Bourbeuse River Prospect Report

Anglers can expect fair to good success fishing for most species in 2026.  Fishing for black bass (smallmouth spotted, and largemouth bass) should be good on most stretches. Spotted/Kentucky bass are very abundant on the Franklin County part of the river and with the liberal daily limit of 12 fish and no length limit, anglers have the opportunity to take home several meals. In fall sampling, black bass densities were similar to past years, but sizes of smallmouth bass and spotted bass were noticeably larger, indicating anglers should have better chances of hooking into large bass in 2026. Channel catfish numbers and sizes should be fair in 2026. Flathead catfish were less abundant than channels, and their sizes are expected to be fair. Popular methods to catch catfish include limb lines, set lines, and trotlines. Live sunfish usually work best for flathead catfish; nightcrawlers, chicken liver, and stinkbaits are good for channel catfish. Suckers are abundant and giggers should have a good season when the river is low and clear enough to identify fish properly. Fishing for crappie should be fair in the many deep, slow moving pools with woody cover; crappie numbers were present in low numbers but when found were of good size.