Thursday January 22, 2026
Local Connection
Weather
Traffic
@LouisvilleDispatch
@LouisvilleDisp
Subscribe
Photo: Kentucky Department Fish And Wildlife
Crews from the fisheries division of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will remove largemouth bass from Beaver Lake in Anderson County in the coming weeks to alleviate overcrowding and improve growth rates of fish.
“In March of 2017, we took nearly 2,400 largemouth bass out of Beaver Lake,” said David Baker, Central Fisheries District biologist for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “We did our annual population sampling the following month, and the number of largemouth bass we found were still double what we want for Beaver Lake.”
Baker explained bountiful largemouth bass reproduction in 2016 and 2017 further compounded overcrowding in the 158-acre lake.
“We want to be proactive and prevent a bottleneck of fish 8 to 11 inches long,” Baker said. “This removal will reduce competition for food among the younger age bass and improve growth rates for the bass near the 12-inch minimum size limit.”
The minimum size limit for largemouth bass on Beaver Lake reverted to the statewide size limit of 12 inches on March. Previously, the lake had a 15-inch minimum size limit on largemouth bass.
“We plan to take bass under 6 inches from last year’s spawn and bass 7 to 9 inches from the 2016 spawn,” Baker said. “Most will go into the Cane Run arm of Herrington Lake. Largemouth bass reproduction is typically poor in the lower end of Herrington.”
The Fisheries Division manages Beaver Lake for bluegill and redear sunfish. Removing small bass allows panfish to thrive in the lake. “We’ve witnessed big improvements in the number of quality bluegill,” Baker said. “In our population sampling last spring, the numbers of bluegill that were 6 inches and longer exploded.”
Baker also said before the improvement, each hour of population sampling landed 50 to 75 bluegill over 6 inches. “Now, we see 200 to 250 per hour,” he said. “We also saw our highest rates ever for bluegill 8 inches and longer.”
The Kentucky Exposition Center goes to the dogs March 15-18 when thousands of canines compete in the Kentuckiana Cluster of Dog Shows and the Greater Louisville Training Club Agility Trials.
Kentuckiana Cluster of Dog Shows During the Kentuckiana Cluster of Dog Shows, top dogs from around the world will be judged based on conformation, obedience and agility. Winners of early rounds and AKC Champions will then move on to compete for Best of Breed. Depending on their performance, they can advance to group competition and Best of Show.
Special highlights during the show include:
- NEW: Puppy competition
- Dock-diving: dogs compete by jumping into a swimming pool and chasing a Frisbee
- Animal rescue organizations
The dog shows run Thursday, March 15 through Sunday, March 18 and are open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily in the West Wing, Pavilion and West Hall. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors (age 60 and over) and children (age 4-13). Thursday admission is free.
For more information, visit www.thekentuckianaclusterofdogshows.org.
Greater Louisville Training Club Agility Trials The dog agility trials run Thursday, March 15 through Sunday, March 18 and are open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily in Broadbent Arena at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Admission for this event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.greaterlouisvilletrainingclub.com.
Parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center is $8 per vehicle and $20 per bus.
Louisville Parks and Recreation is hosting a World Cup-themed men’s soccer tournament from June 14 through July 15, 2018 to commemorate the version staged in Russia.
The tournament is open to adults 18 and over, in a 7 v 7 format, with 35-minute halves. The team fee is $150 for the three-game guarantee in the group stage, mimicking the Cup schedule, with games being played in the evening of the actual game days. There are only 32 spots available with teams representing the 32 countries who qualified for the tournament. Countries can be selected by participating teams.
Tournament sponsorships are available at $200 only through a 3’ x 8’ banner that is produced by the business or organization and will be placed on site at Thurman Hutchins Park for the months of June and July. Thurman Hutchins will also be the site of a festival on the tournament’s final day, including food trucks, music, and other entertainment options for the whole family.
Please contact Parks and Recreation Director Seve Ghose directly at seve.ghose@louisvilleky.gov or 502-415-8590 to secure a spot.
“Louisville has seen a spike in soccer interest over the last few years and to further engage the community we are seeking teams to sign up and participate in a soccer tournament,” Ghose said. “The goal is also to continue the tournament in the non-World Cup years with several more teams participating. Playing the ‘beautiful game’ on quality fields, under the lights will be a novelty and we encourage teams to sign up now and reserve your spot – we only have thirty two.”
Photo: Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
After a successful inaugural season in 2017, Louisville Parks and Recreation will again be operating youth baseball and softball leagues at Wyandotte Park in south Louisville for children ages 6-18.
Sign-ups are available online now at this link.
Tee ball ($20 entry fee) will be available for children ages 6 and under. Softball and baseball league ($40 entry fee) divisions are as follows: ages 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16 and 17-18. In addition to the cost of joining the league, entry fees cover the cost of the uniform and rental of a glove if necessary.
Player sign-ups will take place through March 20 online and at three Parks and Recreation Community Centers; Cyril Allegier, Southwick and South Louisville. Games will begin on Saturday, March 26 at Wyandotte Park. In addition, Parks and Recreation is seeking volunteer coaches for league teams.
Those interested in participating should call Steve Edwards at (502) 744-0498.
“We’re hoping to find enthusiastic role models who will mentor the players, teach them fundamentals and how to be team players,” Parks and Recreation Director Seve Ghose said. “We’re hoping an abundance of kids sign up, but the league will only continue to be successful if we have a good number of coaches willing to take on the challenge.”
For fans who want to catch the high-horsepower action of the National Tractor Pull Championship, today is their last opportunity for the 2018 edition of the event, which is celebrating its 50th year in Freedom Hall this year. The finals will feature a variety of tractor sizes and stocks as well as 2-wheel drive Super Modified Trucks.
Visitors will be on the edge of their seats as they watch drivers use their trucks and tractors to drag the massive weighted sled down a dirt track. The sled (Bauer Built’s Iron Man) weight varies from class to class, but some of these vehicles are hauling more than 20 tons down the short 250 foot track.
Qualifying heats have been running since Wednesday for the finals tonight, which will feature such previous winners such Steve Bunnage from Golden Gate, IL as he tries to beat his Wednesday night result of 232.062 feet. The 2-wheel modified trucks will feature three lady drivers, including Bethany Nelson from Altamont, IL who won the heat last night by going 223.952 feet.
The Championship starts tonight at 7:00 PM with an early showing at noon and tickets are still available. As always with the Exposition Center, there’s a $8 per vehicle charge for parking. If you arrive early to get a good parking spot, the National Farm Machinery Show is open until 6:00 PM and admission is free.
Louisville Parks and Recreation has assumed responsibility for the operation of Quail Chase Golf Club, a 27-hole championship-level course located on the Jefferson/Bullitt county line 20 minutes south of downtown Louisville.
The addition brings a marquee golf destination to Parks and Recreation’s portfolio of courses, including nine municipally run tracks located within the Louisville Metro area. Metro acquired the facility and improvements Feb. 1 from Golf Development Company Inc. for $850,000.
Through the agreement, Golf Development Inc. will make an annual $25,000 donation to the First Tee of Louisville for youth golf programming at Quail Chase each year over the next 10 years.
Quail Chase, located within McNeely Lake Park – one of 120 Metro-owned parks – will be overseen by PGA Professional Craig Heibert. Heibert is the Kentucky Section PGA Golf Professional of the Year in 2017. He is currently the Vice President of the PGA of Kentucky and serves on the organization’s board of directors. He is the current pro at Shawnee Golf Course and has overseen the First Tee’s growth at that course and others, building the program to six program locations, 34 elementary schools and nurturing numerous community and business partnerships.
The course will continue to operate as normal, and greens fees, passes and membership rates will not change this season. In addition, Parks and Recreation is evaluating the grounds and facilities for maintenance needs and possible upgrades. A grand opening celebration is anticipated this spring.
To view the course layout, greens fees and other information, visit quailchase.com.
The 2018 Louisville Parks and Recreation Golf Discount Book is now on sale at all Parks and Recreation golf courses, and makes a perfect holiday gift for the golfer in the family regardless of experience level.
The $25 gift provides more than $2,000 worth of dollars in savings throughout the year and is on sale at all nine public golf courses and the Parks Administration Building at Joe Creason Park.
Through the discount book, players can receive reduced greens fees, prices on pro shop merchandise, lessons and more.
For more information on the discount book, call (502) 574-6454 or call or visit your nearby Parks and Recreation golf course.