Brown Trout in Kentucky
Bluegrass brown trout: limits, waters, records.
- 1daily
- 21.00 lbsstate record
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Kentucky Brown Trout rules and waters
Across Kentucky the default for brown trout sits in the "Brown Trout" row, daily limit 1, possession 2, minimum size 16". The guide's special-water list names it in 20 entries, including Bark Camp Creek.
KDFWR's per-water regulation tables name it on 8 pages here, Dale Hollow Lake, Laurel River Lake and East Fork Indian Creek first. KDFWR lists the top fish at 21.00 lbs from Cumberland River.
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026, p. 5; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
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| Row | Daily | Possession | Minimum size | Footnote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Trout | 1 | 2 | 16" | – |
The guide doubles the daily figure for possession and bars culling only for trout.
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026, p. 5; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
The brown trout special-water list
| Water as printed | County | Rule lines naming it |
|---|---|---|
| Bark Camp Creek | Whitley County | All trout caught from October 1 through March 31 must be immediately released and only artificial baits shall be used during this period. |
| Beaver Creek from the KY 90 bridge upstream to the KY 200 bridge | Wayne County | All trout caught from October 1 through March 31 must be immediately released and only artificial baits shall be used during this period. |
| Big Bone Creek | Boone County | All trout caught from October 1 through March 31 must be immediately released and only artificial baits shall be used during this period. |
| Cane Creek | Laurel County | All trout caught from October 1 through March 31 must be immediately released and only artificial baits shall be used during this period. |
| Casey Creek | Trigg County | All trout caught from October 1 through March 31 must be immediately released and only artificial baits shall be used during this period. |
| Clear Creek | Bell County | All trout caught from October 1 through March 31 must be immediately released and only artificial baits shall be used during this period. |
| Cumberland River from Wolf Creek Dam to the Tennessee state line | All licensed anglers must possess a trout permit on this portion of Cumberland River. This includes Hatchery Creek and all tributaries up to the first riffle. Anglers may not attract or chum trout with bait, corn or other attractants designed to draw numbers of trout to a specific area. This include | |
| Dale Hollow Lake | Rainbow and Brown Trout: 7-fish aggregate daily limit. | |
| Dog Fork | Wolfe County | Only artificial baits with a single hook shall be used. Brook trout must be immediately released. |
| East Fork Indian Creek | Menifee County | All trout caught from October 1 through March 31 must be immediately released and only artificial baits shall be used during this period. |
| Elk Spring Creek | Wayne County | All trout caught from October 1 through March 31 must be immediately released and only artificial baits shall be used during this period. |
| Floyd’S Fork from U.S. 60 bridge downstream to U.S. 150 bridge | Jefferson County | Rainbow Trout: All trout caught from Oct. 1 through March 31 must be immediately released and only artificial baits shall be used during this period. |
| Gunpowder Creek | Boone County | All trout caught from October 1 through March 31 must be immediately released and only artificial baits shall be used during this period. |
| Hatchery Creek | Russell County | All licensed anglers must possess a trout permit to fish Hatchery Creek. Brook, Rainbow, Cutthroat and Brown Trout: Upper section: As designated by signs, 5-trout aggregate daily limit, no minimum size limit. Lower section: Catch and release only and only artificial baits may be used. The lower boun |
| Otter Creek | Meade County | Otter Creek inside Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area: All trout caught in Otter Creek Park from Oct. 1 through March 31 must be immediately released and only artificial baits shall be used during this period. |
| Parched Corn Creek | Wolfe County | Only artificial baits with single hook shall be used. Brook trout must be immediately released. |
| Rock Creek from Tennessee state line downstream to Bell Farm bridge | McCreary County | All trout caught from October 1 through March 31 must be immediately released and only artificial baits shall be used during this period. |
| Shillalah Creek | Bell County | Outside the Cumberland Gap National Park as posted, only artificial baits with single hook shall be used. Brook trout must be immediately released. |
| Swift Camp Creek | Clifty Wilderness, Wolfe County | All trout caught from October 1 through March 31 must be released immediately and only artificial baits shall be used during this period. |
| Trammel Creek | Allen County | All trout caught from October 1 through March 31 must be immediately released and only artificial baits shall be used during this period. Rainbow Trout: 5-fish daily limit. |
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026, p. 7-12; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
The Kentucky state record brown trout
| KDFWR listing | Weight | Water | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Trout | 21.00 lbs | Cumberland River | April 30, 2000 |
Kentucky state record fish as listed by KDFWR (record list), read November 10, 2026.
Steering a Kentucky jon boat toward brown trout
These pages carry this fish in their KDFWR rule table, which shows regulation, not abundance.
Lakes KDFWR regulates for brown trout
- Dale Hollow Lake6,614 acres in Kentucky
- Laurel River Lake5,768 acres
Flowing water KDFWR regulates for brown trout
- East Fork Indian CreekMenifee County
- Hatchery CreekRussell County
- Laurel CreekElliott County
- Sulphur Spring CreekSimpson County
- Nolin River Lake TailwaterEdmonson County
- Lake Cumberland TailwaterCumberland County and 2 other counties
KDFWR fishing waterbody list (app.fw.ky.gov), read November 10, 2026.
Permit and release rules for brown trout
Unless license exempt, anglers who intend to keep trout must have a trout permit. … All licensed anglers fishing the portion of the Cumberland River from Wolf Creek Dam to the Tennessee state line, its tributaries up to the first riffle and all of Hatchery Creek are required to possess a trout permit. (guide p. 3)
Some streams indicated in the table have a catch and release season (no harvest) from Oct. 1 through March 31. During the catch and release season, only artificial baits shall be used and all trout caught must be immediately released. (guide p. 25)
- Nolin River Lake Tailwatertailwater page with trout totals
- Herrington Lake Tailwatertailwater page with trout totals
- Lake Cumberland Tailwatertailwater page with trout totals
- Cave Run Lake Tailwatertailwater page with trout totals
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026, p. 24-28; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
Photo of Dale Hollow Lake: Tim Creque, CC BY 2.0
What Kentucky anglers wonder about Brown Trout
How many brown trout may I keep in Kentucky?
The statewide row reads daily limit 1, possession 2, minimum size 16".
Any special-regulation entries naming brown trout?
On 20 waters, including Bark Camp Creek.
Is there a Kentucky record for brown trout?
It stands at 21.00 lbs, caught at Cumberland River (April 30, 2000).
Where in the Commonwealth does KDFWR manage brown trout?
Start at Dale Hollow Lake, Laurel River Lake and East Fork Indian Creek (8 pages in all).
Does the guide make anglers turn brown trout loose?
The guide does not require its release statewide.
What does a Kentucky license for brown trout cost?
Anglers 16 and older need a Kentucky fishing license; the 2026 guide prints $24.31 for the resident annual license and $58.14 for nonresidents. Keeping trout adds the $10.57 trout permit, and every licensed angler on the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam needs it.
How do I enter a brown trout for a Kentucky record?
KDFWR keeps the list; a record fish must come from Kentucky water on rod and reel or pole and line and weigh at least 0.10 pound.
May I keep brown trout from yesterday plus today's limit?
Possession equals two daily limits under 301 KAR 1:201, processed fish aside.
Pack the cooler for a brown trout run
A linked lake or stream page pairs its access sites with the KDFWR limits.