Fishing Report For Laurel River Lake, KY

By Rick Seaman

February 6, 2025

Popular Fish Species Reports
Laurel River Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
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Fishing Report Laurel River Lake, KY

Fishing Reports

Popular Fish Species Laurel River Lake, KY

Smallmouth Bass

Current Report: Good To Very Good
Outlook: Very Good

Laurel River Lake is considered one of the top smallmouth bass fisheries in Kentucky. Smallies tend to get very active in nasty weather. Rain, wind, clouds and cold weather make prime conditions for smallmouth fishing. Locals report good topwater action once the water is about 55 degrees or higher, especially during inclement weather. Small crankbaits are a good way to cover lots of water to locate bass. When smallmouth move off the bank into deeper water, they are being caught on jigging spoons, tube baits, jigs and drop-shot rigs.

Walleye

Current Report: Fair To Good
Outlook: Good

Walleye like to slow cruise around flats and structure close to deep water, and feed close to the bottom. When walleye are in 12' to 25' of water a blade bait or a swimbait is a good way to locate the fish. Fan cast using various jighead weights, depending on depth and wind conditions. Once you locate a school, a drop-shot rig with minnow-shaped plastics is a good way to work the school. Locals report spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners are also catching walleye while slow trolling.

Largemouth Bass

Current Report: Good
Outlook: Good To Very

Largemouth bass can be caught virtually everywhere in Laurel River Lake from the the dam in the main lake, to the the backs of coves and pockets of both the Laurel River arm and the Craig Creek arm of the lake. Often, the better largemouth bass fishing is reported to be up-lake, toward the incoming rivers where the water is murkier. Spinnerbaits, vibrating jigs, stick worms, jigs and Texas style worms are all catching fish with some regularity.

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, brown trout, bluegill and white bass at Laurel River Lake in Kentucky.

Laurel River Lake is a 6,000-acre lake with 190 miles of picturesque shoreline. This fishery supports both warm-water and cold-water species. It is one of only a handful of major, Kentucky lakes offering trout fishing. Other popular fish species include crappie, largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish, and bluegill.

Primary fish species to catch

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

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

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Map - Fishing & Access

Rick Seaman is a fishing enthusiast with over five decades of fishing experience, a retired tournament fisherman, author of numerous published articles on fishing, and co-author of the book "Bass Fishing - It's not WHAT you throw, It's WHERE you throw it".