Places to go fishing in Kentucky
With Kentucky being home to hundreds and maybe thousands of spots to fish, including the 9th largest lake in the country, it is definitely considered one of the best places to go fishing in the United States. In fact, Kentucky can boast the world record catches for smallmouth bass, freshwater rockfish, walleye, and catfish as well as the US record for brown trout. Also, did you know that Kentucky is only second to Alaska for the most navigable miles of water int the United States? Seriously, what more motivation do you need as an angler to go fishing in Kentucky?
Kentucky is in a prime location for year-round fishing and fish are caught every day of the year. If you are specifically wanting to catch some of the best freshwater bass of your life, Lake Cumberland should be your next fishing destination. Most anglers that know the reputation for the lake know that the next world record for smallmouth bass will be caught at Lake Cumberland. It is well known that smallmouth and Kentucky bass love to congregate on the gravel and rocky areas of the lake. If you’re looking for the next trophy-size largemouth bass, make sure to find the stumps and mud banks around the lake. However, if you have a boat, the best tactic for catching these lunker bass is on the deep troll during hot summer days. Don’t forget about the night bites though, where anglers regularly get the opportunity to take one of these monsters from the surface as they are feeding in the cool air.
For a list of licenses, fees and where to buy, see our Kentucky Fishing License page.
The locations below are listed alphabetically and just a sampling of the many places to go fishing and some of the species you can catch in Kentucky.
Places To Go Fishing In Kentucky
Cedar Creek Lake: The Cedar Creek Lake has been ranked in the top 30 in the United States for Bass Fishing. It is a 780 acre lake where anglers on pontoon and small fishing boats do best. Over the last several years, nearly 500,000 fish have been stocked here. It is handicap accessible.
Popular Species To Catch: Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Green Sunfish Largemouth Bass
Herrington Lake: This lake is approximately 3,600 acres and most anglers guarantee that it is one of the best fishing reservoirs in the state and is the deepest lake in Kentucky. Herrington Lake is closest to the cities of: Harrodsburg, Bryantsville, Willmore, Nicholasville, and Burgin.
Popular Species To Catch: Bluegill, Catfish, Crappie, Hybrid Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, and White Bass
Lake Cumberland: Located in south central Kentucky, this lake is the 9th largest lake in the United States, coming in at 65,530 acres (50,250 surface area) and has 1,255 miles of shoreline. The main lake is a bit smaller, only 101 miles long and 1 mile across. it has a max depth of about 723 feet. Lake Cumberland is one of the best places to go fishing in Kentucky.
Popular Species To Catch: Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Walleye, Catfish
Nolin River Lake: This lake boasts an impressive size at 2,890 acres and is located in central Kentucky, spanning across Grayson, Edmonson, and Hart counties. It is not necessarily know for lunkers or trophy-size fish, but it is known for having some of the most consistent bites year-round.
Popular Species To Catch: Crappie, Bream, Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Sauger, Striped Bass, Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Kentucky Bass, Rock Bass
Red River: This particular river is a huge attraction for anglers, whether in a canoe, kayak or from shore. The Red River is a very clear river, making the fish very skittish when there is a lot of human activity in and around the river. So, if you want the best opportunity to catch, be very still and try to go where there aren’t a lot of people around.
Popular Species To Catch: Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Sunfish, Rock Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout
To see the full list of Kentucky fishing licenses and prices, please visit our Kentucky Fishing License page.
Many more locations to come. If you have any favorite spots or bodies of water that you think should definitely be on this page, please send us a note.
Also, if you are a private club or guide service that would like to be featured on any “Places To Fish” page, or other page within the StartFishingToday™ website, let us know.
Please contact us at startfishingtodayusa@gmail.com.
Thank you!