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Department of Fish and Wildlife
Fishing Program Expands to Seven Lakes in Jefferson County
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has partnered with Louisville Metro Parks to expand great fishing opportunities at several lakes in Jefferson County.
Cherokee Park Lake, Fisherman’s Park Lakes #3 and #4, Miles Park Lake #4, Tom Wallace Park Lake, Watterson Park Lake and Waverly Park Lake are now all enrolled in the Fishing in the Neighborhoods (FINs) program.
The FINs program began in 2006 with five lakes, but this year expanded to include 30 lakes statewide. The goal of the program is to provide high quality fishing opportunities near cities of all sizes throughout the Commonwealth. These lakes are great places to make a quick getaway to relax and catch a mess of fish or to take the family on a fishing outing without traveling far from home.
Each of the seven lakes will receive up to four high-density stockings of channel catfish and up to three rainbow trout stockings from March through November of each year. The first stocking of 3,400 channel catfish in the seven lakes is scheduled for the first two weeks of March. The stocked channel catfish will be 13-16 inches long and average 1 pound each. The first stocking of 9,500 rainbow trout in the seven lakes is scheduled for mid-April. Rainbow trout will average 8-12 inches long.
FINs lakes also contain sunfish and bass populations which will be managed and stocked as necessary. Check the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website for the exact stocking dates, license requirements, directions to the lake and fishing events. The site also has a place for you to submit pictures of your catch. Just go to fw.ky.gov on the Internet and type in the keyword, “FINs.”
Daily limits for each angler fishing a FINs lake includes five rainbow trout, four catfish, one largemouth bass over 15 inches and 15 bluegill or other sunfish. A statewide fishing license is required for anglers who are 16 and older. Licensed anglers who want to keep their trout must have an additional trout permit. The trout permit is included in the $5 senior license for those anglers age 65 and older.
Starting April 1, Metro Parks will be providing expanded fishing-related amenities at the Jefferson Memorial Forest. Two FINs lakes, Tom Wallace and Waverly Park, are just minutes away from the Forest’s Welcome Center, where anglers will be able to purchase bait and some basic tackle. Metro Parks is working to be able to sell fishing licenses as well. Parents who wish to introduce their children to fishing without a significant upfront cost may also check out a fishing pole free of charge, courtesy of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.
Metro Parks volunteers will be on hand on selected Saturdays this spring and summer to help instruct parents and children on fishing basics. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the Forest’s website at www.memorialforest.com or call (502) 368-5404 for more information.
Don’t forget: March 1 marked the start of the new year for fishing licenses.
A great fishing opportunity is just minutes away. So grab a pole, wet a line and we’ll see you at the lake.
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