Photo by Paul Moore.

Managing our state’s black bass fisheries doesn’t just happen. Rather, it is an extremely complex and scientific strategy that continues to be honed as the years go on.

As a result, we have some absolutely terrific fisheries in our state, along with a rating system that is easy for anglers to understand.

Fisheries biologists of Kentucky’s Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) work very hard all through the year to make sure that fish populations stay in optimum condition and anglers have superb fishing opportunities.

The KDFWR catches a lot of flack at times when things don’t go as some anglers perceive they should.

However, much hard labor and countless man-hours go on, unbeknownst to the general public.

Fisheries personnel are on the water netting, trapping, electro-shocking and surveying at numerous times of the year. And then they must analyze all of this data to understand what condition the various fisheries are in.

This eventually leads to the development of management and regulation strategies -- all done to ensure the protection and health of the fisheries while providing anglers with maximum fishing opportunity.

Our black bass assessment method is one such benefit of the sampling efforts.

Biologists sample and survey bass in our lakes, using a number of different methods.

Data is collected and then plugged into formulas to develop an individual rating for each body of water.

Because bass reproduce and grow differently in individual lakes, the same criteria can’t be applied to every water. Therefore, the KDFWR uses separate criteria for lakes above 1,000 surface acres and those under 1,000 acres.

The biologists look at five different parameters, including growth, recruitment, and three separate size structures. Each of these parameters yields a score of 1 through 4. Growth is measured when fish reach age 3. Recruitment is the number of age-1 bass.

Size structure is broken into three categories: 12 to 14.9 inches, 15 inches and longer and 20 inches and over.

With five parameters and four different ratings per parameter, each water body can achieve a maximum score of 20. Biologists break down the final scores and assign the fishery an overall rating -- excellent, good, fair or poor -- based on these scores.

Any lake scoring less than 8 is considered “poor.” From 8 to 12 is “fair.” (Continued)

“Good” lakes rate between 12 and 16. To be rated as “excellent,” a lake must score 17 or higher.

This rating system is then incorporated into the annual fishing forecast compiled each year by the KDFWR fisheries biologists. Anglers can then study the forecast and determine the best areas around the state to target bass, or whatever game fish species they’re looking to catch.

With so many great fishing opportunities statewide, it’s hard to narrow your choices down to just a few.

With that in mind, here’s a look at two lakes above 1,000 acres and two lakes under 1,000.

All of these lakes, as well as many more, should offer up some tremendous bass fishing this year!