301 Ky. Admin. Regs. 1:201
Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 4, October 1, 2024
Section 301 KAR 1:201 - Taking of fish by traditional fishing methodsRELATES TO: KRS 150.010, 150.170, 150.175, 150.340, 150.620, 150.990
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 150.025(1) authorizes the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to promulgate administrative regulations regarding the buying, selling and transporting of fish and wildlife, the restriction of places where taking is permitted, and the application of administrative regulations to a limited area or to the entire state. KRS 150.470(1) authorizes the department to promulgate administrative regulations regarding daily limits, and size limits for fish. This administrative regulation establishes fish size limits, daily limits, and possession limits for fishing.
Section 1. Statewide Limits and Requirements. (1) A person taking fish from public or private waters using traditional fishing methods shall observe the daily limits and size limits established in paragraphs (a) through (l) of this subsection, except as established in Sections 2 through 6 of this administrative regulation or pursuant to 301 KAR 1:180: (a) Black bass daily limit, six (6). 1. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass size limit, twelve (12) inches.2. Kentucky bass and Coosa bass, no size limit;(b) Rock bass daily limit, fifteen (15); no size limit;(c) Sauger, walleye, and any hybrid thereof daily limit, singly or in combination, six (6); size limit, fourteen (14) inches;(d) Muskellunge daily limit, one (1); size limit, thirty (30) inches;(e) Chain pickerel daily limit, five (5); no size limit;(f) White bass and hybrid striped bass daily limit, singly or in combination, fifteen (15); size limit, no more than five (5) fish in a daily limit or ten (10) fish in a possession limit shall be fifteen (15) inches or longer;(g) Striped bass daily limit, five (5); size limit, fifteen (15) inches;(h) Crappie daily limit, twenty (20); no size limit;(i) Trout. 2. Rainbow trout daily limit, eight (8); no size limit.3. Brown trout daily limit, one (1); size limit, sixteen (16) inches.4. Brook trout, catch and release only.5. Cutthroat trout daily limit, one (1); size limit, twenty (20) inches;(j) Redear sunfish daily limit, twenty (20); no size limit;(k) Paddlefish daily limit, two (2); no size limit; and(l) Catfish daily limit is unlimited; no size limit, except that only one (1) trophy catfish of each species may be harvested daily.(2) The possession limit shall be two (2) times the daily limit, except as established in Section 2 of this administrative regulation.(3) A person shall release grass carp caught from a lake owned or managed by the department.(4) A person shall release any: (5) A person shall release fish: (a) Below the minimum size limits established by this administrative regulation;(b) Within a protected slot limit established by this administrative regulation; or(c) Of a particular species if a person already possesses the daily limit for that species.(6) A person shall not possess more than one (1) daily limit of processed or unprocessed fish while: (7) A fishing tournament organizer or representative, excluding a tournament angler, may possess more than the daily limit of tournament caught fish:(a) At the weigh-in site;(b) At the release site; or(c) While transporting live fish from a remote weigh-in site back to the water body of origin for release.(8) A fishing tournament organizer or representative, excluding a tournament angler, may possess more than the daily limit of unprocessed tournament caught fish that expired at the sites established in subsection (7) of this section for subsequent disposal by one (1) of the methods established in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this subsection:(a) Bagged, sealed, and placed in a garbage dump;(b) Donated to a charity for the purpose of human consumption; or(c) Transferred to a conservation officer or another agent of the department.(9) A person shall not remove the head or tail of any fish for which a size limit or daily limit exists while:(10) A person may possess sport fish below the size limit or beyond the possession limit if the person: (a) Obtains the fish from a licensed fish propagator or other legal source; and(b) Retains a receipt or other written proof that the fish were legally acquired.(11) A person shall release all caught trout unless the person:(a) Has a valid trout permit;(b) Is exempted from trout permit requirements pursuant to KRS 150.170(2); or(c) Is fishing in a licensed pay lake stocked with trout by the lake operator.(12) A person fishing in an artificial bait-only area shall not attach any of the items established in paragraphs (a) through (h) of this subsection to the artificial bait: (h) A similar organic bait substance including dough bait and putty or paste-type bait designed to attract fish by taste or smell.(13) The fishing season shall be open year-round.Section 2. Exceptions. All other provisions of this administrative regulation shall apply to the bodies of water listed in this section, with the exceptions established in subsections (1) through (74) of this section.(1) Bad Branch, Letcher County. A person shall only fish with artificial bait with a single hook;(2) Barkley Lake. (a) Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) Crappie size limit, ten (10) inches;(3) Barren River and tributaries upstream from confluence with the Green River, including Barren River Lake. Smallmouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches;(4) Barren River Lake. (a) Crappie size limit, ten (10) inches.(b) Largemouth and smallmouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(c) Blue and channel catfish aggregate daily limit of fifteen (15), only one (1) of which shall be longer than twenty-five (25) inches.(d) Barren River Lake shall extend up:1. Barren River to the Highway 100 bridge;2. Long Creek to the Highway 100 bridge;3. Beaver Creek to the Highway 1297 bridge;4. Skaggs Creek to the Mathews Mill Road bridge; and5. Peter Creek to the Peter Creek Road bridge;(5) Beaver Lake, Anderson County. (a) A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait.(b) Largemouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches;(6) Beech Fork Reservoir, Powell County.(a) Largemouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) Bluegill daily limit, fifteen (15);(7) Bert Combs Lake, Clay County.(a) A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait.(b) Largemouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches;(8) Beulah Lake, Jackson County. Largemouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches;(9) Boltz Lake, Grant County.(a) A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait.(b) Largemouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches;(10) Briggs Lake, Logan County. A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait;(11) Buckhorn Lake. (a) Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) Muskellunge size limit, forty (40) inches.(c) Crappie size limit, nine (9) inches;(12) Carnico Lake, Nicholas County.(a) Largemouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) Sunfish daily limit, fifteen (15);(13) Carr Creek Lake.(a) Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) Crappie size limit, nine (9) inches.(c) Blue and channel catfish aggregate daily limit of fifteen (15), only one (1) of which shall be longer than twenty-five (25) inches;(14) Carter Caves State Park Lake, Carter County.(a) Fishing shall be during daylight hours only.(b) Largemouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches.(c) A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait;(15) Cave Run Lake. (a) Largemouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches.(b) Smallmouth bass size limit, eighteen (18) inches.(c) Muskellunge size limit, forty (40) inches.(d) Cave Run Lake shall extend up:1. Scott's Creek to the Highway 801 culvert;2. Beaver Creek to the Highway 1274 culvert;3. North Fork Creek to the confluence of Craney Creek;4. Licking River to the Highway 772 bridge; and5. Ramey Creek to include the pool of water north of Highway 801;(16) Cedar Creek Lake, Lincoln County. Largemouth bass size limit, twenty (20) inches; daily limit, one (1);(17) Chimney Top Creek, Wolfe County. A person shall only fish with artificial bait;(18) Clear Fork, tributary of the Gasper River. A person shall release all sportfish;(19) Corinth Lake, Grant County. (a) A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait.(b) Largemouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches;(20) Cumberland Lake.(a)1. Largemouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.2. Smallmouth bass size limit, eighteen (18) inches.3. Striped bass size limit, twenty-two (22) inches; daily limit, two (2).4. Crappie size limit, ten (10) inches.(b) Cumberland Lake shall extend up:1. The Cumberland River to Cumberland Falls;2. The Big South Fork to Devil's Jump;3. The Rockcastle River to The Narrows; and4. The Laurel River to Laurel River Dam;(21) Cumberland River upstream from Cumberland Falls and all tributaries. Smallmouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches;(22) Cumberland River from Wolf Creek Dam downstream to the Kentucky-Tennessee state line and tributaries, except Hatchery Creek in Russell County as established in subsections (39) and (40) of this section.(a) Brown trout size limit, twenty (20) inches; daily limit, one (1).(b) Brook trout size limit, fifteen (15) inches; daily limit, one (1).(c) Rainbow trout. There shall be a slot limit between fifteen (15) and twenty (20) inches; daily limit, five (5), which shall not include more than one (1) fish greater than twenty (20) inches.(d) A trout permit shall be required in order to fish the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam to the Tennessee state line including the Hatchery Creek and all other tributaries upstream to the first riffle.(e) Chumming shall not be permitted in the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam to the Tennessee state line, including the Hatchery Creek and all other tributaries upstream to the first riffle;(23) Cumberland River below Barkley Lake. Fishing is prohibited at the mouth of the lock chamber, as designated by signs;(24) Dale Hollow Lake. (a) Smallmouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between sixteen (16) and twenty-one (21) inches. The daily limits shall not include more than one (1) fish less than sixteen (16) inches long and one (1) fish greater than twenty-one (21) inches long.(b) Walleye and walleye hybrids, daily limit, five (5); size limit, sixteen (16) inches.(c) Sauger daily limit, ten (10); size limit, fourteen (14) inches.(d) Rainbow trout and brown trout, no size limit; daily limit, seven (7), singly or in combination.(e) Largemouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(f) Black bass aggregate daily limit, five (5), no more than two (2) of which shall be smallmouth bass.(g) Crappie size limit, ten (10) inches; daily limit, fifteen (15);(25) Dewey Lake. (a) Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) Blue and channel catfish aggregate daily limit of fifteen (15), only one (1) of which shall be longer than twenty-five (25) inches.(c) Muskellunge size limit, forty (40) inches;(26) Dix River for two (2) miles downstream from Herrington Lake Dam. A person shall only fish with artificial bait;(27) Doe Run Lake, Kenton County.(a) Largemouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) Channel catfish daily limit, four (4).(c) A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait;(28) Dog Fork, Wolfe County. A person shall only fish with an artificial bait with a single hook;(29) Elkhorn Creek, downstream from the confluence of the North and South forks to the first shoal located 3,400 feet above its confluence with the Kentucky River, as posted with signs. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches;(30) Elmer Davis Lake, Owen County. (a) Largemouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches.(b) A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait;(31) Fishtrap Lake.(a) Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) Crappie size limit, nine (9) inches.(c) Blue and channel catfish aggregate daily limit of fifteen (15), only one (1) of which shall be longer than twenty-five (25) inches;(32) Floyd's Fork Creek, from Highway 60 downstream to Bardstown Road in Jefferson County. Largemouth and smallmouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches;(33) Golden Pond at the Visitors' Center at Land Between the Lakes. Channel catfish daily limit, five (5); size limit, fifteen (15) inches;(34) General Butler State Park Lake, Carroll County.(a) Largemouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches.(b) Channel catfish daily limit, four (4).(c) A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait;(35) Grayson Lake. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches;(36) Greenbo Lake, Greenup County.(a) A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait.(b) Bluegill and sunfish daily limit, fifteen (15) fish;(37) Green River from Green River Lake Dam and extending downstream to the end of the concrete wall. Fishing shall be limited to rod in hand using either:(a) An artificial bait with a single hook; or(b) Live bait attached to a single hook;(38) Green River Lake.(a) Crappie size limit, nine (9) inches.(b) Muskellunge size limit, forty (40) inches.(c) Green River Lake shall extend up:1. Green River to the Snake Creek Boat Ramp;2. Robinson Creek to the Highway 76 Bridge; and3. Casey Creek to the Arnolds Landing Boat Ramp.(39) Hatchery Creek, upper section as established by signs, Russell County. Rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout, no size limit; daily limit, five (5), singly or in combination;(40) Hatchery Creek, lower section as established by signs, Russell County. A person fishing for trout shall:(a) Only use artificial bait; and(41) Highsplint Lake, Harlan County. Largemouth bass size limit, twenty (20) inches; daily limit, one (1);(42) Jericho Lake, Henry County.(a) Largemouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait;(43) Kentucky Lake and the canal connecting Kentucky and Barkley lakes.(a) Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) Crappie size limit, ten (10) inches;(44) Kentucky River upstream of Lock and Dam 14, the North Fork and tributaries including Carr Fork below Carr Creek Lake, along with the Middle and South Forks and all tributaries. Smallmouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches;(45) Kentucky River WMA, Boone Tract, excluding Benjy Kinman Lake.(a) Sunfish daily limit, fifteen (15).(b) Catfish daily limit, four (4);(46) Lake Blythe, Christian County. Largemouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches;(47) Lake Chumley, and the department-owned property surrounding the lake, Boyle and Lincoln counties. Closed to public access from one-half (1/2) hour after sunset through one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise;(48) Lake Malone, Muhlenberg and Logan counties. Largemouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches;(49) Lake Reba, Madison County. A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait;(50) Lake Shelby, Shelby County. (a) Largemouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) Channel catfish daily limit, four (4).(c) A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait;(51) Laurel River Lake. (a) Largemouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) Smallmouth bass size limit, eighteen (18) inches; daily limit, two (2).(c) Crappie size limit, nine (9) inches; daily limit, fifteen (15);(52) Lincoln Homestead Lake, Washington County.(a) A person shall not fish except during daylight hours.(b) Largemouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches.(c) Channel catfish daily limit, four (4).(d) A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait;(53) Marion County Lake. A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait;(54) McNeely Lake, Jefferson County. (a) A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait.(b) Largemouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches;(55) Mill Creek Lake, Powell County.(a) Largemouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait;(56) New Haven Optimist Lake, Nelson County. (a) Largemouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) Channel catfish daily limit, four (4).(c) A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait;(57) Nolin River Lake shall extend up Bacon Creek to Highway 178 and to Wheelers Mill Road Bridge on the Nolin River. (a) Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) Crappie size limit, nine (9) inches;(58) Ohio River. (a) White bass, striped bass, and any hybrid thereof, daily limit, thirty (30); no more than four (4) in the daily limit shall be fifteen (15) inches or greater.(b) The blue catfish daily limit shall be unlimited, except that no more than one (1) fish in the daily limit shall be thirty-five (35) inches or longer.(c) The channel catfish daily limit shall be unlimited, except that no more than one (1) fish in the daily limit shall be twenty-eight (28) inches or longer.(d) The flathead catfish daily limit shall be unlimited, except that no more than one (1) fish in the daily limit shall be thirty-five (35) inches or longer;(59) Otter Creek, Meade County. Smallmouth and largemouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches;(60) Panbowl Lake, Breathitt County. Largemouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches;(61) Parched Corn Creek, Wolfe County. A person shall only fish with an artificial bait with a single hook;(62) Pennyrile Lake, Christian County. Largemouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches;(63) Pikeville City Lake, Pike County. A person shall release largemouth bass;(64) Rockcastle River WMA, all ponds collectively, Pulaski County.(a) Largemouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches; daily limit, one (1).(b) Bluegill and sunfish daily limit, ten (10).(c) Catfish daily limit, four (4).(d) Crappie daily limit, fifteen (15);(65) Rough River Lake.(a) Crappie size limit, nine (9) inches.(b) Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(c) Rough River Lake shall extend up Rough River to the Highway 84 Bridge;(66) Shanty Hollow Lake, Warren County. A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait;(67) Shillalah Creek, Bell County, outside the Cumberland Gap National Park. A person shall only fish with an artificial bait with a single hook;(68) Spurlington Lake, Taylor County. A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait;(69) Sympson Lake, Nelson County. Largemouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches;(70) Taylorsville Lake, including the impounded waters of the lake to Dry Dock Road Bridge on the Salt River. (a) Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) Blue and channel catfish aggregate daily limit of fifteen (15), only one (1) of which shall be longer than twenty-five (25) inches.(c) Crappie size limit, ten (10) inches; daily limit, fifteen (15);(71) Trammel Creek, Allen County. Rainbow trout daily limit, five (5);(72) Willisburg Park Pond, Washington County.(a) Largemouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) Catfish daily limit, four (4).(c) Sunfish daily limit, fifteen (15);(73) Wood Creek Lake. Largemouth and smallmouth bass. There shall be a slot limit between twelve (12) and fifteen (15) inches; and(74) Yatesville Lake. (a) Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.(b) Blue and channel catfish aggregate daily limit of fifteen (15), only one (1) of which shall be longer than twenty-five (25) inches.Section 3. Daily Limits and Size Limits for Waters Containing Rockcastle Strain Walleye. (1) Rockcastle Strain Walleye Waters. (a) Barren River and tributaries upstream from confluence with the Green River, including Barren River Lake;(b) Cumberland River and tributaries above Cumberland Falls;(c) Kentucky River and tributaries upstream from Lock and Dam 14;(d) Middle Fork Kentucky River and tributaries;(e) North Fork Kentucky River and tributaries, including Carr Fork below Carr Creek Lake;(f) South Fork Kentucky River and tributaries;(g) Levisa Fork River and tributaries upstream from Fishtrap Lake, including Fishtrap Lake;(h) Martins Fork Lake; and(2) There shall be a slot limit between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26) inches and a daily limit of two (2) for walleye in the waters established in subsection (1) of this section.Section 4. Seasonal Catch and Release for Trout.(1) There shall be a catch and release trout season from October 1 through March 31 for the bodies of water established in subsection (3) of this section.(2) A person shall: (a) Only use artificial bait; and(3) The streams established in paragraphs (a) through (o) of this subsection shall be open for the catch and release trout season:(a) Bark Camp Creek in Whitley County;(b) Beaver Creek from Highway 90 Bridge upstream to Highway 200 Bridge in Wayne County;(c) Big Bone Creek within Big Bone Lick State Park in Boone County;(d) Cane Creek in Laurel County;(e) Casey Creek in Trigg County;(f) Clear Creek from mouth upstream to 190 Bridge in Bell County;(g) East Fork of Indian Creek in Menifee County;(h) Elk Spring Creek in Wayne County;(i) Floyd's Fork Creek in Jefferson County from Highway 60 downstream to Bardstown Road;(j) Gunpowder Creek in Boone County;(k) Left Fork of Beaver Creek in Floyd County from Highway 122 Bridge upstream to the headwater;(l) Otter Creek in Meade County on the Fort Knox Reservation and Otter Creek Park;(m) Rock Creek from the Bell Farm Bridge to the Tennessee state line in McCreary County;(n) Trammel Creek in Allen County; and(o) Swift Camp Creek in Wolfe County.Section 5. Special Limits for Fishing Events. (1) The commissioner may establish special limits for fishing events including:(a) Size limits for selected species;(b) Daily limits for selected species;(c) Eligible participants; and(d) Dates and times of special limits.(2) An event sponsor shall post signs informing anglers of any special limits for a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours before the event.Section 6. Daily Limits and Size Limits for Special Lakes and Ponds. The requirements established in subsections (1) through (5) of this section shall apply to all bodies of water established in the List of Special Lakes and Ponds:(1) Largemouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches; daily limit, one (1);(2) Catfish daily limit, four (4);(3) Sunfish or bream daily limit, fifteen (15);(4) Rainbow trout daily limit, five (5); and(5) A person shall not possess shad or use shad as bait.Section 7. Incorporation by Reference.(1) "List of Special Lakes and Ponds", 2024 Edition is incorporated by reference.(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, #1 Sportsman's Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.21 Ky.R. 713; eff. 1-25-1995; Am. 312; eff. 10-11-1995; 23 Ky.R. 468; 1929; eff. 11-11-1996; 24 Ky.R. 392; 866; eff. 10-8-1997; 25 Ky.R. 411; eff. 10-16-1998; 26 Ky.R. 113; eff. 9-8-1999; 2012; 27 Ky.R. 486; eff. 8-14-2000; 1056; 1449; eff. 12-21-2000; 3330; 28 Ky.R. 354; eff. 8-15-2001; 28 Ky.R. 2641; 29 Ky.R. 431; eff. 8-12-2002; 785; eff. 12-18-2002; 30 Ky.R. 394; eff. 10-31-03; 30 Ky.R. 394; 1586; eff. 2-16-2004; 30 Ky.R. 2550; eff. 8-26-2004; 32 Ky.R. 308; eff. 10-12-2005; 32 Ky.R. 2088; 33 Ky.R. 88; eff. 7-12-2006; 34 Ky.R. 369; eff. 10-9-2007; 35 Ky.R. 335; 851; 1163; eff. 11-12-2008; 35 Ky.R. 2488; eff. 7-30-2009; 37 Ky.R. 102; eff. 9-2-2010; 38 Ky.R. 305; eff. 10-6-11; 38 Ky.R. 1783; 6-7-2012; 40 Ky.R. 402; 793; eff. 10-3-2013; 2814; 41 Ky.R. 259; eff. 8-7-2014; 42 Ky.R. 514; 1149; 1724; eff. 11-6-2015; 43 Ky.R. 315; eff. 10-6-2016; 44 Ky.R. 279; eff. 10-5-2017; 45 Ky.R. 423; eff. 10-4-2018; 46 Ky.R. 612, 1104; eff. 11-1-2019; TAm eff. 4-2-2021; 47 Ky.R. 2627, 48 Ky.R. 782; eff. 9-15-2021; 48 Ky.R. 2856, eff. 8/18/2022; 50 Ky.R. 142; eff. 10/19/2023; 50 Ky.R. 1763; eff. 6/6/2024.STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 150.025(1), 150.470