2026 regulation year
Kentucky Smallmouth bass 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
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Dale Hollow Lake — shared with Tennessee — produced the world-record 11 lb 15 oz smallmouth in 1955, a record that still stands seven decades later. Dale Hollow + Lake Cumberland carry an 18-inch trophy minimum to protect their fishery; the rest of Kentucky uses the statewide 12-inch / 6-fish black-bass aggregate. River systems — the Elkhorn, the Licking, the Cumberland, and the Green — produce excellent stream smallmouth, with select reaches managed under 18-inch trophy rules.
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Season
Open year-round Open year-round.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 6 / day combined black bass
- Possession
- 6 in possession
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 12 in min statewide; 18 in min Dale Hollow + Lake Cumberland
Gear restrictions
- Trophy waters (Dale Hollow, Lake Cumberland): 18 in min, lower bag — verify current pamphlet
- Elkhorn Creek trophy reaches: 18 in min, artificial lures only on listed sections
- Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Kentucky waters:
Dale Hollow Lake (KY/TN)
18 in min, 5 / day combined; world-record smallmouth fishery; reciprocal with TN
Lake Cumberland
18 in min, 5 / day combined black bass; trophy smallmouth fishery
Elkhorn Creek
18 in min, 1 / day on listed reaches; artificial lures only
Green River Lake
18 in min, 5 / day combined black bass
Kentucky Lake
12 in min, 6 / day combined; KY or TN licence honoured
Official source
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources publishes the authoritative 2026 Kentuckyfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
Visit official Kentucky fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Smallmouth bass closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Kentucky trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is smallmouth bass season in Kentucky?
- Kentucky keeps smallmouth bass open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
- What is the Kentucky bag limit for smallmouth bass?
- The Kentucky daily bag limit for smallmouth bass is 6 / day combined black bass. The possession limit is 6 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size smallmouth bass can you keep in Kentucky?
- The Kentucky size rule for smallmouth bass is 12 in min statewide; 18 in min Dale Hollow + Lake Cumberland.
- Do you need a license to fish for smallmouth bass in Kentucky?
- Yes. Kentucky requires a valid fishing license to fish for smallmouth bass, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Kentucky license — compare resident and non-resident Kentucky fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for smallmouth bass in Kentucky?
- Yes. In Kentucky, smallmouth bass fishing carries these gear rules: Trophy waters (Dale Hollow, Lake Cumberland): 18 in min, lower bag — verify current pamphlet; Elkhorn Creek trophy reaches: 18 in min, artificial lures only on listed sections; Hook-and-line; snagging prohibited.
- Do specific Kentucky waters have different smallmouth bass rules?
- Yes. 5 named Kentucky waters carry rules that override the statewide smallmouth bass regulation, including Dale Hollow Lake (KY/TN), Lake Cumberland, Elkhorn Creek, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.