!!

Define what you mean by "big fish"..........Hybrids and Stripers will probabaly be your best bet, and Barren and Cumberland should treat you kind for those.

Your going to think you died and went to heaven, Kentucky is a sportsman's paradise. Lake Cumberland and Cumberland river for Striper's (50+ lbs do get caught), Dale Hollow for world class smallie's(hold's the world record), Barren for hybrid's and is a decent bass lake as well, Kentucky and Barkley lake's excellent bass,crappie,bluegill and redear. Then you can throw in Green river lake for large Muskie's, Nolin lake, rough river lake etc.You might consider a larger boat though Cumberland is 50,000 plus acre's and Kentucky lake is 160,000. As for hunting, Kentucky is in the top 5 state's for Boone and Crocket whitetail's and has a excellent wild Turkey population, We also have the largest Elk herd east of the Mississippi, throw in our small game hunting and I do believe you will have plenty to do in your retirement year's.
Congradulation's on your retirement and Welcome to God's country.

Thanks for the responses. Sounds like fun.