Invasive Alabama bass found at Lake Linville in Rockcastle County

​​​​FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 20, 2026) — Biologists with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources have confirmed the presence of Alabama bass hybrids in Lake Linville, marking the first time the species has been detected in Kentucky waters. Lake Linville is a 356-acre lake located near Mt. Vernon in Rockcastle County.

During routine fisheries surveys at Lake Linville, biologists collected two fish initially identified as spotted bass that raised concern. Subsequent genetic analysis confirmed that both fish were Alabama bass/spotted bass hybrids.

The extent of Alabama bass presence in Lake Linville is currently unknown. Fisheries biologists with the department are conducting expanded genetic testing of Lake Linville’s bass population. Findings from this effort will help guide future management strategies for the lake and surrounding waterways.

Alabama bass, native to the Mobile Bay basin in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, have caused devastating impacts to fisheries outside their native range across several southeastern states. Recent introductions of the species by anglers in Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina have significantly altered native populations of smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and spotted bass through interbreeding and competition.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife biologists are most concerned about the potential for Alabama bass to interbreed with native smallmouth and spotted bass populations in Kentucky. The resulting hybrid fish would eventually eliminate existing smallmouth bass and spotted bass over time. Home of the world-record smallmouth bass, Kentucky’s premier smallmouth bass fisheries, including Lake Cumberland and Dale Hollow Lake, could face serious risk if anglers continue to move Alabama bass into Kentucky waters.

“The discovery of Alabama bass hybrids in Lake Linville is concerning for fisheries in Kentucky,” said Marcy Anderson, program coordinator for the Southeast Fisheries District for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “It’s not simply about an introduction of a new species. It’s also the long-term negative consequences for the native bass species that anglers frequently target.”

Previous Alabama bass introductions to new waters in other states have shown that they quickly become the dominant species and drastically reduce the abundance of largemouth bass through competition. Alabama bass do not grow as large as they typically do in their native environment and invasive populations are usually composed of fish much smaller than the largemouth bass they displaced.

Alabama bass are nearly indistinguishable from native Kentucky spotted bass based on appearance alone, making genetic analysis the most reliable method for identification. However, differences between Alabama bass and other black bass species—such as largemouth bass and smallmouth bass—can sometimes be observed through jaw size, lateral band coloration and overall body coloring.

“For many years Alabama bass were considered a subspecies of spotted bass and many anglers still refer to Alabama bass as “spots,” said Dave Dreves, director of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Fisheries Division. “Unfortunately, Alabama bass are very different from our native Kentucky spotted bass so it’s critical that these fish are not moved to new waterbodies.”​

Public engagement remains critical in addressing the spread of invasive species such as Alabama bass. Anglers and boaters are reminded not to move fish and plants between water bodies, as doing so can unintentionally introduce invasive species into new ecosystems. Following all state regulations is essential to protecting Kentucky’s aquatic resources.

“Invasive species negatively impact the local environment and economy when introduced into new areas,” said Jeffrey Herod, aquatic invasive species coordinator for the department. “In the case of Alabama bass, there is sufficient information based on research from fisheries biologists from multiple states that anglers should anticipate negative impacts to aquatic habitat, and specifically declines in largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and spotted bass populations if Alabama bass become established.”

More information about Alabama bass including how to identify the species is available on the department’s website (fw.ky.gov) on the Frequently Asked Questions about Alabama Bass and the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) webpages.

Photo credit Zach Alley