Fishing Lake Cumberland
AKA: Cumberland Reservoir
Popular Fish Species Lake Cumberland, KY
Spotted Bass Fishing
Spotted bass are make up about half of the black bass population in Lake Cumberland. They tend to gather in small schools, especially in deeper water. Fishing for spotted bass can be good anytime you can locate them. Their diet consists mainly of crayfish and insects, but they also eat small baitfish, sunfish and bluegill. Most of the time, spots prefer to stage on steep rocky or gravel banks, and may move up and down the water column throughout the day. When shallow, use topwater or shallow crankbaits around rip rap. When they are deep, use worms and jigs. In winter, spend your time on deeper structure with small worms, jigs and spoons. Smallmouth bass and largemouth bass also reside here in good numbers.
Crappie Fishing
Black and white crappie both reside in Lake Cumberland and tend to school together. Crappie fishing is on the rise again this year and they can be found in sizeable schools. Crappie always like cover and structure, so locate brush and vegetation. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, 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 in deeper water.
Striped Bass Fishing
Thanks to stocking programs and good fisheries management by the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, striped bass are thriving in Lake Cumberland. These large fish are a favorite of many locals and fishing guides here. 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.
Lake Cumberland Fishing Video
Fish species to fish for...
Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, bluegill, white bass and striped bass at Lake Cumberland in Kentucky.
A favorite of local striped bass anglers, Lake Cumberland is a 63,000-acre haven for big stripers. This sprawling reservoir has 1,250 miles of shoreline. It is located in the south-central part of the state, between Jamestown and Monticello.
Anglers chasing striped bass should generally concentrate deep, focusing on deep structure - humps, ledges, flats and creek and river channels. Often schools of stripers will also suspend below a school of baitfish. During warmer months they may chase these bait schools all the way to the surface, creating excellent topwater action. In addition to stripers the lake has resident populations of bass, catfish, crappie, walleye, bluegill and white bass. Most of these species tend to stay shallower than the striped bass, and in varying ways, stay more closely related to the shoreline that wraps Cumberland Lake. There are more than 50 boat launch ramps for launching larger boats including pleasure boats, power boats, ski boats, pontoons and all types of fishing boats. There are numerous additional locations for portage of canoes and kayaks. At many of these same places, plus some additional areas, there is access to the shoreline for fishing from the bank.
Primary fish species residing in Lake Cumberland
Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.
Lake Cumberland 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
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Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings
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Marinas
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Fishing License
Click here for a Kentucky Fishing License.
Campgrounds & RV Parks Nearby
Russell Springs KOA Journey Campground - 270 866-5616
Lake Cumberland Camping Campground - 606 348-5200
Fall Creek Campground - 606 348-6042
Waitsboro Campground - 606 561-5513
Fishing Creek Campground - 606 679-5174
Pulaski County Campground & Boat Ramp - 606 636-6450
Somerset KY RV Park - 606 219-3290
Shoreline RV Park - 606 271-6711
Lake Cumberland State Park Campground - 270 343-3111
Kendall Campground - 270 343-4660
Cumberland Point Campground - 606 271-3923
Pine Crest RV Park - 270 866-5615
Map - Fishing & Camping Areas
Contact Information
Lake Cumberland State Dock
6365 State Park Rd
Jamestown, KY 42629
270 343-6000
Fishing lakes in each state
062325
Lake Cumberland in Kentucky.
KENTUCKY
Information about fishing lakes in Kentucky
Lake Cumberland, in south-central KY offers anglers the chance to fish for big stripers as well as bass, catfish, crappie, walleye, bluegill and white bass.
