Kentucky Fishing

Fishing License

Who needs a license
Free Fishing Days (No license required)

Laws & Regulations

Educate yourself on Kentucky’s fishing laws and regulations to ensure you stay legal and avoid costly fines.

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass are the most targeted species for freshwater anglers. They can be found in every state other than Alaska. They are the largest species of bass.

Learn more about largemouth bass

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass are the most aggressive bass which makes fishing for them a ton fun. They have a ton of fight which makes up for their smaller sizes. Even though they are smaller than largemouth they still can get pretty big.

Learn more about smallmouth bass

Spotted Bass

Spots are similar to largemouths except they have horizontal rows of small black spots on the lower side. The notch between their spiny and soft dorsal fins is shallower than largemouths.

Spotted bass also have smaller mouths and a circular patch of teeth on the tongue.

Learn more about spotted bass

Striped Bass

Striped bass started out as saltwater fish but were added to freshwater where they survived and adapted. They are a schooling fish, so if you catch one it is very likely there are more around.

White Bass

• Silver-white to pale green color
• Dark back, with white sides and belly
• narrow dark stripes through the length of their sides
• White bass look like shorter versions of striped bass.

Learn more about white bass

Yellow Bass

• Smallest species of bass
• Brass to yellowish coloring
• Broken stripes on their sides that are offset on the lower side of their anal fin
• Two dorsal fins that are connected by a membrane whereas both white and striped bass are separate.

Learn more about yellow bass

Blue Catfish

Blue catfish have a flat dorsal fin and forked tail. They have smooth scaleless skin with a light blue body and white belly. They have four pairs of whisker-like barbels.

Blue catfish can grow up to 5ft long and more than 100 lbs. The average size you see is 1-2ft long.

Learn more about blue catfish

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish have a slender scaleless body with a forked tail. They have an olive green to light grey color body with small black spots along their body.

Channel catfish can grow up to 52 inches long and 60lbs. The average size you will see is 1-3ft long and 1-15lbs.

Learn more about channel catfish

Flathead Catfish

Flathead catfish have a flathead and a smooth scaleless body. They have a pale yellow to light brown colored body with a cream belly.

Flathead catfish can grow up to 3-ft long and weight 123lb. The average size you will see is 10-15lbs.

Learn more about flathead catfish

Yellow Bullhead

• Yellowish brown on back and sides
• Yellow to white belly
• Rear edge of the tail fin is nearly straight
• Anal fin rays usually number 24–27

Stonecat

• Brown to grey color body with white belly
• Straight to slightly rounded caudal fin margin
• Pectoral fin spine lacks sawlike teeth
• Adipose fin is fused with the caudal fin

Brindled Madtom

• Tan to pale yellow body with 3-4 dark bands on back
• Black spot on tip of dorsal fin
• Dark blotch on adipose fin
• Small, grow to around 5″ long

Black Crappie

Black crappie have white bodies with a dark green and black back. Throughout their bodies they have black and brown spots.

World Record: 5 lb 7 oz – 19.25 inches long

White Crappie

White crappie have a white to silver body with a dark green back. They have blotches that make vertical bars across their sides.

World Record: 5 lb 3 oz – 21 inches long

Bluegill

• Large, deep bodied sunfish with a small mouth
• Sides are dark bluish-green in color with vertical bars throughout their body
• They have a large dark spot at the rear of the soft dorsal fin
• Their belly is deep orange to rust color
• Adults can grow to 16 in. but usually reach 6-11 in.

Learn more about bluegill

Rock Bass

• Dark green or brown color with brassy yellow flecks
• 4-5 wide dark saddles over the back and down the sides
• Often called “redeye” or “goggleye” due to its large, deep red eyes
• Has 5 or 6 spines in their anal fin
• Adults can grow to 17 inches but fish exceeding 12 inches are rare

Learn more about rock bass

Green Sunfish

• Large, robust sunfish with a large mouth
• Blue irregular stripes of color on the sides of their head
• Large black spot at the rear of their soft dorsal fin
• Adults can grow to 12 in. but usually reach 8-10 in.

Learn more about green sunfish

Redear Sunfish

• Large, deep bodied sunfish with a small mouth with long, pointed snout and small mouth
• Adult males have a red margin on the gill cover flap while females have a light orange flap
• Adults can grow to 15 in. but usually reach 8-11 in.

Learn more about redear sunfish

Longear Sunfish

• Small sunfish with a deep body and small mouth
• Bright red-orange color with iridescent blue spots on their back and sides
• Their belly is mostly red-orange in color
• Has a long gill or “ear” flap, and wavy blue lines on cheek and gill cover
• Adults can grow to 9 in. but are usually less than 6 in.

Learn more about longear sunfish

Warmouth

• Medium-sized, robust sunfish with a large head and mouth
• Dark olive to grey colors with brownish sides and yellow markings
• Dark red-brown lines flowing from the back of their eye
• Adults can grow to 12 in. but most are less than 10 in.

Learn more about warmouth

Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

• Distinct red pink stripe down their side
• Black spots throughout body
• Square, broad tail

Learn more about rainbow trout

Brook Trout (Salmo trutta)

• Worm like markings along back & head
• White edges along fins
• Found in eastern North America, Europe, Argentina, New Zealand, and Australia

Learn more about brook trout

Brown Trout (Salmo trutta)

• Silver & golden brown
• Orange to red spots with silver rings around them
• Found throughout the United States, Europe, Africa, and Western Asia

Learn more about brown trout

Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus Clarkii)

• Red coloring under lower jaw, looks like it is bleeding from it’s throat
• Black spots on the top half of it’s body
• Found in western United States & southwest Canada

Learn more about cutthroat trout

Common Carp

• Babels in each corner of their mouth
• Olive-brown to reddish-brown with a yellow belly
• Large and thick scales

Learn more about common carp

Grass Carp

• Olive-brown back with silver sides and a white belly
• Large, crosshatched scales with dark edging
• Do not have barbels
• Short, pointy dorsal fin with 7-8 rays
• Their anal fin have 9 or fewer rays
• Both their dorsal fin and anal fin are barbless on the leading edge

Learn more about grass carp

Silver Carp

• Silver body with a gray head and dorsal surface with a white belly
• Eyes on the lower side of their body
• Lack barbels and are toothless

Learn more about silver carp

Bighead Carp

• Dark gray on their top half with a cream color lower half
• Irregular black spots on back and sides
• Thick-bodied with a wide scaleless head
• Their eyes are forward and low on their body.
• Upturned mouth with no teeth or barbels

Learn more about bighead carp

Muskellunge

• Greenish to golden brown coloring on their backs and upper sides
• Long thin body with a flat head and mouth filled with sharp teeth
• 6 to 9 pores on the lower jaw

Learn more about muskie

Grass Pickerel

• Duckbill-shaped snout
• Large mouth with sharp teeth
• Olive coloring with dark barred pattern
• Smallest pike

Freshwater Drum

• Humped back with sloping forehead
• Gray body with bronze reflection and white lips
• Rounded triangular tail