It is illegal in Ky at this time to have a short fish in your boat. The KDFW has said and this info was given to our, the KBFN tourney dir, and the KDFW said that if any short fish were brought to the scales that a ticket would be issued. The law sets a length limit on certin lakes and these lenght limits need to be aheared too, so if a person is in doubt then throw it back. If a club or circut gives you a courtsey ck then they could be breaking the law, as it is illegal to have an undersized fish in your possetion, just letting you know that it is not a good idea to do courtsey checks do to this law. Just do not want to see any trail get into hot water with the KDFW, also they are in need of MONEY so they are checking everything.