Kentucky/Barkley Canal question

[Tim_T]

Friend of mine wants to know if he can jug fish the canal between KY/Barkley. Anybody know 100%?

[mhall]

You can jug fish anywhere you want on either lake as long as you follow the state laws of marking the jugs ect. Why there though, with boat traffic and wind they will end up against the banks in no time....

[Tim_T]

You can jug fish anywhere you want on either lake as long as you follow the state laws of marking the jugs ect. Why there though, with boat traffic and wind they will end up against the banks in no time....

He said that some friends caught over 100 on rod and reels the other day and he likes that jug fishing, he just wasn't sure if it was legal in the canal.

[mhall]

I looked in the reg's book and couldn't find anything on it so sounds like he would be alright to do it. I can see several reasons Cats would love that canal.

[Tim_T]

The only thing we could find in the fishing guide was it saying you could not be within so many hundred yards of the dam. I e-mailed the fishery biologist for that district to make sure but hadn't heard back.

[mhall]

Yea I know they don't like them near the dams as they get sucked in and can create issues. I really think he's fine in the canal itself. They are pretty specific about these things in the regulations.

[artcarney_agr]

I know that it is illegal to waterski, tube, or swim in there...there's a sign posted, but the trees have grown around it, so it now serves no purpose.

Why not break out the rod and reel? The catfish are up on the rocks anyways...jugging would be pointless.

[Dave Stewart]

I don't know of any regulation that says he cannot...but with the big boat traffic not too mention all the other traffic going thru that narrow waterway...he would be putting out objects that would impede the traffic and also he would probably have most of them taken out by the barges and big boat traffic going thru there....better he find someplace else to throw out a bunch of jugs.

[Tim_T]

Got my answer from Paul Rister KDFWR.

"Yes, I could see where there might some navigation hazards since the canal is narrow and boats in the canal are usually in motion from one lake to the other. So I recommend you use large enough floats that boaters and jet ski could see them, and be considerate to other boaters by not put out a bunch that would make navigation in the channel a hazard."

[Jbyrd]

Friend of mine wants to know if he can jug fish the canal between KY/Barkley. Anybody know 100%?

He won't try that very long. I fish the canal lots and the current will pull the jugs thru there as fast as he can set them. Tell him to get a rod and reel. Rig a slip bobber about 8 ft deep use leeches and start at the bridge on the south side and fish toward barkley. WE caught 146 cats one evening in 2 1/2 hrs from 6-8 pm. NON STOP action hold the boat about 20 ft from the bank and fish about 10 ft off the bank. I was brusied in my ribs for 3 weeks. MAN what a trip. Have done it for the past 4 years memorial day thru second week in june.