KDFWR - Northeast Region

KDFWR - Northeast Region This page is your connection to Ky. Fish and Wildlife's Northeast Region.

Here you’ll find updates on fish and wildlife projects, public land access, outdoor learning programs, and local opportunities to hunt, fish, and explore the region. Official page for the Northeast Region of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Get information on regional fish and wildlife research, public recreation areas, conservation projects, outdoor safety programs, and hunting and fishing opportunities across northeastern Kentucky.

Kentucky’s free fishing weekend is taking place THIS weekend, June 6-7, 2026!No license? No problem! This one weekend ea...
06/01/2026

Kentucky’s free fishing weekend is taking place THIS weekend, June 6-7, 2026!

No license? No problem! This one weekend each year allows anyone to fish without a license or permit — whether you're visiting from outside the state or you live in Kentucky.

Family-friendly events are being hosted statewide! Check below to see what’s happening in the Northeast Region:

• Johnson County: Casting with Kids
• Menifee County: Kids Fishing Event
• Montgomery County: Smith Family Fishing in the Park
• Rowan County: Cave Run Kids Fishing Derby

These events are free! But registration is required. Follow the link to learn more: https://fw.ky.gov/Pages/Free-Fishing-Weekend.aspx

Wanting to do some squirrel hunting this spring season, but not sure where to go?Check out Clay Wildlife Management Area...
05/29/2026

Wanting to do some squirrel hunting this spring season, but not sure where to go?

Check out Clay Wildlife Management Area (WMA)!

Clay WMA is 8,980 acres in Nicholas, Fleming, and Bath County, with steep to rolling terrain, and is home to many small game species, including squirrel.

With access to the Licking River, you might want to pack your reel and rod with you on your trip, too!

Clay WMA is open under statewide rules and regulations in effect for the county, so make sure you brush up on the guide before heading out.

🐿️ 2026 Spring Guide:https://fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Documents/springhuntingguideentire.pdf

🎣 2026-2027 Fishing Guide:https://fw.ky.gov/Fish/Documents/fishingguide.pdf

(Reminder: Spring squirrel season is May 16 - June 21)

Before heading out and hitting the water this weekend, make sure you check the forecast first… the fishing forecast, tha...
05/27/2026

Before heading out and hitting the water this weekend, make sure you check the forecast first… the fishing forecast, that is!

Created from last year’s fish population surveys, creel surveys, fish stockings, and historical knowledge of the fisheries, the 2026 Fishing Forecast was made by our team of biologists around the state to assist anglers like YOU in planning your fishing trips and improving your fishing success.

According to the forecast, it is prime time to head to Cave Run Lake and fish for Channel Catfish, where it’s common to find them up to two feet in length! Many are found along shallow rocky shoreline areas in early May-June (now!!!) where they seek cover in rock piles and submerged logs to spawn. Later, they tend to be found in deeper water.

(There are not as many, but there are some trophy-sized Flathead Catfish that can be found here, too!)

Check out the forecast for yourself!

⛅ 2026 Fishing Forecast: https://fw.ky.gov/Fish/Pages/fishing-forecast.aspx

Our Northeastern Fisheries team is continuing work on a decades-long project, which began when eight major reservoirs we...
05/22/2026

Our Northeastern Fisheries team is continuing work on a decades-long project, which began when eight major reservoirs were created in Eastern Kentucky as part of the US Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) flood management initiative.

The last of the reservoirs was completed by the end of the 1980s, and at the time, the lakebeds were ideal places for fish habitat, covered in complex woody structures. As time has passed, these habitats have begun to deteriorate, which is where our team has stepped in.

Last summer, our team, alongside a group of volunteers, helped install 75 reef balls in Paintsville Lake to serve as fish attractors, enhancing fish habitat and, in turn, creating opportunities for anglers.

Our team plans to continue to monitor this lake, among the other reservoirs in the region, making note of growth rates, catch rates of legal-sized fish, and improved angler sentiments from creel surveys, to enhance their habitat improvement efforts!

🔗 To learn more about lakes with fish attractors: https://fw.ky.gov/Fish/Pages/fish_attractor_lakes.aspx

🔗 More on this project: https://www.fishsens.com/paintsville-lake-habitat-improvement-initiative/

The Rivers and Streams Fisheries Research Branch has been on the Meldahl Pool of the Ohio River, evaluating the effects ...
05/20/2026

The Rivers and Streams Fisheries Research Branch has been on the Meldahl Pool of the Ohio River, evaluating the effects of recent largemouth bass stockings.

These stockings used largemouth bass that were removed from stunted, bass-crowded lakes in the fall, and are stocked at a larger size than previous stockings—ranging from 2 – 11 inches and averaging about 6 inches—which should lead to increased survival.

Early results are encouraging! Stocked fish (fin clipped upon removal) are found in nearly all embayments stocked, comprising up to 21% of the total sample in individual embayments.

Removals and stockings associated with this project will continue through 2029, with sampling occurring annually and wrapping up in spring 2030.

🎧 Check out this Kentucky Afield podcast episode with Jay Herrala, our Fisheries Program Coordinator, where he dives into a more in-depth conversation on this project: https://soundcloud.com/user-247796064/159-from-history-to-headwaters?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing .

Check out this 47.5-inch musky, reeled in by Ryan Hurt at Dewey Lake in Floyd County!Dewey was first stocked with Muskel...
05/20/2026

Check out this 47.5-inch musky, reeled in by Ryan Hurt at Dewey Lake in Floyd County!

Dewey was first stocked with Muskellunge in 2014 and is considered an up-and-coming fishery. Our Eastern District fishery samples this lake, and we are now finding more fish in these larger sizes available to anglers.

These fish are grown at the Minor Clark hatchery, and we aim to stock Dewey Lake every year if fish are available. Our annual hatchery production goal for Dewey Lake is 375 fish stocked in September/October at approximately 13 inches each

Shoutout to our fisheries team for all they do in enhancing these opportunities for anglers.

And shoutout to Ryan for this awesome catch!

Looking for ways to improve forest health and enhance wildlife habitat in your own backyard?Landowner Field Day is a gre...
05/15/2026

Looking for ways to improve forest health and enhance wildlife habitat in your own backyard?

Landowner Field Day is a great opportunity to learn just that! Spend the day hearing from forest health, wildlife, and other natural resource experts.

📅 Wednesday, June 10
🕐 9 AM - 4 PM (EST)
📍 Clay WMA (Carlisle, KY)

Spots are limited, so sign up today!

🔗 QR Code link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=X8mDyxTAMEO_3IjkiBI8pUTlRQdWt05Ht2YZ-UE-sLdUNDNZVkpFQVVZRUk4TjlMWU5RRDNWQ0xMUy4u

Kentucky Private Land Habitat Management
Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension

Another month means a new round of trout stocking!Tuesday, May 5• Big Caney Creek, Elliott County – 750• Big Caney Creek...
05/13/2026

Another month means a new round of trout stocking!

Tuesday, May 5
• Big Caney Creek, Elliott County – 750
• Big Caney Creek, Elliott County -250 (Brown Trout)
• Laurel Creek, Elliott County – 1000
• Laurel Creek, Elliott County – 250 (Brown Trout)
• Grayson Lake Tailwaters, Carter County - 1000

Thursday, May 7
• Dewey Lake Tailwaters, Floyd County – 1000
• Paintsville Lake Tailwaters, Johnson County – 2000
• Yatesville Lake Tailwaters, Lawrence County – 750
• Beaver Creek Right Fork, Floyd County – 500

Tuesday, May 12
• Russell Fork Creek, Pike County – 750
• Fish Trap Lake Tailwaters, Pike County – 2000

You know the drill, head over to the trout stocking schedule and check out the planned stockings for the month of May! https://fw.ky.gov/Fish/Pages/Monthly-Trout-Stocking.aspx

The last weekend of spring turkey season is here!I know, we can hardly believe it either.If you are planning on getting ...
05/08/2026

The last weekend of spring turkey season is here!

I know, we can hardly believe it either.

If you are planning on getting out this weekend for one last hurrah, but are not sure where to go, head to our website and check out our list of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). These areas are properties owned or managed by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife for conservation and public access.

For a full list of WMAs across the state, look here: https://fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Pages/WMA-Management-Levels.aspx

Make sure to do your research and know the specific rules and regulations of the WMA you are visiting before heading out. Good luck this weekend- let's finish strong!

Muskellunge fry were stocked in several water bodies in the Northeast Region! (Swipe to the last image to see the list o...
05/06/2026

Muskellunge fry were stocked in several water bodies in the Northeast Region! (Swipe to the last image to see the list of stocked streams.)

Here is a day in the life of a musky fry heading to a water body near you:

1. Musky are bagged up into stocking bags with hatchery water and sealed into coolers to prevent the bag water from warming too quickly.
2. They are then trucked and hand-carried to the stream.
3. At the stream site, staff temper the bags in the water to bring the temperatures closer together and then slowly release the muskies into their new homes.

In total, over 289,000 fry were stocked, which seems like a lot, but survival of fry from these stockings is limited, similar to what occurs in areas where muskellunge spawn naturally.

All of these streams are planned to be stocked again with more advanced fish later this season. (Lakes will also be stocked with these advanced fish later in the fall.)

Kentucky is fortunate to have some excellent hatchery resources to rear and raise fish for anglers to enjoy, and the hatchery staff are some of the hardest-working folks you’ll meet.

Address

Morehead, KY

Telephone

+16067838650

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