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KDFWR Releases Fishing Forecast for 2019

January 9, 2019 | Staff Report

The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) recently released their 2019 Fishing Forecast for Kentucky's lake and rivers, including Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.

Lake Barkley's blue and channel catfish are predicted to be excellent this year. KDFWR suggests late spring and summer along deep river channels, especially during times of good current. Bluegill are forecast to be excellent this year, with the best bite typically in May. Target these tasty fish with crickets and worms under a cork on sand or gravel spawning beds.

Largemouth bass fishing is rated as "good" for Lake Barkley with smallmouth coming in as "fair". Anglers targeting white bass and yellow bass will find excellent conditions this year. White bass had a better recent spawn, so numbers should be good during the summer and fall. There are no size or creel limits on yellow bass, and harvesting is encouraged.

Kentucky Lake looks to produce decent fishing for 2019 as well. KDFWR says crappie fishing should be good in both lakes with trolling crankbaits a fast-growing method of catching them. The best time to get some crappie is during the spring spawning period, which is typically in April.

Bluegill, redear and channel and blue catfish are predicted to be excellent this year as well. Yellow bass will continue to have an excellent bite and, similar to Lake Barkley, harvesting is encouraged.

Largemouth and smallmouth are rated as "good" this year. KDFWR says the future is looking up. "A string of weak year classes between 2010 and 2015 have resulted in lower than average numbers of intermediate-size bass. However, an excellent spawn in 2016 means more small bass are making their way into the fishery," the report reads.

Read the entire 2019 Fishing Forecast for all the lakes in Kentucky for more detailed information.

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