19 public waters in the Bluegrass region — 8 lakes/reservoirs and 11 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on a Kentucky licence.
See every public fishing venue in Kentucky on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
Lexington Reservoir Number 4 is a 191-acre Fayette County water within Lexington's city limits, offering convenient access to largemouth bass, channel catfish, and bluegill. Its urban Bluegrass location makes it a practical option for local anglers seeking panfish and catfish without leaving the region.
Lake Ellerslie, a 186-acre lake in Fayette County, Kentucky, managed by Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources: A small KDFWR-managed lake or state-park lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Crappie and Channel Catfish, typically with a boat ramp, a fishing pier and outboard restrictions. Fished on the standard Kentucky licence.
Lake Hickman, a 75-acre Fayette County impoundment in the Bluegrass region, specializes in largemouth bass and channel catfish, with rainbow trout stocked seasonally and bluegill available for panfish enthusiasts. Its compact footprint and mixed coolwater/warmwater stocking make it an accessible option near Lexington.
Lake Fontaine (64 acres) sits in Fayette County, Kentucky, managed by Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources. Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Fayette County, Kentucky, Lexington Reservoir No. 4 is a 61-acre lake, managed by Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources. Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Fayette County, Kentucky — Jacobson Park Lake is a 46-acre lake, managed by Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources: A Kentucky Trout-stocked lake — rainbow (and sometimes brown) Trout stocked in the cool months, with resident Largemouth Bass, Bluegill and Channel Catfish the rest of the year. A Trout permit is required to fish for or keep Trout.
Fayette County, Kentucky — Reservoir Number 1 is a 19-acre lake, managed by Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources: Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Fayette County, Kentucky — Kentucky Horse Park Lake is a 6-acre lake, managed by Public agency (city / county / state / federal): A small KDFWR-managed lake or state-park lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Crappie and Channel Catfish, typically with a boat ramp, a fishing pier and outboard restrictions. Fished on the standard Kentucky licence.
Scott, Fayette and Franklin Counties, Kentucky — North Elkhorn Creek is a 112 km stream, managed by Commonwealth of Kentucky (public / navigable water): A Kentucky smallmouth stream (Rockcastle River, Elkhorn Creek, Dix River, Buck Creek, Fishing Creek) — smallmouth and spotted (Kentucky) bass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), longear and Bluegill Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge in a few. Classic wade-and-canoe bronzeback water in the knobs and the Cumberland Plateau.
South Elkhorn Creek runs 51 km through Woodford, Scott, Fayette and 1 more county in Kentucky, managed by Commonwealth of Kentucky (public / navigable water): A Kentucky smallmouth stream (Rockcastle River, Elkhorn Creek, Dix River, Buck Creek, Fishing Creek) — smallmouth and spotted (Kentucky) bass, Rock Bass ('redeye'), longear and Bluegill Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Muskellunge in a few. Classic wade-and-canoe bronzeback water in the knobs and the Cumberland Plateau.
In Fayette, Clark and Madison Counties, Kentucky, Boone Creek is a 21 km river or creek, managed by Commonwealth of Kentucky (public / navigable water). A warmwater Kentucky river or large creek — largemouth and Spotted Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, White Bass, and Rock Bass in the rockier reaches. Access at KDFWR sites, bridges and county landings.
Fayette and Scott Counties, Kentucky — Cane Run is a 7 km stream, managed by Commonwealth of Kentucky (public / navigable water): A warmwater Kentucky river or large creek — largemouth and Spotted Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, White Bass, and Rock Bass in the rockier reaches. Access at KDFWR sites, bridges and county landings.
In Madison and Fayette Counties, Kentucky, Tate Creek is a 18 km river or creek, managed by Commonwealth of Kentucky (public / navigable water). A warmwater Kentucky river or large creek — largemouth and Spotted Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, White Bass, and Rock Bass in the rockier reaches. Access at KDFWR sites, bridges and county landings.
Town Branch runs 12 km through Fayette, Woodford and Scott Counties, Kentucky, managed by Commonwealth of Kentucky (public / navigable water): A warmwater Kentucky river or large creek — largemouth and Spotted Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, White Bass, and Rock Bass in the rockier reaches. Access at KDFWR sites, bridges and county landings.
In Fayette and Jessamine Counties, Kentucky, East Hickman Creek is a 12 km river or creek, managed by Commonwealth of Kentucky (public / navigable water). A warmwater Kentucky river or large creek — largemouth and Spotted Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, White Bass, and Rock Bass in the rockier reaches. Access at KDFWR sites, bridges and county landings.
In Fayette and Jessamine Counties, Kentucky, West Hickman Creek is a 11 km river or creek, managed by Commonwealth of Kentucky (public / navigable water). A warmwater Kentucky river or large creek — largemouth and Spotted Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, White Bass, and Rock Bass in the rockier reaches. Access at KDFWR sites, bridges and county landings.
Fayette, Woodford and Jessamine Counties, Kentucky — Shannon Run is a 8 km stream, managed by Commonwealth of Kentucky (public / navigable water): A warmwater Kentucky river or large creek — largemouth and Spotted Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, White Bass, and Rock Bass in the rockier reaches. Access at KDFWR sites, bridges and county landings.
Madison and Fayette Counties, Kentucky — Calloway Creek is a 7 km stream, managed by Commonwealth of Kentucky (public / navigable water): A warmwater Kentucky river or large creek — largemouth and Spotted Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, White Bass, and Rock Bass in the rockier reaches. Access at KDFWR sites, bridges and county landings.
Hutchison Creek runs 8 km through Bourbon and Fayette Counties, Kentucky, managed by Commonwealth of Kentucky (public / navigable water): A warmwater Kentucky river or large creek — largemouth and Spotted Bass, channel and Flathead Catfish, Bluegill and Longear Sunfish, White Bass, and Rock Bass in the rockier reaches. Access at KDFWR sites, bridges and county landings.
Across its mapped waters, Fayette County holds 19 species on PiscaMaps, including Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Flathead Catfish, Spotted Bass, Longear Sunfish, White Bass and Redear Sunfish.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the Kentucky map Join PiscaMapsOne Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources fishing licence covers every public water in the state — resident annual about $23, non-resident annual about $60, with 1-day, 7-day and 15-day short-term options. A ~$10 trout permit (resident and non-resident) is required to fish for or keep trout anywhere, including the Cumberland River tailwater below Wolf Creek Dam. Kentucky residents born before 1 January 1961 may fish without a licence; residents 65+ and disabled residents can buy a discounted combination licence. Buy at fw.ky.gov.