gavinswildlife
In Kentucky,I don't think you'd have a problem keeping/eating undersize fish(bass) as long as you lived on the land with the pond.
I had my pond electro-shocked by the fisheries division a few years ago,and requested a permit to keep bass under legal size. It arrived in a few days, and I posted it on my dock. When friends fish they know I want them to keep bass under 14". Although,they still have to abide by the state limit on the number of bass kept.
An 8 acre pond at my sportsmans club has a slot limit,(keep no fish between 12'-16') that encourages fishermen to keep the small ones.
I had the state biologist send us that permit years ago.
I get more cooperation from Ky dept.of fish & wildlife,than I do from our members! They simply won't keep little bass.
Get on your state's web site and see if you can find the name/contact info for your local conservation officer or game warden and call him
If a boat show is coming in your area,(like Cincinnati boat & travel show last week), they'll likely have a booth staffed with officers who can answer your questions
