Fishing Kentucky Lake
AKA: Kentucky Reservoir
Popular Fish Species Kentucky Lake, KY
Largemouth Bass Fishing
Kentucky Lake is considered a good bass fishing lake by locals and tournament anglers alike. While fishing success can vary day to day, overall it's a good bass lake. Fishing for bass can be quite rewarding, with an occasional bass over 4 pounds being caught. Anglers can also catch smallmouth bass and spotted bass, which reside here in decent numbers.Bass often move shallow and become aggressive when they are in a feeding mood. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass, use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, drop shot rigs, big worms, jigs and spoons are good options. In winter, spend your time fishing deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time.
Crappie Fishing
Crappie anglers can fish for both black crappie and white crappie at Kentucky Lake. These two species tend to school separately. However, once located around cover, you may catch both species, as they often use the same cover. For best results when fishing for crappie, light line and small hooks are key, especially when fishing live or prepared baits. Crappie jigs are also productive her in a wide variety of colors. This is a good place to catch quantities of nice, fat slabs. Crappie fishing can be found in varying size schools, hanging around brush, vegetation, wood or other cover. Using a fish finder any time of year can help locate these crappie schools, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels, especially areas with brush or timber in deeper water. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk.
Striped Bass Fishing
Due to their large size, striped bass are a favorite of many locals and fishing guides at Kentucky Lake. They are plentiful, run in schools and can grow to bragging size. In Spring and Fall work the upper end of the lake where water is flowing into the lake. Look for deeper water in the river channel, as a holding place for stripers. In Summer and Winter, stripers hang out in deeper water during the day Morning often draws the stripers to much shallower water, look for them from the surface down to around the 20-foot range as they feed on shallow-running schools of bait. The lake is filled with plenty of baitfish and sunfish to to keep the fishery thriving. Being successful at fishing for stripers is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of stripers which are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Live bait is very effective here, and stripers can be caught year round.
Kentucky Lake Fishing Video
Fish species to fish for...
Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, bluegill, redear sunfish, warmouth, white bass, yellow bass, yellow perch, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, chain pickerel, paddlefish and sauger at Kentucky Lake in Kentucky.
Fishing at Kentucky Lake is as good as it gets. Plenty of campgrounds and RV parks are scattered all around this 160,000-acre lake. Over 2,000 miles of shoreline, about half in Tennessee and half in Kentucky, can be explored in search of multiple species of fish. The lake is teeming with a variety of popular fish species, including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, catfish, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, chain pickerel, perch, sunfish and bluegill.
The lake is easily accessed from all directions and access to the shoreline for fishing from the bank is easily located. Marinas around the lake offer kayaks, canoes, jon boats, pontoons, fishing boats, power boats and pleasure boats for rent, or bring your own.
Primary fish species residing in Kentucky Lake
Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.
Kentucky Lake Amenities
Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES
Today's Weather & Forecast
Fishing Boat Rentals
Big Bear Marina
Rentals: Jon boats and pontoon boats
270 354-6414
Hester's Resort & Marina
Rentals: Bass boats, fishing boats, kayaks and pontoon boats
270 354-8280
Kenlake Marina
Rentals: Fishing boats, bass boats, kayaks and fishing pontoon boats
270 474-2245
Kentucky Dam Marina
Rentals: Fishing boats, kayaks and pontoon boats
270 362-8386
Lakeside Campground and Marina
Rentals: Kayaks
270 354-8157
Lakeview Cottages & Marina
Rentals: Bass boats and pontoon boats
270 436-5876
Moors Resort & Marina
Rentals: Fishing boats and fishing pontoon boats
270 362-1410
Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings
Big Bear Public Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, off Big Bear Highway, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Birmingham Point Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, off Barge Island Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Fenton Self Service Campground Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, east side, at the east end of the US Highway 68 Bridge, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Jonathan Creek Public Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, at the north end of the US Highway 68 Bridge, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Jones Creek Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, east side, off Forest Service Road 172-C, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.
Kentucky Dam Marina Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, off Marina Drive, this is a five-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.
Moors Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, off Moors Road, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Pisgah Point Backcountry Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, off County Road 111-A, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Rocky Point Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, off Little Bear Highway, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Sledd Creek Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northwest section of the lake, off Sledd Creek Ramp Road, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.
Smith Bay Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, off County Road 116, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.
Sportsman's Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, at the south end of the US Highway 68 Bridge, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.
Sugar Bay Backcountry Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, off First Service Road 140, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with limited parking.
Marinas
Big Bear Marina
26 Big Bear Resort Rd
Benton, KY 42025
270 354-6414
Hester's Resort & Marina
350 Hesters Rd
Benton, KY 42025
270 354-8280
Kenlake Marina
888 Kenlake Marina Ln
Hardin, Kentucky 42048
270 474-2245
Kentucky Dam Marina
466 Marina Dr
Gilbertsville, KY 42044
270 362-8386
King Creek Marina
972 King Creek Rd
Benton, KY 42025
270 493-0076
Lakeside Campground and Marina
165 Lakeview Cabins Dr
New Concord, KY 42076
270 354-8157
Lakeview Cottages & Marina
165 Lakeview Cabins Drive
New Concord, KY 42076
270 436-5876
Moors Resort & Marina
570 Moors Road
Gilbertsville, KY 42044
270 362-1410
Sunset Harbor Hill Marina
131 Harbor Hill Ln
Murray, KY 42071
270 978-7839
Fishing Guides On Kentucky Lake
Andy Allen Fishing Guide Service - bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish
If you offer fishing guide services on this lake, please contact us for a free listing, to be posted here.
Fishing License
Click here for a Kentucky Fishing License.
Campgrounds & RV Parks Nearby
Kentucky Lake Resort and RV Park - 270 362-8652
Water's Edge RV Park & Marina - 270 436-5321
Wildcat Creek Campground - 270 436-5628
Canal Campground - 270 362-4840
Stagecoach Station Campground - 270 410-2267
Cypress Lakes RV Park - 270 395-4267
Paducah, I-24, Kentucky Lake KOA Campground - 270 395-5841
Hillman Ferry Campground - 270 924-2181
Lazy Daz RV Park - 270 703-1214
Twin Lakes Backcountry Area Campground - 270 924-2000
Kentucky Lake KY Map - Fishing & Camping Areas
Contact Information
Kentucky Lake
Kentucky Dam Marina
466 Marina Dr
Gilbertsville, KY 42044
270 362-8386
Fishing lakes in each state.
021725
Kentucky Lake in Kentucky.
KENTUCKY
Information about fishing lakes in Kentucky
Kentucky Lake, in southern KY offers great fishing for bass, crappie, stripers, hybrid stripers, catfish, sunfish, pike, walleye, sunfish, and paddlefish.
