KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT of
FISH & WILDLIFE RESOURCES

Spring Fishing Frenzy

The following columns provide information on some of the better sites to fish for each species. For a more complete list of water bodies where each species can be found click here and then select the species that you are interested in under “Search for water bodies for species”.

New 2019 Spring Columns:

Best weather trends for Spring Fishing

With the frenetic pace and busy schedules of modern life, the saying is true now more than ever. However, if you only have a few weekends each spring to fish, the experience yields more stress reduction, enjoyment and memories if the fish bite like crazy. MORE

FINs Lakes

The long train of heavy rain in 2019 has Lake Cumberland at its highest level since April 1998. Barren River Lake is 35 feet above winter pool while Rough River Lake is a little more than 30 feet above winter pool. MORE

Decoding The White Bass Runs

With all of the rain we received early this year, many Kentuckians are wondering when will the white bass run. MORE

Quick-strike Rig Construction

Note to Muskie Anglers: When using Live Bait, please Use a Quick-strike Rig to reduce catch-and-release muskie mortality

The basic rig construction consists of a 24-inch length of uncoated bronze stranded wire, 20 to 50 lb. test, a heavy duty rear treble hook, and a smaller front treble or optional single front hook. The front hook should contain shrinkable tubing around the shank so it will slide on the wire making it adjustable. A strong black swivel should be attached on the opposite end of the whole rig. An optional small spinner blade should be added in front of the front hook making it legal for use in states where a multiple hook rig is illegal. The whole thing can be assembled by using either crimp-on sleeves or twisting the wire to make a good connection. You can easily make your own rigs or they can be purchased from most Musky tackle outlets.

Information courtesy Musky America at Musky.com. For more information see: http://www.musky.com/Features/strike.htm