KENTUCKY FISHING & BOATING GUIDE MARCH 2020 - FEBRUARY 2021 FISH & WILDLIFE: 1-800-858-1549 • fw.ky.gov Report Game Violations and Fish Kills: Rick Hill illustration 1-800-25-ALERT KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE RESOURCES #1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601 DEFINITIONS (301 KAR 1:201, KRS 150.010) fore sunrise and end one-half hour after sion and approved by legislative commit- Fishing-related definitions not listed sunset. tees. here are included in appropriate sections of Daily limit is the maximum number of a Release means return of the fish, in the best this guide. particular species or group of species a per- possible condition, immediately after re- son may legally keep in a day or have in moving the hook, to the water from which Angling means taking or attempting to possession while fishing. it was taken in a place where the fish’s im- take fish by hook and line in hand, rod in Fishing is taking or attempting to take fish mediate escape shall not be prevented. hand, jugging, set line or sport fishing trot- in any manner, whether or not fish are in Resident is anyone who has established line. possession. permanent and legal residence in Kentucky Artificial baits are lures or flies made of Lake means impounded waters, from the and residing here at least 30 days. wood, metal, plastic, hair, feathers, pre- dam upstream to the first riffle on the main Size limit is the legal length a fish must be served pork rind or similar inert materi- stem river and tributary streams or as speci- if it is in possession. (Fish length is mea- als and having no organic baits including fied in regulation. sured from the tip of the closed lower jaw dough bait, putty or paste type baits de- Length means the distance from the front to the tip of the tail with fish laid flat on signed to attract fish by taste or smell. tip of a fish’s lower jaw with mouth closed rule and tail lobes squeezed together.) Authorization number is the number as- to the tip of its tail with the fish laid flat on Slot limit means fish within a specified signed to a person in lieu of fishing or a rule with its tail lobes squeezed together. minimum and maximum size range must hunting license when the license is pur- Organic baits are insects, minnows, fish be released. chased over the phone or Internet. eggs, worms, corn, cheese, cut bait or simi- Single hook is a hook with only one point. Black bass includes largemouth, small- lar substances used as a lure. Tenant is any resident sharecropper or mouth, Kentucky (spotted) and Coosa bass. Possession limit is the maximum number lessee who lives and works on farmland Culling: Replacing a live fish in the daily of unprocessed fish a person may hold after owned by his/her landlord. creel limit with another fish of the same two days or more of fishing. Trophy catfish is a blue or flathead catfish species. Regulation is a written document adopted 35 inches or longer or a channel catfish 28 Daylight hours begin one-half hour be- and approved by the KDFWR Commis- inches or longer. QUICK REFERENCE FISHING Measuring Fish .......................................3 Navigating Asian Carp ............................................22 New Laws ...............................................2 Crossing .............................................34 Bordering Waters ..................................15 Nuisance Species ...................................22 Meeting .............................................34 Brook Trout Streams .............................26 Parasites and Grubs in Fish ...................17 Overtaking .........................................34 Bullfrogs .................................................9 Possession Limits ....................................3 Equipment Consumption Advisories .........................17 Size and Creel Limits ..............................3 Fire Extinguishers ..............................35 Didymo .................................................25 Special Regulations .................................4 Marine Sanitation Devices ..................36 FINS Lakes .............................................4 State Record Fish ..................................28 Muffling Devices ................................36 Fish Species Identification .....................19 Trophy Fish/Master Angler Program.......27 Navigation Lights ...............................36 Fishing Methods Trout Seasonal Catch and Release ..........23 Personal Flotation Devices .....................35 Trotlines, Jugging and Set Lines .........10 Trout Stocking .......................................23 Signaling Devices ..................................36 Gigging and Snagging ........................11 Turtles ....................................................9 Ventilation ............................................36 Tickling and Noodling ........................11 Zebra Mussels .......................................22 Idle Speed .............................................33 Bow Fishing.......................................11 Inflatables .............................................32 Spear Fishing ....................................11 Locks and Dams ....................................33 Fishing Tournaments ..............................16 BOATING Personal Watercraft ..............................32 Grass Carp ............................................10 Accidents Prohibited Riding ..................................34 Licenses First Aid ............................................37 Reckless Operation ................................32 Fees ...................................................12 Hypothermia ......................................37 Registration Requirements and Exemptions ............13 Rendering Aid ....................................37 Display of Numbers and Decals ...........30 Senior/Disabled License ......................14 Reporting Requirements ......................37 Fees ...................................................30 Trout Permit ......................................13 Age Restrictions ....................................31 Transfers ............................................30 Pay Lakes ..........................................13 Airborne Devices ...................................31 Restricted Zones ....................................33 Free Fishing Days ...............................14 Alcohol .................................................33 Scuba Diving .........................................32 Littering ...............................................32 Boat, Motor and Lake Restrictions .........31 Swimming .............................................32 Live Bait ...............................................10 Buoys ....................................................34 Waterway Markers ................................34 Water Skiing ........................................31 March 2020 - February 2021 KENTUCKY FISHING & BOATING GUIDE Obie Williams photo ABOUT THIS GUIDE This is a SUMMARY of the laws regarding fishing and boating. FISHING REGULATIONS This guide is intended solely for informational use. It is not a 3 reprint of any referenced statute or regulation in its entirety and should not be used as such. Questions about the information con- tained in this guide should be directed to the Kentucky Department 16 GENERAL INFORMATION of Fish and Wildlife Resources BEFORE engaging in the activities referenced. Actual wording of any Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) or Kentucky Administrative Regulation (KAR) can be viewed at TROUT WATERS legislature.ky.gov. 23 OTHER GUIDES AVAILABLE Kentucky Fish and Wildlife also produces regulation guides for 27 TROPHY FISH spring and fall hunting and trapping. Call 1-800-858-1549 week- days, look for a copy of these regulation guides where hunting licenses are sold, or log on to fw.ky.gov. 30 BOATING Landowner permission required for hunting and fishing. A person shall not enter upon the lands of another to hunt, fish or trap without the oral or written permission of the landowner, tenant or person who has authority to grant permission. Those who fail to obtain permission are subject to arrest and prosecution. Railroad tracks and rights of way are privately owned property and permission to hunt, fish or trap must be obtained prior to entry. (KRS 150:092) 1 NEW THIS YEAR FISHING REGULATIONS Commonwealth of Kentucky Andy Beshear, Governor The items highlighted in bright blue methods (see Trophy catfish definition throughout this guide are a quick overview for more details). FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION of the changes to this year’s regulations. • Barren River Lake: 10-inch minimum 1st District: Dr. Harry W. Carloss, Paducah size limit on crappie. 2nd District: Brian Fisher, Bowling Green FISHING • Boone Tract, Kentucky River WMA 3rd District: Ralph Swallows, Louisville • For regulatory purposes, the upper lake lakes (except Benjy Kinman Lake): 4th District: Kenny Knott, Glasgow Crappie: Now under statewide regula- 5th District: Kevin R. Bond, Burlington boundaries now defined by landmarks 6th District: Jeffrey Eaton, Lawrenceburg on these reservoirs: tions, 20-fish daily creel limit, no mini- 7th District: Paul Horn, Prestonsburg Cave Run Lake: Scott’s Creek to the mum size limit. 8th District: Doug Morgan, Morehead KY 801 culvert; Beaver Creek to the The 4-acre lake on the Boone tract is 9th District: Dr. Karl Clinard, Somerset Commissioner Emeritus: Dr. James R. Rich, Taylor Mill KY 1274 culvert; North Fork Creek to now known as Prather Pond. the confluence of Craney Creek; Lick- 12-inch minimum size limit for