LEXINGTON, Ky. _ As the weeks drag on and the weather becomes increasingly pleasant, the sense of cabin fever caused by our collective coronavirus quarantine is sure to increase.
So many entertainment options we used to take for granted are now indefinitely off limits: Forget about taking in a baseball or softball game. Date night at the movie theater is a no-go. All the gyms are closed, so those pickup basketball games and group exercise classes are out.
But one great option still available around Kentucky is fishing. It's a perfect time for those who've never before cast a line to give it a shot, or for past anglers who've put down the pole for years to again pick up the sport.
Recently, the Herald-Leader spoke with Kevin Kelly, chief communications officer for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFW). In an email exchange, he said there are plenty of opportunities around the state for people to get their feet wet.
"If someone has never fished before and wants to give it a try, they're in luck. Not only is spring one of the best times of the year to fish, there are many different resources available at your fingertips, or even a phone call away, to learn how to do it," Kelly said.
One of those resources is a new website the department has set up to provide coronavirus-related updates, including information on closures of waterways and marinas. The website can be accessed at fw.ky.gov/covid19. Kelly said more than 30,000 people have visited the site so far.
While a few public parks with fishable bodies of water have been closed, the vast majority around the state remain open. Open-air sites like public streams and rivers are available, though officials encourage anglers to observe the CDC recommendations on social distancing. The Department of Fish and Wildlife website offers plenty of resources to help plan an excursion. We'll highlight some of those resources in a bit, but first thing's first.
