New This Year

Following are changes to the  2020 regulations:

• ​​​For regulatory purposes, the upper lake boundaries now defined by landmarks on these reservoirs: Cave Run Lake: Scott’s Creek to theKY 801 culvert; Beaver Creek to the KY 1274 culvert; North Fork Creek to the confluence of Craney Creek; Licking River to the KY 772 bridge; Ramey Creek to include the pool of water north of KY 801. Green River Lake: Green River to Snake Creek Boat Ramp, Robinson Creek to the KY 76 bridge; Casey Creek to Arnolds Landing Boat Ramp. Rough River Lake: Rough River to the KY 84 bridge.
• Catfish: 12-inch minimum size limit, no daily creel limit on Higginson Henry WMA lakes, Lake Pennyrile and Taylorsville Lake WMA ponds. No gifting of catfish to businesses.
• Trophy catfish regulations in effect: anglers may only keep one trophy catfish per species per day, whether using traditional or non-traditional fishing methods (see Trophy catfish definition for more details).
• Barren River Lake: 10-inch minimum size limit on crappie.
• Boone Tract, Kentucky River WMA lakes (except Benjy Kinman Lake): Crappie: Now under statewide regulations, 20-fish daily creel limit, no minimum size limit.
• The 4-acre lake on the Boone tract is now known as Prather Pond. 12-inch minimum size limit for catfish on Benjy Kinman Lake, Prather Pond and 6-acre pond. No daily creel limit on Benjy Kinman Lake, 4 fish on other ponds.
• Cumberland River from Wolf Creek Dam to the Tennessee state line: Cutthoat trout: 20-inch minimum size limit, one-fish daily creel limit.
• Gunpowder Creek (Boone County): All trout caught from October 1 through March 31 shall be immediately released and only artificial baits may be used during this period.
•  Lake Barkley tailwater: Fishing prohibited near the mouth of the lock chamber as designated by signs.
• Middle Fork, Red River: Catch and release trout regulations removed.
• “Catfish” will mean blue, flathead and channel only (impacts 12-inch catfish lake signs which say “includes all species” now)​​​​