Now until tomorrow 2 pmLargemouth bass
The bite peaks at 58.
Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.
Right now · best window
Largemouth bass range 55–85°
From the southeast
Sunrise 7:09 am
No rain expected
NWS hourly forecast
Measured, last 3 hours
Full
Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Kentucky regulations for these waters.
No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.
Holds 3–25 ft down.
Open. Keep fish within the limits. Kentucky statewide: 12" minimum, 6 black bass a day combined. Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley and Lake Cumberland are 15".
Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Kentucky
Season here: Mar–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass
No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.
Holds 3–30 ft down.
Open. Keep fish within the limits. Kentucky statewide: 12" minimum, 6 black bass a day combined. Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley are 15"; Lake Cumberland is 18".
Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Kentucky
Season here: Mar–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass
No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.
Holds 3–20 ft down.
Open. Keep fish within the limits. Kentucky statewide: 20 crappie a day, no minimum. Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley and Lake Cumberland are 10".
Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Kentucky
Season here: Mar–May, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on crappie
No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.
Holds 5–30 ft down.
Open. Keep fish within the limits. Kentucky: no limit on channel catfish under 28"; only 1 a day 28" or longer.
Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Kentucky
Season here: Mar–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish
No water reading here right now. Blue catfish bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.
Holds 10–60 ft down.
Open. Keep fish within the limits. Kentucky: no limit on blue catfish under 35"; only 1 blue catfish a day 35" or longer. Barren River Lake is 15 blue and channel catfish a day, only 1 over 25".
Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Kentucky
Season here: Year-round, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on blue catfish
No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.
Holds 1–15 ft down.
Open. Keep fish within the limits. Kentucky: fish not on the statewide size and creel list, carp included, are rough fish. Rough fish have no size or creel limits unless a special regulation applies.
Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Kentucky
Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.
Season here: Apr–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp
Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works
We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Kentucky Fish & Wildlife has the state’s fishing pages.
Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories
Kentucky Lake's Cumberland River twin, joined by a canal across Land Between the Lakes — largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, and outstanding catfish.
Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Lake Barkley you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website
Lake Barkley is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.
It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Lake Barkley against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.
Lake Barkley has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.
state agency regulations apply at Lake Barkley. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.
No. Lake Barkley is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.
Press / anywhere to search. Towns list the closest spots.
