KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT of
FISH & WILDLIFE RESOURCES

• Statewide Regulations
• Other Species
• Fishing Methods
• License and Permit Fees
• How to Buy Licenses and Permits
• License Requirements and Exemptions
• Bordering Waters

Some waterbodies have different size and creel limits, please refer to the “Special Fishing Regulations” section below for more details. Fish not included in this list are considered rough fish. There are no size or creel limits for rough fish, unless special regulations apply. For daily creel and fishing license purposes, one fishing day equals one calendar day. Except for trout, anglers may cull fish of a particular species until reaching the daily creel limit. Any additional fish caught in excess of the daily creel limit must be released immediately.

STATEWIDE SIZE AND CREEL LIMITS (301 KAR 1:060, 1:201; KRS 150.010)

Fishing season is open year-round in Kentucky, except on waterfowl refuges and as otherwise noted in this guide. Statewide size and creel limits apply to all Kentucky waters, public and private, except some waters have different limits (see, “Special Fishing Regulations” below.)

MEASURING FISH (301 KAR 1:201)

Measure all fish from the tip of the lower jaw (closed) to the tip of the tail with fish laid flat on rule with tail lobes squeezed together. Undersized fish must be returned immediately to the waters from which they were taken in the best possible physical condition.

 

Special Fishing Regulations

(301 KAR 1:080, 1:180, 1:201, 2:222 4:100, 4:200E; KRS 150.010, 150.025)

SPECIAL REGULATION WATERS LISTED ALPHABETICALLY

The public waters listed below have different size and/or creel limits than statewide regulations allow. Statewide size and creel limits apply unless otherwise mentioned below. Special boating regulations are listed in the Boating section of this guide.

Some privately owned waters may have special size and creel limits as posted by signs.

FINs LAKES:

Lakes in the Fishing In Neighborhoods (FINs) program now have uniform regulations for daily creel and size limit:

• Rainbow Trout: 5-fish daily limit.
• Catfish: 4-fish daily limit
• Sunfish: 15-fish daily limit
• Largemouth Bass: 15-inch minimum size limit, 1 fish daily limit

The following FINs lakes are now under these special regulations:

Alexandria Community Park Lake (Campbell County), Anderson County Community Park Lake (Anderson County), Bloomfield Park Lake (Nelson County), Bob Noble Park Lake (McCracken County), Brickyard Pond (Knox County), Camp Ernst Lake (Boone County), Carlson Lake (Ft. Knox, Meade County), Cherokee Park Lake ( Jefferson County), Easy Walker Park Pond (Montgomery County), Fisherman’s Park Lakes ( Jefferson County), Flemingsburg Old Reservoir (Fleming County), Jacobson Park Lake (Fayette County), James D. Beville Park Lake (Grayson County), Kentucky Horse Park Lakes (Fayette County), Kess Creek Park Lake (Graves County), Kingdom Come State Park Lake (Harlan County), Lake Mingo (Jessamine County), Lake Pollywog (Grant County), Leary Lake (Grant County), Logan Hubble Park Lake (Lincoln County), Lower Sportsman's Lake (Franklin County), Lusby Lake (Scott County), Madisonville City Park Lakes (Hopkins County), Maysville-Mason County Recreation Park Lake (Mason County), Middleton Mills Long Pond and Shelterhouse Ponds (Kenton County), Mike Miller Park Lake (Marshall County), Miles Park Lakes ( Jefferson County), Millennium Park Pond (Boyle County), Panther Creek Park Lake, (Daviess County), Prisoner’s Lake (Kenton County), Rotary Park Lake (Hickman County), Scott County Park Lake (Scott County), Southgate Lake (Campbell County), Three Springs Lake (Warren County), Tom Wallace Park Lake ( Jefferson County), Upper Sportsman’s Lake (Franklin County), Waverly Park Lake ( Jefferson County), Waymond Morris Park Lake (Daviess County), Whitehall Park Lake (Madison County), Yellow Creek Park Lake (Daviess County)

BULLFROGS
(301 KAR 1:082)
The taking season for bullfrogs opens at noon on the third Friday in May (May 19, 2017) and runs through Oct. 31. If a gun or bow and arrow are used, a hunting license is required. If frogs are taken by pole and line, a fishing license is required. If frogs are taken by gig or by hand, then either hunting or fishing license is valid. The daily noon to noon creel limit for bullfrogs is 15. The possession limit is 30.

TURTLES
(301 KAR 1:058)
Anglers may take snapping turtles (except alligator snapping turtles) and softshell turtles year round by the same methods legal for taking rough fish species. Commercial fishing gear may not be used to take turtles. A hunting license is required when taking turtles by gun or by bow and arrow. Otherwise a fishing license is required. Turtles can not be sold.

Turtle traps may be one of two kinds: either a barrel or drum with a tilting trigger board or a floating log raft with an enclosed twine or wire mesh bag. Turtle traps must be inspected daily. All turtles must be removed daily except one decoy turtle may remain. Any other species (except soft shelled and snapping turtles) caught in a turtle trap must be released unharmed.

GRASS CARP HARVEST PROHIBITED
(301 KAR 1:201)
Harvesting grass carp is prohibited in any lake owned or managed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Anglers who catch a grass carp from one of these lakes must immediately return the fish to the water where it was caught. Grass carp are used to control aquatic vegetation. Signs are posted at applicable lakes.

LIVE BAIT FOR PERSONAL USE
(301 KAR 1:130, 1:122)
No live fish, live bait fish or live bait organisms that are not native or established in Kentucky waters shall be bought, sold, possessed, imported, or in any way used or released into waters of this Commonwealth. Blueback herring are not native to Kentucky and may not be imported or possessed in this state.

Holders of sport fishing licenses may take live bait from public waters and may possess up to 500 live bait fishes which include shad (except on lakes where possession or use of shad is prohibited) and herring, 500 crayfish, 25 spring lizards or dusky salamanders, 5 frogs (other than bullfrogs), 5 tadpoles, 100 native lampreys, 500 other aquatic invertebrate organisms other than mussels, and any number of unshelled Asiatic clams.   Live wild caught Asian carp, skipjack herring and shad may only be used in the waters from which they were collected. A commercial license is required to take live bait from public waters open to commercial fishing for the purpose of selling.

Regardless of size or how obtained, it is illegal to use any sport fish for bait (except redear sunfish less than 6 inches long). (Sport fish species are listed here). Live bait fishes are defined as rough fish except blackside dace, palezone shiner, Cumerland darter, relict darter, tuxedo darter and redear sunfish less than 6 inches long.  Also, see page 21 for a description of these protected fish species.  Bluegills are not sport fish and may be taken for bait as described above.

Live bait may be taken with the following gear:

• Dip Nets: Maximum size of 3 feet in diameter is legal in the Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi rivers, Cumberland River below Barkley Dam, Kentucky River below Lock No. 14, and all lakes having 1,000 or more surface acres.
• Minnow Traps: Maximum legal size statewide: 3 feet long, 18 inches in diameter, 1-inch openings for catching.
• Seines: Maximum legal size statewide: 10 feet long, 4 feet deep, ¼-inch mesh. Maximum legal size in the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and Kentucky and Barkley lakes: 30 feet long, 6 feet deep and ¼-inch bar mesh.
• Sport Cast Nets: Maximum sport cast net size is 20 feet in diameter with maximum 1-inch bar mesh statewide except in the following waters. Sport cast nets prohibited in: 1) lakes having fewer than 500 surface acres, 2) Hatchery Creek in Russell County. All sport fish incidentally taken while capturing live bait with seines, dip nets or cast nets must be released immediately unharmed into the water.

SPORT FISHING TROTLINES, JUGGING and SET LINES (LIMB LINES)
(301 KAR 1:410; KRS 150.010)
A sport fishing trotline is a line with no more than 50 single or multi-barbed baited hooks that must be at least 18 inches apart. A sport fishing trotline must be set at least three feet below the water’s surface. Jugging is fishing with a single baited line attached to any floating object. A jug line may have no more than one single or multi-barbed hook. A set line is a line with one single or multi-barbed hook. It may be attached to a tree limb, tree trunk, bank pole or other stationary object on the bank of a stream or impoundment.

One person may use no more than two sport fishing trotlines or 50 jug lines or 25 set lines at any one time. Each boat may not use more than 50 jug lines, but each occupant may use two sportfishing trotlines or 25 set lines. Each sport fishing trotline, jug line or set line must be: 1) permanently labeled with the name and address of the user; 2) baited, checked and all fish removed at least once every 24 hours; 3) removed from water, bank or tree when fishing ceases.

Prohibited Areas: Sport fishing trotlines, jug lines or set lines may not be used within 200 yards below any dam. Sport fishing trotlines, jug lines or set lines are not allowed in Department owned/managed lakes having less than 500 surface acres, except those located on Ballard and Boatwright WMAs. No sport fishing trotlines are allowed within 700 yards below Kentucky Dam, the area between Barkley Dam and U.S. 62 bridge, or below the following Ohio River dams from the face of the dam to the end of the outer lock wall: Smithland, Newburgh, Cannelton, Markland, Meldahl and Greenup; McAlpine downstream to the K&I railroad bridge; J.T. Meyers (Uniontown) to the end of the outer lock wall and that portion of the split channel around the southern part of Wabash Island from the fixed weir dam to the first dike.

GIGGING AND SNAGGING FISH
(301 KAR 1:410, 1:082; KRS 150.010)
Gigging means spearing or impaling fish on any pronged or barbed instrument attached to the end of any rigid object. Snagging means taking fish or other aquatic animals by a rapid drawing motion (rather than enticement by bait) using a hand-held pole and attached line with a single or one multiple fish hook. Only one single or treble hook may be attached to the line. Except, in Green River, Rolling Fork River and their tributaries, up to five single or treble hooks may be used for snagging. A rod legal for snagging must be equipped with line, guides and a reel. The rod length restriction is now removed.

The statewide season for gigging and/or snagging rough fish is from February 1 through May 10. It is illegal to possess a gig on a stream or lake or in a boat from November 1 through January 31. A person may gig or snag fish from the bank of a stream during the day or night. Gigging and snagging is not legal from a platform, except that gigging is legal from a boat on lakes 500 surface acres or larger and only during daylight hours.

There is a statewide limit of 2 paddlefish for either gigging or snagging. All gigged or snagged paddlefish must be taken into possession and cannot be culled or released. Snagging anglers must cease gigging or snagging once they attain the 2 paddlefish daily creel limit. It is illegal to sell paddlefish or their roe taken by sportfish snagging methods. No daily limits on any other rough fish. Regardless of condition, all sport fish taken by gigging and snagging must be immediately returned to the water (except snagging in the Tennessee River below Kentucky Dam).

Persons may gig rough fish through the ice any time the surface is frozen thick enough to stand upon. The gigger must gig while supported by the ice.

Gigging and snagging are prohibited in the following waters or areas:

• Cave Run Lake including all tributaries up to the first riffle (The location of the first riffle may change depending on water level).
• Cumberland River, below Wolf Creek Dam downstream to the Tennessee line including Hatchery Creek and all tributaries for ½ mile upstream of their confluence with the Cumberland River.
• Within 200 yards of a dam, except below Kentucky Dam.
• Cumberland River, below Barkley Dam downstream to the U.S. 62 bridge.
• Tennessee River, below Kentucky Dam from the new U.S. 62 bridge to I-24 bridge.
• Middle Fork of Kentucky River from Buckhorn Lake downstream to the Breathitt County line.
• Rough River, below Rough River Dam to KY 54 bridge.
• In the Tennessee River below Kentucky Dam, gigging prohibited year-round.

For specific regulations for gigging and snagging in the Cumberland River below Barkley Dam and in the Tennessee River below Kentucky Lake refer to the Special Regulations section above.

TICKLING AND NOODLING
(301 KAR 1:410; KRS 150.010)
The tickling and noodling (hand grabbing) season for rough fish is June 1 through August 31, during daylight hours only. Tickling and noodling means taking fish directly by hand, or with the aid of a handled hook. These methods are permitted in all waters. The daily creel limit is 15 rough fish, no more than 5 of which can be catfish.

BOW FISHING
(301 KAR 1:410)
Rough fish (except alligator gar) may be taken year-round by long bow, crossbow, compound bow, recurve bow or pneumatic air arrow launching device.  Sport fish may not be taken with this gear.  Arrows must have a barbed or retractable style point that has a line attached for retrieval. Catfish have a daily creel limit of 5 (in aggregate) and paddlefish have a daily creel limit of 2. There is no limit on other rough fish. Bow fisherman may fish within 200 yards of a dam, except by boat in boat restricted areas. Bow fishing is prohibited on the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam downstream to the Tennessee line, including Hatchery Creek and all tributaries for ½ mile upstream of their confluence with the Cumberland River.

Persons using a bow and arrow for fishing must have the appropriate fishing license and may take rough fish from bank or boat.  Bow anglers cannot sell paddlefish or their roe taken by bow and arrow. Paddlefish and catfish taken by bow and arrow must be taken into immediate possession and cannot be culled. Fish taken by bow must not be discarded on the bank. Bank disposal is littering and subject to a fine.

SPEAR FISHING
(301 KAR 1:410)
Underwater spearing of rough fish with hand-held or mechanically propelled spear is permitted year-round, but only in lakes having 1,000 surface acres or more. All participants in this sport must be submerged while spear fishing. Only rough fish may be taken and the appropriate fishing license is required. The daily limit is 15 fish of which only 5 may be catfish.

Licenses and permits can be purchased throughout the Commonwealth. Most department stores, county court clerk offices and outdoor sporting goods stores sell licenses. View license vendor locations. Licenses and permits can also be purchased here.

GETTING A LICENSE BY PHONE
Licenses and permits can be purchased by phone 24 hours a day. It is the caller’s responsibility to know what type of license or permit is needed before calling. Operators should NOT be relied upon to explain licensing requirements. If you are unsure what license or permit you need, refer to previous portions of this guide, or contact Kentucky Fish and Wildlife at 1-800-858-1549.

All Kentucky hunting and fishing licenses and permits, except a disabled license, elk lottery application and all youth licenses and permits, can be purchased over the phone for a small fee.

GETTING A LICENSE ONLINE
All Kentucky hunting and fishing licenses and permits, except a Joint Husband/Wife Fishing License, can be purchased through the secured Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website. Replacement licenses can be printed free here.

(KRS 150.010, 150.170)
All persons must fill out and carry the proper license and permit to fish any Kentucky waters except the following (for permit requirements see “Trout Permit” below):

• The resident owner of farmlands, his spouse and dependent children may fish on their land without a license. Tenants, their spouses and dependent children may fish without a license on farmlands where they live and work.
• Resident servicemen on furlough for more than three days may fish state-wide without a license, but must carry proper identification and papers showing furlough status.
• Residents and nonresidents ages 15 and younger.
• Persons fishing on the first Saturday and Sunday in June (June 3-4, 2017) during Free Fishing Days are not required to have a license or permit.
• Persons fishing within the boundaries of Mammoth Cave National Park.

A resident is anyone who has established permanent and legal residence in Kentucky and resided here at least 30 days immediately prior to applying for a license. Full-time students enrolled in an educational institution for at least a six-month term and service personnel on permanent assignment in Kentucky are also classified as residents. All others are considered non-residents for licensing purposes.

TROUT PERMIT
(301 KAR 1:201)
Unless license exempt, anglers who intend to keep trout must have a trout permit ($10). A trout permit is included with the resident senior/disabled combination license and resident sportsman’s license. All licensed anglers fishing the portion of the Cumberland River from Wolf Creek Dam to the Tennessee state line, its tributaries up to the first riffle and all of Hatchery Creek are required to possess a trout permit. (See the Trout section in this guide for details and for a complete list of waters where trout are present.)

RESIDENT SPORTSMAN’S LICENSE (SAVE $55!)
Available to Kentucky residents only, the Sportsman’s License includes a combination hunting and fishing license, spring turkey permit, fall turkey permit, statewide deer permit, state waterfowl permit (which also covers dove and other migratory bird hunting) and trout permit. Peabody and LBL permits, trapping license, an elk lottery application, elk quota hunt permit (if drawn), out-of-zone elk permit, bear permit and bonus deer permits must be purchased separately. A federal duck stamp (available at post offices) is required for waterfowl hunting.

(KRS 150.660)
A person fishing in a pay lake licensed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources needs either a Kentucky fishing license or a free permit issued by the operator. If the lake is not licensed by the operator, anglers need a valid Kentucky fishing license.

FREE FISHING DAYS
(301 KAR 1:210)
Every year Kentucky offers free fishing days the first weekend in June (June 3-4, 2017). On free fishing days no license (including the Kentucky trout permit) is required of residents or non-residents to fish any Kentucky waters. All other fishing regulations remain in effect. Free fishing days are offered to promote fishing and National Fishing Week.

To obtain a disability license authorization card:
To obtain a disability license authorization card:

If your disability is through the:

• Federal Social Security Administration: Call 1-800-772-1213 or go online to www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount to print the form showing your name, address, Social Security number and date of birth. It must state that you are disabled and drawing benefits. Send form to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, 1 Sportsman's Lane, Frankfort, KY  40601.
• Veteran’s Administration: Contact your local VA office and request a letter that verifies you are at least 50% disabled as a result of a service-connected disability. Send letter to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, 1 Sportsman's Lane, Frankfort, KY  40601.
• If your disability is through other state or federal agencies, call 1-800-858-1549.

Once the proper documentation is processed, applicants will receive their authorization card by mail.

The authorization card is not a license. It must be presented to the license seller, or the authorization number entered online, at the time of purchase.

License vendors cannot sell a disability license using an expired authorization card.

Senior and Disabled Combination Licenses are valid through the end of February each year. If you lose your card, contact Kentucky Fish and Wildlife for a replacement.

LOST LICENSES AND PERMITS

Persons who need a replacement license or permit have three options:

1. Print a replacement online.
2. Purchase the same type of license or permit from any license vendor, ask them for a license refund form (or print one at fw.ky.gov ), fill it out and send it to: KDFWR Licensing, #1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601. You will receive a refund minus a $5 handling fee.
3. Send $5, your name, address, date of birth and Social Security number, and which license(s) or permits you lost to: KDFWR Licensing, #1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601. The department will replace the license/ permit once verification of original purchase occurs. Replacement may take up to 3 weeks.

All Kentucky anglers who fish reciprocal waters must have a valid Kentucky fishing license.

OHIO RIVER FISHING
(KRS 150.170)
An angler with a Kentucky fishing license may fish the entire main stem of the Ohio River from a boat, or a bordering state’s bank without buying the other state’s license (bordering states include Illinois, Indiana and Ohio).

This does not apply if fishing a bordering state’s embayments or tributaries, which begin at a straight line between opposite points where the tributary or embayment meets the main stem of the river.

Anglers fishing from a bordering state’s bank must follow the size and creel limits of the state where the angler is located. For example, a Kentucky licensed angler can stand on the Indiana bank and fish the main stem of the Ohio River without an Indiana fishing license, but must abide by Indiana’s size and creel limits. However, anglers fishing from a boat must follow the size and creel limits of the state in which the angler is licensed.

Reminder: snagging is not permitted for any fish species on the Indiana side or in any Indiana waters of the Ohio River. In Kentucky, a person may not snag within 200 yards below any dam on the Ohio River.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER
(KRS 150.170)
Anglers licensed in Kentucky may fish Missouri portions of the Mississippi River without buying a Missouri fishing license. Each state recognizes the sport fishing licenses and permits of the other state on the Mississippi River. The river is defined as the main channel and immediate side or secondary channels and chutes. It does not include oxbow or floodplain lakes or any tributary streams. A tributary is delineated by the straight line between opposite points where the tributary connects with the main body of the Mississippi River. Furthermore, the river does not include backwaters that extend onto the floodplain or tributaries when the river exceeds 33 feet at the gauging station at Cairo, Illinois.

Sport fishing license or permit holders may fish from, or attach any device or equipment to land along the river under the jurisdiction of the other state. Landowner permission is required to fish from the bank.

Sport fishing license holders shall abide by the regulations in the state in whose waters they are fishing and when fishing in waters they are not licensed to fish, shall comply with the most restrictive regulation.

DALE HOLLOW LAKE
Anglers may use either a Tennessee or a Kentucky sport fishing license while fishing in the Wolf River arm of Dale Hollow Lake. This includes the Illwill Creek embayment beginning at a line crossing the Wolf River at its mouth where it joins the Obey River and the main part of the lake.

Anglers must obey the regulations of the state in which they are licensed. Kentucky residents must have a Kentucky license.

KENTUCKY LAKE
On Kentucky Lake, anglers with either a valid Kentucky or Tennessee sport fishing license may fish from Eggner’s Ferry Bridge (U.S. 68 and Hwy. 80) in Kentucky south to the Governor Ned McWhorter Bridge (U.S. 79 and Hwy. 76) in Tennessee. This includes all embayments and tributaries, except the Blood River embayment in Kentucky. Anglers must abide by the fishing regulations of the state in which they are fishing.

BIG SANDY AND TUG FORK RIVERS

Anglers with a valid Kentucky fishing license may fish the entire main stem of the Big Sandy and Tug Fork rivers from the confluence of the Ohio and Big Sandy Rivers upstream to the Virginia state line. Kentucky anglers can fish from a boat or on West Virginia’s bank without buying a West Virginia fishing license.

This does not apply to fishing West Virginia’s tributaries or embayments, which begin at a straight line between opposite points where the tributary or embayment meets the main stem of the river.

Kentucky anglers fishing from West Virginia’s bank must follow their size and creel limits. However, Kentucky anglers fishing the main stem from a boat must follow Kentucky’s size and creel limits.

BIG SOUTH FORK OF THE CUMBERLAND RIVER
Anglers may use either a Tennessee or a Kentucky sport fishing license while fishing that portion of the Big South Fork from the Leatherwood Ford bridge (Hwy. 297) in Tennessee to the Hwy. 92 bridge at Yamacraw, Kentucky.

Anglers must obey the regulations of the state in which they are licensed. Kentucky residents must have a Kentucky license.

OTHER BORDERING WATERS
On all other bordering waters, boundaries are set by state lines. Obey the laws of the state in which you are fishing.