great oUtdoors
making anglers’ dreams come true state’s annual forecast tells where to find the big fish
K
entucky has more than 1,200 square miles of water, so finding a good place to fish can be daunting if you have no idea where to look. The fishing forecast, published every year by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, is a great resource. The forecast, which is based on fish population studies and interviews with anglers, tells you which lakes and rivers have the best concentrations of a variety of fish.
insidEr tips hElp prEvEnt the spread of unwanted exotic plants and mussels by thoroughly cleaning your boat and trailer after visiting an infected lake.
Affected areas and their exotic invaders include carr creek Lake (hydrilla), clear creek Lake (eurasian watermilfoil), Dewey Lake (zebra mussels, hydrilla), Fishtrap Lake (zebra mussels), Paintsville Lake (hydrilla), and Pan Bowl Lake (eurasian watermilfoil). See the Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide for more information.
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For example, if you’re looking for good places to catch smallmouth bass, the forecast suggests Laurel River Lake, Elkhorn Creek, Lake Cumberland, or Dale Hollow Lake. If you’re experts like fisheries biologist John williams, holding smallafter bluegill and redear mouth bass from Laurel River Lake, help compile Kentucky’s annual fishing forecast. sunfish, try Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, tailwaters. These are fish factories Dewey Lake, McNeely Lake, Lake Reba, that deserve at least one visit a year. or Marion County Lake. Turn to the forecast for your first If you’re after the three major few trips. You’ll learn, for example, varieties of catfish—channels, blues, that you can catch bass in the spring and flatheads—it’s time to take a trip by fishing jigs around the yellow to Green River or the Ohio River. For both walleye and sauger, Barren River mustard flowers, or throwing topwater baits around weed beds in late is hard to beat. spring through early fall. However, there’s a truism among Kentucky’s fishing forecast is free. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife employFind it online at the Kentucky Fish ees who spend their days on the and Wildlife Web site, www.fw.ky. department’s fish-stocking boats: gov. Copies are available by calling just because you can see the fish the department at (800) 858-1549. doesn’t mean you can catch them. To Get your copy and ready those help anglers have a better day on the water, the forecast includes a number rods and reels! Kl of tips ranging from where to find the davE baKEr is editor of Kentucky Afield fish to what months are best or what magazine, with the Kentucky Department of bait to use. Fish and Wildlife Resources. Visit www. Two pages of the forecast are kyafield.com or call (800) 858-1549 for devoted solely to fishing tips for more information. Kentucky and Barkley lakes and their
John southern
DAve BAKeR
KentucKy Living MARCH 2011
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2/14/11 2:49 PM