According to biologists with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, anglers who like sauger, white bass or muskellunge might want to plan a trip to the Kentucky River this spring.
In March, population sampling on the Kentucky River showed healthy populations of white bass, sauger and muskellunge.
“We consistently saw 12- to 15-inch sauger,” said Ohio River Fisheries Biologist Doug Henley, who assisted with the population sampling on the Kentucky River. “We also saw lots of 8- to 10-inch sauger. Those 12- to 15-inch fish are good eating size.”
The water level of the Kentucky River dropped enough recently to make the tailwater below Lock and Dam 2 at Lockport in Henry County fishable. “Now that the water in the Ohio River has dropped enough to bring Lock and Dam 2 out of the water, it should provide productive sauger fishing,” Henley said. “It is historically a good sauger area. You get some fish from the Ohio River there.”
The Kentucky River is now loaded with white bass, albeit most of them run 6 to 8 inches. “We’ve seen white bass up to 15 inches and decent numbers of 11 to 13 inchers,” Henley said. “You are going to need to plow through the little ones to get to the bigger ones.”
In addition to its sauger and white bass fishing, the Kentucky River may be the most overlooked muskellunge fishery in the state.
According to biologists, muskellunge often congregate below locks and dams on the Kentucky River, with many fish ranging from 30 – 40 inches. Suckers and buffalo (fish) are the preferred food item of muskellunge. This spring, these important forage fish migrated into Cedar Creek and the muskellunge followed.
“There are some untapped newly developed fisheries in the Kentucky River,” said Gerry Buynak, assistant director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “The sauger and white bass fisheries are the result of a five year stocking effort by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Anglers should get on the Kentucky River this spring and enjoy them.”
source: Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources