Kentucky has the greatest length of navigable running waterways and streams in the lower 48 states, the state travel department reports, and it's the only state bordered on three sides by rivers. Large boat shows in Kentucky annually roll out the newest in fishing and boating gear, catering to one of the most popular pastimes for residents and visitors taking advantage of all that water.
Fishing in Kentucky
Kentucky offers 800 fishing locations in rivers, lakes, and streams. To get started, use the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources' mapping tool featuring the fishing spots in the nine regions of the state. This provides information on ramps and access sites for boats. Some of the fish you can expect to catch in Kentucky waters are smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, channel catfish, bluegill, sauger, and crappie. Find out what's biting in specific lakes and rivers from the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources' Fishing Forecast.
Regulations
You need a fishing license to fish in Kentucky. Residents can buy a one-day license or a seasonal license. Nonresidents have the option of one, seven or 15-day licenses; the cost is higher for nonresidents than residents. Purchase fishing licenses online at the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources' online sales page or at sales sites such as tackle shops and convenience stores.
West Kentucky Boat & Outdoor Show
In western Kentucky, the big boat show of the year is the Western Kentucky Boat & Outdoor Show in January. The show in Murray, Ky., features about 80 exhibitors, including speed and fishing boat dealers, fishing experts and fishing gear suppliers. The show offers seminars on fishing and boating topics, as well as a kids activity area and fishing pond, and a shopping area geared toward women. The show is free.
Louisville Boat, RV, & Sportshow
Try some indoor "fishing" at the Louisville Boat, RV, & Sportshow. The five-day show's fishing-related exhibits in 2010 included the Take Me Fishing Center with hands-on activities and demonstrations, and a high-speed boat simulator. The Louisville show features seminars by experts on best fishing practices and the latest in boats and fishing gear. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources also offers an on-site boating safety seminar. The show is held each January.
Houseboat Expo
Houseboating can be a way to foster family togetherness -- with opportunities to fish from your home, and then walk just a few steps to cook your dinner. Two houseboat expos are held in Kentucky each year to promote the houseboat culture. The National Houseboat Expo in Louisville, held in March, features new and used houseboats for a wide spectrum of budgets, along with accessories and gear for houseboats. The show, and its accompanying on-water show in August at Lake Cumberland State Dock in Jamestown, Ky., are sponsored by Houseboat Magazine.
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