Smallmouth being handled

Fall Fishing Festival

​​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.”

Can't get enough articles about seasonal fishing opportunities? Check out our Spring Fishing Frenzy series!


 
 


2022 Fall Columns:



Early Fall Makes a Great Time to Fly Fish for Stream Smallmouth Bass​

Lee McClellan Frankfort, KY

A woman is smiling for the camera while fishing

Kentucky’s topography is laced with flowing, rock-bottomed streams that hold smallmouth bass. Most of the state east of the Tradewater River basin has streams that hold smallies.


2020 Fall Columns:​​


Float and Fly Works During the Coldest Months

Lee McClellan Frankfort, KY

A fish is being held up by a man in a boat

Water temperatures are in the mid-50s and falling in Lake Cumberland, Dale Hollow and Laurel River Lake. Once water temperatures drop below 50 degrees for extended periods, threadfin shad...

Sauger bite during the holiday season

Lee McClellan Frankfort, KY

A fish is being held up by a young man on the edge of a lake

Sauger are starting to hover just above bottom downstream of dams, waiting for a stunned shad to tumble into their orbit. Anglers started catching sauger below dams on the Ohio River recently, with some catching fish in excess of 15 inches long...

Enjoy seasonal catch and release trout streams this winter

Lee McClellan Frankfort, KY

A fish is being held up by a hand

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is next week. Kentuckians are going to have some time off over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Spending some time outdoors is a good way to...

Five things to consider for reservoir smallmouth bass season

Lee McClellan Frankfort, KY

A fish is being held up by a man in a boat

The recent Indian summer weather and record highs earlier this week are but a fleeting thing. It will soon be cold as Thanksgiving is just around the corner, followed by winter. Water temperatures at Kentucky’s world-class smallmouth reservoirs...

Largemouth bass active on smaller lakes across Kentucky

Lee McClellan Frankfort, KY

A fish is being held up by a man

Many anglers think the first cool winds of early fall spur largemouth bass to move from their deep summer haunts and shove their noses practically on the bank. They fish too shallow too early and...

Fall for trout all over again

Kevin KellyFrankfort, KY

A fish is being held up by a woman

Anglers treasure the fall months in Kentucky.The shortening periods of daylight and the cooler, drier air bring welcome relief from summer and bring on the fall colors. It’s during this time of transition...

Three State Resort Parks for Great Fall Fishing

Lee McClellan Frankfort, KY

A fish is being held up by a man in a boat

The dramatically cooler nights of the last few weeks are a blessing for anglers. These longer, colder nights pull the residual heat from the water...

School’s in for spotted bass in fall

Lee McClellan Frankfort, KY

Illustration of an Spotted Bass

They were not even recognized as a distinctive fish species until 1927. People for many years believed these fish only existed in Kentucky. In 1956, the Kentucky legislature designated this species the “Kentucky bass” and made them the official state fish. Many anglers, especially in the south-central... 

Adjusting to Fishing Situations in the Fall Months

Kevin Kelly Frankfort, KY

A large head of a bass being held in a hand

Anglers become conditioned to expect high water on lakes in spring and stable conditions in summer before the fall drawdowns to winter pool. Determinging the conditions on the lake you plan...

Stream smallmouth bass love early fall

Lee McClellan Frankfort, KY

A fish is being held up by a man in a boat

This past spring and early summer was just like the one before it. It rained and rained until mid-summer, then it didn’t rain much at all. Streams...

Lake Cumberland tailwater offers great winter trout fishing

Lee McClellan Frankfort, KY

A fish is being cut from a fly fishing hook

Consistency is a trait all anglers love in a body of water. Most Kentucky lakes and rivers go through seasonal temperature swings that make fishing tough during the hottest and coldest months of... 

Few lures beat a tailspinner in cold water

Lee McClellan Frankfort, KY

A fish is being cut from a fly fishing hook

Some lures on the market have stood the test of time, catching fish decade after decade. The Dardevle spoon, the Jitterbug and the Hula... 

Three productive winter crappie spots

Lee McClellan Frankfort, KY

A fish is being held up by a man in a boat

Winter is a season of nesting for many Kentuckians. Hot cocoa and a book by the fireplace is more appealing than getting outside in the wet and cold. However, for those who enjoy solitude and having lakes completely to themselves, winter is the... 

A revival for the fly and rind

Lee McClellan Frankfort, KY

A fish is being held up by a man who is smiling for the camera

Bass angler’s hearts sank all over the upper South when the venerable Uncle Josh Company announced in early 2016 that they would no longer produce pork rind jig trailers. Hogs go to slaughter younger than they used to and the company... 

Fishing remains productive during deer season​

Kevin Kelly Frankfort, KY

A fish is being held up by a man who is smiling for the camera

Kentucky offers some of the finest deer hunting found anywhere, and the modern gun deer season stands as one of the most anticipated...

Best kayaks for flatwater fishing

Lee McClellan Frankfort, KY

a man is fishing in a river while steering a kayak

A car, truck or sport utility vehicle with a couple of kayaks on the roof with fishing poles visible through the back window is an increasingly common sight on Kentucky highways. Sales data shows fishing and related kayak accessories..

Reservoir Smallmouth Bass Season Around the Corner

Lee McClellanFrankfort, KY

a man is holding up a large smallmouth bass

Reservoir smallmouth anglers are a weird lot. They dangle tiny little hair jigs under bobbers in air so cold ice forms in the guides of their rods. They...

Cooler temps heat up fall bass fishing

Lee McClellanFrankfort, KY

a bass is being held up for the camera

The orange tint in the tops of mature trees portend what is coming our way. Cool nights with crisp, gorgeous days signal some of the best days of the year in Kentucky, and also the beginning of the...

Muskellunge fishing heats up in fall

Kevin KellyFrankfort, KY

a girl is holding up a large fish with a man as a girl is seated behind them They are all on a boat

The angler’s whoop traveled fast and loud over the water from the back of Buck Creek on Cave Run Lake. Bringing a trophy muskellunge to the boat after a spirited fight uncorks raw emotions and provides a unique sense of satisfaction. In this instance, the 45-inch torpedo of a fish was a new... 

Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Spotted Bass School in Fall

Lee McClellanFrankfort, KY

A woman is holding a large spotted bass and a fishing pole

They were not even recognized as a distinctive fish species until 1927. People for many years... ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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