16 public waters in the Western Kentucky region — 5 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.
Kentucky Lake — 160,000 acres in all (55,000 in Kentucky), the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi. A national-class Crappie and largemouth fishery, plus smallmouth and Kentucky Bass on the ledges, Sauger and White Bass in the current, Bluegill and shellcracker on the flats, and trophy blue and Flathead Catfish. Connected to Lake Barkley by the Barkley Canal.
Lake Barkley — the Cumberland River's answer to Kentucky Lake, 57,900 acres joined to it at Land Between the Lakes. Slightly more stained and fertile: outstanding Crappie, Largemouth Bass in the bays and cypress, Sauger below the dam, Bluegill, and blue and Flathead Catfish.
In Lyon and Trigg Counties, Kentucky, Honker Lake is a 212-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.
Hematite Lake (84 acres) sits in Trigg and Lyon Counties, 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.
Lyon County, Kentucky — Barkley Canal is a 56-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.
In Marshall, Livingston, Calloway and 3 more counties in Kentucky, Tennessee River is a 85 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.
Crittenden, Lyon, Caldwell and 1 more county in Kentucky — Livingston 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.
Eddy Creek (20 km) flows through Lyon and Caldwell 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 Lyon County, Kentucky, Crab 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 Crittenden and Lyon Counties, Kentucky, Dry Fork 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.
McNabb Creek runs 10 km through Lyon and Trigg 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.
Dry Fork Creek runs 10 km through Lyon, Caldwell and Trigg 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 Trigg and Lyon Counties, Kentucky, Long Creek is a 8 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.
Lyon County, Kentucky — Hammond 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.
In Lyon and Caldwell Counties, Kentucky, Brewster 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.
Cravens Creek runs 7 km through Lyon 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, Lyon County holds 15 species on PiscaMaps, including Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Spotted Bass, White Bass, Longear Sunfish and Black Crappie.
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.