05/23/2026
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife biologists have confirmed the first detection of Alabama bass hybrids in Kentucky waters at Lake Linville in Rockcastle County.
During routine fisheries surveys, biologists collected two fish initially identified as spotted bass that were later confirmed through genetic analysis to be Alabama bass/spotted bass hybrids. Additional testing is now underway to determine the extent of their presence in the lake.
Alabama bass are native to parts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, but outside their native range they can negatively impact fisheries by competing and interbreeding with native bass species. Biologists are especially concerned about potential impacts to Kentucky’s smallmouth bass and spotted bass populations.
Anglers and boaters: Please do not move fish or plants between waterways. Transporting aquatic species can unintentionally spread invasive species and threaten Kentucky’s native fisheries and aquatic resources.
🔗 The Lake Linville discovery: https://fw.ky.gov/News/Pages/Invasive-Alabama-bass-found-at-Lake-Linville-in-Rockcastle-County.aspx
🔗 FAQs about Alabama Bass: https://fw.ky.gov/Fish/Pages/AL_Bass_FAQ.aspx