I just got tot get my dog in this hunt. I have had some experience with some of these questions in past. Barren River lake has special regulation for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass. I was fishing some club night tournaments and wanted a clarification on the KDFW rules as to what we could weigh in.

Barren River Lake:
Daily limit is 6 and possession limit is 12.
Spotted / Kentucky Bass have no minimum size limit.
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass have a 15-inch minimum size limit except 1 fish in the daily creel limit or 2 in the possession limit may be less than 15 inches long.

I could not find definitions in the manual to cover some of the terms they where using so I contacted the KDFW at Frankfort and asked them to send me in writing the answers to these questions which they did.

Q-What determines a possession limit.
A-Number of fish allowed in your possession after 2 or more days of fishing.

Q-When does a day start and end.
A-Starts at 12:01 am and ends at 12:00 pm.

Q-If I start fishing before 12:00 midnight and quit at 3:00 am can I have 2
Largemouth or Smallmouth Bass under 15" in my livewell legally.
A-Yes.

Q-What legally determines a Spotted / Kentucky Bass.
A-Any Black Bass with a rough patch on its tongue except Smallmouth Bass.
We know some Largemouth Bass may have a small tongue patch without
the other determining characteristics of a Spotted / Kentucky Bass but we
will not require them if a tongue patch is present.


I had this in writing from the big wigs in Frankfort. I don't know why they don't print this more clearly for everyone to see and understand in their rules and regulations. This was about 8 -10 years ago and as far as I know none of these rules have changed, but maybe the Big Wigs in charge have.

Just my 2 cents worth....!