Best fishing lakes in Kentucky: 12 lakes and what bites

The lakes at a glance

1. Kentucky Lake

Kentucky Lake covers 160,000 acres. It holds largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and smallmouth bass. The deepest water is around 75 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work.

Kentucky Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Lake Cumberland

Lake Cumberland covers 65,500 acres. Expect striped bass, smallmouth bass, walleye and crappie. It goes down to about 197 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Lake Cumberland today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Lake Barkley

Lake Barkley covers 57,900 acres of water. Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and white bass are the draw. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Lake Barkley today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Rough River Lake

Rough River Lake is a reservoir of 5,100 acres. The lake is about 6 miles southeast of Leitchfield. Expect largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass and catfish. The deepest water is around 65 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Rough River Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Cave Run Lake

Cave Run Lake spreads over some 8,270 acres. You will find it about 45 miles northeast of Meads. It is the Licking behind Cave Run Lake Dam. It holds crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and muskie. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Cave Run Lake is widely considered one of Kentucky's top destinations for muskie fishing.

Cave Run Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Herrington Lake

Herrington Lake covers 2,340 acres of water. You will find it within an easy drive of Lexington (about 19 miles). It is the Dix behind Dix Dam. The fish here are bluegill, catfish, crappie and striped bass. It goes down to about 249 ft. The lake bed gives you two sheltered coves and a point drop-off to work. Herrington Lake, formed by Dix Dam in 1925, is the deepest lake in Kentucky.

Herrington Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Taylorsville Lake

Taylorsville Lake covers 3,050 acres of water. It lies about 2.8 miles west of Taylorsville. It is the Salt behind Taylorsville Lake Dam. The fish here are largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie and catfish. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Taylorsville Lake is a Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Salt River southeast of Louisville, Kentucky.

Taylorsville Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Crawford Lake

Crawford Lake covers about 16,900 acres. It lies next to Elizabethtown. The usual Kentucky mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove worth a first look.

Crawford Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Barren River Lake

Barren River Lake spreads over some 10,100 acres. It lies about 19 miles northwest of Bowling Green. Barren River Lake Dam holds it on the Barren. Like most lakes its size in Kentucky, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Barren River Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood-control reservoir in south-central Kentucky.

Barren River Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Green River Lake

Green River Lake is a reservoir of 8,210 acres. You will find it about 2.8 miles north of Campbellsville. Green River Lake Dam holds it on the Green. Like most lakes its size in Kentucky, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Green River Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood-control reservoir in south-central Kentucky.

Green River Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Nolin Lake

Nolin Lake covers 5,800 acres. The lake is about 6 miles southwest of Brownsville. Nolin River Dam holds it on the Nolin. Like most lakes its size in Kentucky, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Nolin Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir in central Kentucky whose surface area grows substantially from winter to summer pool.

Nolin Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Laurel River Lake

Laurel River Lake is a reservoir of 5,600 acres of water. It lies near North Corbin. Laurel River Dam holds it on the Laurel. The usual Kentucky mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. At about 280 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Laurel River Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Pick by species

A lake appears under a fish when it holds it, by the record or by the type of lake.

• Bass: Kentucky Lake, Lake Cumberland, Lake Barkley and Rough River Lake
• Walleye: Lake Cumberland
• Trout: Rough River Lake
• Crappie: Kentucky Lake, Lake Cumberland, Lake Barkley and Rough River Lake
• Pike and muskie: Cave Run Lake and Dewey Lake
• Catfish: Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Rough River Lake and Herrington Lake

The fishing year

• Spring: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Summer: walleye are usually fair. Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
• Fall: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
• Winter: walleye are usually at their best. Good cool-water bite, best at dusk and after dark.

Before you go

Buy a Kentucky fishing licence before the trip and read the state's rules for each lake: seasons, size and bag limits change from water to water. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.