11 public waters in the Bluegrass region — 1 lakes/reservoirs and 10 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.
Herrington Lake — Kentucky's deepest lake (up to 249 ft), a narrow, clear Dix River impoundment. White Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass are the signature fishery, with Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Walleye and Sauger, and trophy Catfish. Nearly 90 years old, with steep wooded banks and old road beds.
Salt River (236 km) flows through Bullitt, Spencer, Mercer and 3 more counties 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.
Chaplin River (136 km) flows through Washington, Mercer, Nelson and 1 more county in 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 Garrard, Lincoln, Boyle and 2 more counties in Kentucky, Dix River is a 128 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.
Thompson Creek (16 km) flows through Mercer and Washington 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.
Mocks Branch runs 16 km through Boyle, Mercer and Garrard 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 Mercer and Washington Counties, Kentucky, Deep 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.
Dry Fork (10 km) flows through Mercer and Boyle 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.
Shaker Creek runs 9 km through Mercer and Woodford 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 Mercer County, Kentucky, Shawnee Run 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.
Anderson and Mercer Counties, Kentucky — Cheese Lick River 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.
Across its mapped waters, Mercer County holds 19 species on PiscaMaps, including Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Flathead Catfish, Spotted Bass, Longear Sunfish and Hybrid Striped 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.