What is the deepest lake in Kentucky?

Of the lakes with a published depth, Laurel River Lake is the deepest at about 280 ft.

Deepest lakes in Kentucky: 8 lakes ranked by depth

The deepest lakes in Kentucky with a published depth, deepest first. Deep lakes stay cold below the surface all summer, which is what trout and big predators want.

Deepest first

#	Lake	Deepest	Size
1	Laurel River Lake	about 280 ft	5,600 acres
2	Herrington Lake	about 249 ft	2,340 acres
3	Lake Cumberland	about 197 ft	65,500 acres
4	Kentucky Lake	about 75 ft	160,000 acres
5	Rough River Lake	about 65 ft	5,100 acres
6	Yatesville Lake	about 60 ft	2,240 acres
7	Grayson Lake	about 60 ft	1,500 acres
8	Lake Beshear	about 35 ft	760 acres

1. Laurel River Lake

Laurel River Lake covers 5,600 acres. It lies near North Corbin. It is the Laurel behind Laurel River Dam. 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. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Laurel River Lake is one of the deepest reservoirs in Kentucky, with depths reaching about 280 feet.

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

2. Herrington Lake

Herrington Lake covers 2,340 acres. You will find it about 19 miles northeast of Lexington. Dix Dam holds it on the Dix. It holds bluegill, catfish, crappie and striped bass. At about 249 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. 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

3. Lake Cumberland

Lake Cumberland spreads over some 65,500 acres. Expect striped bass, smallmouth bass, walleye and crappie. The deepest water is around 197 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

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

4. Kentucky Lake

Kentucky Lake covers 160,000 acres. Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and smallmouth bass are the draw. At about 75 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove worth a first look.

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

5. Rough River Lake

Rough River Lake covers some 5,100 acres. You will find it near Leitchfield. It is the Rough behind Rough River Dam. It holds largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass and catfish. At about 65 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Rough River Lake is a Corps of Engineers reservoir in central Kentucky that is stocked with rainbow trout below the dam.

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

6. Yatesville Lake

At 2,240 acres, Yatesville Lake is small enough to learn in a few trips. It lies within an easy drive of Meads (about 20 miles). Yatesville Dam holds it on the Blaine Creek. The usual Kentucky mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. The deepest water is around 60 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Yatesville Lake is a Corps of Engineers flood-control reservoir on Blaine Creek in northeastern Kentucky.

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

7. Grayson Lake

At some 1,500 acres, Grayson Lake is small enough to learn in a few trips. You will find it within an easy drive of Meads (about 18 miles). Like most lakes its size in Kentucky, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. It goes down to about 60 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has two sheltered coves and an upper arm: good places to start. Grayson Lake was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood control on the Little Sandy River.

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

8. Lake Beshear

At 760 acres of water, Lake Beshear is small enough to learn in a few trips. The lake is about 1.4 miles north of Dawson Springs. Like most lakes its size in Kentucky, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. It goes down to about 35 ft. The lake bed gives you two point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work. Lake Beshear is a reservoir within Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park in western Kentucky.

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

Fishing deep water

Deep lakes reward slow, vertical fishing: drop a jig or a spoon to the depth where fish show on the sonar and work it right there. In spring and fall the fish come shallow and any method works.