Chain Pickerel in Kentucky
Kentucky rules and water for chain pickerel.
- 5daily
- 5.38 lbsstate record
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Kentucky Chain Pickerel in figures
For chain pickerel the guide's baseline row, "Chain Pickerel", gives daily limit 5, possession 10, minimum size none.
KDFWR records it at 5.38 lbs, caught at Forked Lake, Carlisle County.
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026, p. 5; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
The chain pickerel row, as Kentucky prints it
| Row | Daily | Possession | Minimum size | Footnote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chain Pickerel | 5 | 10 | none | – |
Kentucky caps possession at two days' limit; anglers may cull any species but trout.
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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| KDFWR listing | Weight | Water | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chain Pickerel | 5.38 lbs | Forked Lake, Carlisle County | July 8, 1983 |
Kentucky state record fish as listed by KDFWR (record list), read November 10, 2026.
Bluegrass and coalfield water near Chain Pickerel, on film
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Stewart Bowman, Public domain
Photo: LouisvilleUSACE, CC BY 2.0
Kentucky Chain Pickerel in plain answers
How many chain pickerel go home per day in Kentucky?
The statewide row reads daily limit 5, possession 10, minimum size none.
Does the chain pickerel limit differ by lake in Kentucky?
The special-regulation list does not name it.
How heavy is the Kentucky record-book chain pickerel?
KDFWR lists 5.38 lbs from Forked Lake, Carlisle County (July 8, 1983).
Which Kentucky lakes should I try first for chain pickerel?
No KDFWR table on a built page names it.
Are chain pickerel on the guide's release list?
The release-only list leaves it off.
Which KDFWR license do chain pickerel anglers buy?
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.
Can a chain pickerel set a new Kentucky record?
Catch it in Kentucky with rod and reel or pole and line, and it must top 0.10 pound for the KDFWR list.
Can I hold two days of chain pickerel?
Two days' limit is the cap, excluding fish that have been processed.
Settle on Kentucky water for chain pickerel
Tap any linked water for its KDFWR launches and limits.