If you love fishing and are looking to move closer to Kentucky Lake or Lake Barkley, our region is a paradise you’ll want to hook! For those thinking about buying real estate on or near Kentucky Lake or Lake Barkley, our area offers some of the best bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill fishing in the country across its 220,000 acres of water and 3,000-plus miles of scenic shoreline.
Read on to learn more about the amazing fishing opportunities these lakes provide if you’re thinking about moving to western Kentucky.
Fishing for Largemouth
Kentucky Lake is renowned for its trophy largemouth bass. These waters hold the state record for the biggest bass caught in Kentucky, an impressive 14.5 lbs.
Early spring before the spawn offers some of the hottest bass action of the year as these fish move shallow. You’ll find them actively biting lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits, and jigs.
Summer and fall produce great topwater action for bass as schools herd shad to the surface. Don’t have a boat? No problem. Excellent bank fishing access lets you target bass from shore. And if you live right on the lake, you can hook lunker bass right from your own dock.
Smallmouth bass have been on the upswing lately, with good numbers and sizes of fish being caught over the last couple of years.
How's the Crappie at Kentucky Lake?
Crappie fishing peaks in spring when these tasty panfish move shallow into creek arms, embayments and shorelines to spawn. Locals say the fishing is best when the dogwood trees start blooming in late April and early May.
Crappie can be caught from bank or boat by fishing live minnows or small jigs around submerged brush and docks. Many anglers come to the lakes just for the incredible spring crappie action, filling coolers with slabs for the dinner table.
The fall season also produces good stringers of crappie for those looking to stock the freezers.
Catfish & Other Species
In addition to bass and crappie, Lake Barkley holds the Kentucky state records for blue and channel catfish, making it a great lake to target whiskerfish. Winning weights have exceeded 100 lbs.!
And don’t forget about white bass, bluegill, yellows and sauger which also provide great biters throughout the year and good eating. This variety gives you lots of options to keep the action going year-round.
Guides & Resources
Moving to the lakes puts you close to experienced fishing guides who know the best spots for numbers and lunkers and can teach you techniques. You can view a list of fishing guides for hire on Explore Kentucky Lake. Fishing tournaments also run frequently so you can test your skills against other anglers.
Bait shops and marinas dot the lakes providing everything you need. Pick up local fishing reports to stay on top of what’s biting and where. With so much water to explore, visit Explore Kentucky Lake (no pun intended!) to help you make the most of our fishing paradise.
Endless Days of Fishing Fun
If you dream of relocating where you can walk outside and catch a limit of slab crappie or bass so big you’ll need help holding it, make Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley your next home.
The great fishing for multiple species lets you enjoy the water year-round. Whether you prefer casting from your own shoreline or cruising the main lake by boat, this freshwater paradise serves up endless days of fishing fun. Get hooked on the Kentucky Lake region for your next move!
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