21 public waters in the Bluegrass region — 3 lakes/reservoirs and 18 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.
In Jackson and Madison Counties, Kentucky, Owsley Fork Reservoir is a 150-acre lake, 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.
Beulah Lake, a 71-acre lake in Jackson 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.
McKee City Reservoir, a 6-acre lake in Jackson 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.
Rockcastle River (88 km) flows through Laurel, Rockcastle, Pulaski 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.
Sturgeon Creek (22 km) flows through Jackson, Lee and Owsley 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 Laurel, Jackson and Clay Counties, Kentucky, South Fork Rockcastle River is a 32 km river or creek, 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.
Jackson and Rockcastle Counties, Kentucky — South Fork Station Camp Creek is a 34 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.
Sexton Creek runs 24 km through Clay, Owsley and Jackson 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 Estill and Jackson Counties, Kentucky, Station Camp Creek is a 36 km river or creek, managed by Commonwealth of Kentucky (public / navigable water). A Kentucky stocked or wild Trout stream — rainbow and Brown Trout stocked on a rotation October to spring in the Daniel Boone National Forest and elsewhere, with a handful of streams (Bad Branch, Rock Creek, Dog Slaughter) holding wild or catch-and-release fish. A Trout permit is required.
Horse Lick Creek runs 10 km through Jackson, Rockcastle and Laurel 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.
Jackson County, Kentucky — War Fork is a 17 km stream, managed by Commonwealth of Kentucky (public / navigable water): A Kentucky stocked or wild Trout stream — rainbow and Brown Trout stocked on a rotation October to spring in the Daniel Boone National Forest and elsewhere, with a handful of streams (Bad Branch, Rock Creek, Dog Slaughter) holding wild or catch-and-release fish. A Trout permit is required.
In Jackson County, Kentucky, Pond Creek is a 16 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.
Clover Bottom Creek runs 12 km through Jackson 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.
Jackson and Laurel Counties, Kentucky — Moores Creek is a 11 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.
Rock Lick Creek runs 11 km through Jackson 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.
Cavanaugh Creek (11 km) flows through Jackson 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.
Little Sexton Creek (10 km) flows through Clay and Jackson 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.
Middle Fork Rockcastle River (13 km) flows through Jackson and Laurel Counties, 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.
Left Fork Island Creek runs 10 km through Owsley and Jackson 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.
Middle Fork Station Camp Creek (9 km) flows through Estill and Jackson 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.
Ross Creek runs 0 km through Lee, Estill and Jackson 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, Jackson County holds 15 species on PiscaMaps, including Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Longear Sunfish, Flathead Catfish, White Bass and Rainbow Trout.
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.