Fishing Kentucky Lake

Excellent Fishing In Tennessee

Popular Fish Species
Kentucky Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
Today's Weather & Forecast
Boat Launch Ramps
Fishing Boat Rentals
Marinas
Fishing License
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Kentucky Lake, TN

Popular Fish Species Kentucky Lake, TN

Largemouth Bass Fishing

Kentucky Lake is a world renown bass fishing lake. Weekend and tournament anglers find the fishing to be slow at times, yet pretty good at other times. 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.

White Crappie Fishing

Plenty of healthy white crappie reside in Kentucky Lake, as they are making a nice comeback this year. The fish population is healthy and crappie fishing is excellent. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. Crappie always like cover and structure, so locate shallow brush and vegetation in Spring and Fall focusing on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out to as deep as 30 to 35 feet, as well as ledges near channels at these depths. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. Black crappie also make this lake their home.

Channel Catfish Fishing

To fish for catfish on Kentucky Lake, most any rod and reel will work, as long as the line is strong enough. Flathead catfish and blue catfish also reside in the lake and fishing for them is often good as well. For serious catfish enthusiasts, using the right equipment improves success. A medium action, to medium-heavy action rod is ideal, in the 6' to 7' range. Use a slip sinker or Carolina rig with popular catfish baits on at least 10-pound line. Use sharp hooks with bait holders on the shank, or circle hooks for live bait. Kentucky Lake has a very healthy population of channel catfish, and they are eager to bite. The typical fish are about 2 pounds, with larger ones caught frequently. The state record channel catfish is over 40 pounds. Night fishing for catfish often delivers better results than daytime fishing. Fishing for channel catfish is often most productive around any kind of structure in the area. In Spring channel catfish migrate toward incoming water, so stay up river away from the main lake. In early summer look for rocky banks, the bigger the rocks the better. In summer and winter deeper structure is where to look. The river end of the lake is often the area where the bigger catfish are caught. Road beds, creek channels and rocky points are all good places to begin.

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, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, chain pickerel, paddlefish and sauger at Kentucky Lake in Tennessee.

The largest manmade lake in the eastern US, Kentucky Lake is a 160,000-acre reservoir in Kentucky and Tennessee. Located at the northwest Kentucky border, 60 miles west of Nashville, it is easily accessed from all directions, including I-40 near the southern end of the lake. Healthy populations of most fresh-water species reside in these fertile waters. Famous for excellent bass fishing, Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley annually appear in the Bassmaster Top 100 bass lakes in the USA.

Kentucky Lake is widely known for its outstanding bass fishing. Largemouth bass are abundant in the lake. In addition to bass, Kentucky Lake supports other popular fish species. Crappie fishing is excellent, with both black and white crappie present. The lake is also home to channel catfish, blue, and flathead catfish.

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

Buchanan Resort Marina
Rentals: Pontoons and kayaks
731 642-7708

Paris Landing Pontoon Rental
Rentals: Pontoon boats
731 333-7259

Marinas

Buchanan Resort Marina
785 Buchanan Resort Rd
Springville, TN 38256
731 642-7708

Cane Creek Marina & RV Campground
530 Cane Creek Boat Dock Ln
Stewart, TN 37175
931 721-3483

Eagle Bay Marina
6565 Turkey Creek Rd
Waverly, TN 37185
931 296-4144

Sunset Bay Resort And Marina
60 Mansard Island Dr
Springville, TN 38256
731 642-5590

The Breakers Marina
526 Shamrock Rd
Buchanan, TN 38222
731 232-8399

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Boswell Landing Backcountry
Located mid lake, east side, off Boswell Landing Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and limited, gravel parking.

Buchanan Resort Marina Boat Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Buchanan Resort Road, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Danville Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located on the east side of the lake, north side of the entrance to Cane Creek, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Gray's Landing Boat Ramp
Located mid lake, east side, just north of the Donelson Parkway Bridge, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with gravel parking.

Paris Landing Boat Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, just north of the Donelson Parkway Bridge, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.

Piney Campground Boat Ramp
Located mid lake, east side, off Piney Campground Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Port Road Boat Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off Port Road, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and gravel parking.