2025 Season
Fishing Regulations
Fishing
KY Lake & Lake Barkley Spotted Bass Now Require 12-Inch Minimum
Effective March 1, 2025
Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley spotted bass are now subject to a 12-inch minimum size limit effective 2025, where previously no minimum size existed for this species. Bass tournament rules have also been updated to require immediate release within 200 yards of the designated boat ramp, reducing livewell mortality during warm-water months. These changes reflect KDFWR's response to tournament-related harvest pressure on the spotted bass fishery in these reservoirs.
Key Changes:
• Spotted bass minimum size: 12 inches on Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley
• Previously no minimum size limit existed for spotted bass on these waters
• Tournament rules updated: immediate release required within 200 yards of boat ramp
• Applies to all anglers and all tournament participants on both reservoirs
• Largemouth and smallmouth bass regulations on these waters unchanged
• KDFWR will monitor spotted bass population response over 3-year evaluation period
Source: Official Kentucky Agency ↗
Hunting Regulations
Hunting
KY Earn-A-Buck Expanded to 15 Western Coalfields Counties
Effective September 6, 2025
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources expanded its earn-a-buck requirement to 15 additional counties in the western coalfields region for the 2025–26 deer season. Hunters in these counties must harvest one antlerless deer before an antlered deer tag may be used. A new fall black bear hunting season was also established for Cave Run Lake WMA and Green River Lake WMA in eastern Kentucky.
Key Changes:
• Earn-a-buck requirement extended to 15 new counties in western coalfields region
• One antlerless deer must be harvested before antlered deer tag can be used in these counties
• Black bear season expanded to include Cave Run Lake WMA and Green River Lake WMA
• Antlerless tags for new earn-a-buck counties available at no additional charge
• Check KDFWR county list for full enumeration of affected western coalfields counties
Source: Official Kentucky Agency ↗