The annual tree recycling program from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is a great way to put your old live Christmas tree to great use for fish habitat construction!
KDFWR has drop-off points across the state where you can bring your old tree and put it to good use. KDFWR will take your tree and combine it with others to create fish attractors for lakes all over the state. Trees will be used to replenish existing fish habitat sites as well as create new habitat sites. These brush reefs provide nesting and rearing habitat for gamefish as well as creating homes for invertebrates and smaller fishes that provide food for larger fish. Just clean your tree of all of the artificial decorations, lights, tinsel, ornaments, etc. and drop it off at one of our locations below, during daylight hours only (between 8:00am and 5:00pm). Christmas tree drop-off sites will be open from Christmas Day through January 15th.
The fish attractors are made in a variety of shapes and sizes and include material from trees, rocks, logs, wooden pallets, and even commercially made plastic structures. These structures are typically dense in nature with tree limbs and shade producing cover. Weedless presentations and lures are a good option when fishing these areas to reduce snagging. Lake habitat sites will vary in depth and may include areas in the backs of creeks, large flats, small pockets, and even main lake points. Many of these sites are located away from the bank in deeper water, so fish finders will help in identifying these offshore locations. Before picking a site to fish, consider the time of year, water temperature, and fish behavior to increase your success on the water.
| KDFWR Headquarters | Franklin | #1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601 | Jeff Crosby | 502-892-4464 |
| Forks of Elkhorn Hatchery | Franklin | 3785 Georgetown Road, Frankfort, KY 40601 | Jeff Crosby | 502-892-4464 |
| Guist Creek Lake Marina | Shelby | 11990 Boat Dock Road, Shelbyville, KY 40065 | Jeff Crosby | 502-892-4464 |
| McNeely Lake Boat Ramp | Jefferson | From I265 Exit 15S on Beulah Church Road, right on Old Bates Road, left on Cooper Chapel Road | Jeff Crosby | 502-892-4464 |
| Jacobson Park | Fayette | East Lexington off of Hwy 25, Paddle Craft Parking Lot | Joseph Zimmerman | 502-892-4473 |
| Ace Hardware | Anderson | 1106 Bypass South, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342 | Chris Dillon | 502-839-8880 |
| Lusby Lake/Scott County Park | Scott | Off of Hwy 25 north of Georgetown, Scott County Park Road, east of Road Department Garage | Joseph Zimmerman | 502-892-4473 |
| Lake Reba Recreational Complex | Madison | Soccer complex B parking lot across from Lake Reba boat ramp parking lot | Tom Timmerman | 606-783-8650 |