14 public waters in the Eastern Kentucky region — 2 lakes/reservoirs and 12 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.
Letcher County, Kentucky — Fishpond Lake is a 29-acre lake, managed by Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources: An Eastern Kentucky mountain reservoir (Fishtrap, Dewey, Paintsville, Grayson, Yatesville, Buckhorn, Carr Creek, Martins Fork) — largemouth and Spotted Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish and Walleye, with Muskellunge in several and stocked Rainbow Trout in the cold headwaters of Paintsville and Grayson. Steep, forested, narrow lakes.
Elkhorn Lake, a 14-acre lake in Letcher 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.
North Fork Kentucky River (253 km) flows through Breathitt, Perry, Letcher and 2 more counties in Kentucky, 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.
Harlan and Letcher Counties, Kentucky — Poor Fork Cumberland River is a 67 km stream, managed by Commonwealth of Kentucky (public / navigable water): The Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam — one of the South's premier Trout tailwaters, running cold for 75 miles to Tennessee. Trophy Brown Trout (a 21 lb state record), stocked and holdover rainbows, plus Walleye, Striped Bass pushed down from the lake, and smallmouth. Sudden generation-driven flows.
Elkhorn Creek (34 km) flows through Pike and Letcher 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.
Line Fork (35 km) flows through Letcher 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.
Rockhouse Creek runs 6 km through Letcher and Pike 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.
Smoot Creek runs 10 km through Letcher 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.
Harlan and Letcher Counties, Kentucky — Big Laurel Creek is a 9 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.
Bull Creek runs 8 km through Letcher and Perry 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 Pike and Letcher Counties, Kentucky, Beefhide Creek is a 7 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.
Letcher County, Kentucky — Wright Fork is a 9 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 Letcher County, Kentucky, Kings Creek is a 9 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.
Cowan Creek runs 9 km through Letcher 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, Letcher County holds 19 species on PiscaMaps, including Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, White Bass, Flathead Catfish, Longear Sunfish 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.