11 public waters in the Bluegrass region — 2 lakes/reservoirs and 9 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.
Upper Sportsman's Lake (6 acres) sits in Franklin County, Kentucky, 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.
Lower Sportsman's Lake, a 3-acre lake in Franklin County, Kentucky, 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.
In Madison, Estill, Jessamine and 3 more counties in Kentucky, Kentucky River is a 414 km river or creek, managed by Commonwealth of Kentucky (public / navigable water). The Kentucky River — 255 miles from the forks at Beattyville to the Ohio at Carrollton, through a series of old lock-and-dam pools. Largemouth and Spotted Bass, White Bass, a good Sauger fishery below the dams, Crappie and Bluegill in the pools, and trophy flathead and Blue Catfish.
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.
Franklin, Anderson and Shelby Counties, Kentucky — Benson Creek is a 23 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.
Elkhorn Creek runs 30 km through Franklin County, 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 Franklin and Anderson Counties, Kentucky, South Benson Creek is a 19 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.
Cedar Creek runs 18 km through Owen, Franklin and Henry 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.
Glenns Creek runs 15 km through Woodford and Franklin 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.
Long Branch (8 km) flows through Franklin County, 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, Franklin County holds 16 species on PiscaMaps, including Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass, Longear Sunfish, White Bass, Flathead Catfish and Smallmouth Bass.
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.