Kentucky fishing

What's biting in Kentucky in November: blue catfish, brown trout, hybrid striped bass and largemouth bass at their peak, with black crappie, bluegill and bowfin around too, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. It follows Kentucky freshwater month by month, with 7 fish-by-water guides for 7 fish.

Updated November 8, 2026

What's biting in Kentucky in November

From the season calendar, best first

Where to fish in Kentucky

1 water

Kentucky Lake to Cave Run

Kentucky freshwater

November: Smallmouth and muskie

Fished from Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Lake Cumberland, Dale Hollow, Cave Run Lake, Green River.

Black crappie Largemouth bass Muskellunge Sauger Smallmouth bass Spotted bass Walleye

Kentucky freshwater, month by month

Rules and licence

Size and bag limits and seasons in Kentucky are set by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) and change — read the current rule before you keep a fish.

Fresh-water rules Buy a licence

Statewide rules today

KDFWR, where no local rule applies

Alligator gar

catch and release only (Statewide, fresh water)

Black crappie (speck)

open (Statewide, fresh water) · no minimum size · 20 per person

Blue catfish

open (Statewide, fresh water) · no minimum size · No limit on blue catfish under 35"; 1 a day 35" or longer (possession 2)

Bluegill

open (Statewide, fresh water) · no minimum size · No daily limit

Brook trout

catch and release only (Statewide, fresh water)

Brown trout

open (Statewide, fresh water) · 16" TL minimum · 1 per person · kentucky trout permit to keep trout (unless license-exempt)

Channel catfish

open (Statewide, fresh water) · no minimum size · No limit on channel catfish under 28"; 1 a day 28" or longer (possession 2)

Flathead catfish

open (Statewide, fresh water) · no minimum size · No limit on flathead catfish under 35"; 1 a day 35" or longer (possession 2)

Hybrid striped bass (sunshine)

open (Statewide, fresh water) · no minimum size · 15 per person

Largemouth bass

open (Statewide, fresh water) · 12" TL minimum · 6 per person

Muskellunge (muskie)

open (Statewide, fresh water) · 30" TL minimum · 1 per person

Paddlefish (spoonbill)

open (Statewide, fresh water) · no minimum size · 2 per person

Rainbow trout

open (Statewide, fresh water) · no minimum size · 8 per person · kentucky trout permit to keep trout (unless license-exempt)

Redear sunfish (shellcracker)

open (Statewide, fresh water) · no minimum size · 20 per person

Sauger

open (Statewide, fresh water) · 14" TL minimum · 6 per person

Smallmouth bass

open (Statewide, fresh water) · 12" TL minimum · 6 per person

Spotted bass (Kentucky bass)

open (Statewide, fresh water) · no minimum size · 6 per person

Striped bass

open (Statewide, fresh water) · 15" TL minimum · 5 per person

Walleye

open (Statewide, fresh water) · 14" TL minimum · 6 per person

White bass

open (Statewide, fresh water) · no minimum size · 15 per person

As of 8 November 2026. Source KDFWR, checked 8 November 2026 · For education only — rules change. Always confirm with KDFWR before you keep a fish.

From the blog

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Largemouth vs Smallmouth vs Spotted Bass: 30-Second IDCheck the jaw, the side pattern and the tongue. How to tell largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass apart in 30 seconds, with a quick-ID table and look-alikes.

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Kentucky fishing

What's biting in Kentucky in November

Where to fish in Kentucky

Kentucky freshwater

Rules and licence

Statewide rules today

From the blog

Fish Kentucky with the tide in your pocket

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