Fishing in Cumberland County, Kentucky
County seat: Burkesville. Census 2020 residents: 5,888.
- 1lake pages
- 6launch sites
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Cumberland County water in figures
Burkesville holds the courthouse for Cumberland County, a county of 5,888 at the last census. By Gazetteer figures the county spans 305 square miles of land and 5.8 of water. This site covers 1 lake inside the county; Dale Hollow Lake has the most water. The county reaches release water at Lake Cumberland Tailwater.
KDFWR's access layer pins 6 launch sites and 3 pier or bank sites inside the county.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 10, 2026. KDFWR Fishing Access Sites in Kentucky layer (ArcGIS service), read November 10, 2026.
Cumberland County laid out by launch and lake
KDFWR Fishing Access Sites in Kentucky layer (ArcGIS service), read November 10, 2026. Lake points are the mean of each water’s KDFWR access sites.
Reservoirs worth fishing in Cumberland County
| Lake | Size | KDFWR ramps | Kind | Fish in the KDFWR table |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dale Hollow Lake | 6,614 acres in Kentucky | 5 | Corps reservoir | black crappie, white crappie, smallmouth bass |
From Burkesville, these lakes outside Cumberland County are the closest with full pages.
| Lake | From Burkesville | Size | KDFWR ramps | Kind | Fish in the KDFWR table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Lake | 20 miles northwest | 4.1 acres | 1 | lake | none in the table |
| Mill Creek Lake (Monroe Co.) | 20 miles southwest | 95 acres | 2 | lake | rainbow trout |
| Metcalfe County Lake | 22 miles northwest | 21 acres | 1 | lake | rainbow trout |
| Lake Cumberland | 28 miles east | 47,688 acres | 63 | Corps reservoir | black crappie, white crappie, largemouth bass |
| Green River Lake | 32 miles north | 8,181 acres | 13 | Corps reservoir | black crappie, white crappie, largemouth bass |
| Barren River Lake | 39 miles west | 9,674 acres | 14 | Corps reservoir | white crappie, black crappie, hybrid striped bass |
Acreage as KDFWR notes it on the this water waterbody page (KDFWR), read November 10, 2026. Waters with no KDFWR acre note print their mapped outline instead. KDFWR fishing waterbody list (app.fw.ky.gov), read November 10, 2026.
For the crappie herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Tallying regulated fish on lakes around Cumberland County
The tally covers KDFWR tables on lakes inside 40 miles of Burkesville, with black crappie in front.
KDFWR Special Fishing Regulations tables and guide stocking tables, counted per lake page within 40 miles; a regulation list, not a catch survey. KDFWR fishing waterbody list (app.fw.ky.gov), read November 10, 2026.
Streams cutting across Cumberland County
Current streamflow in Cumberland County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland River At Burkesville, Ky | 5,040 cfs, 28.64 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:30 pm |
| Crocus Creek Near Amandaville, Ky | 15 cfs, 3.60 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:45 pm |
| Marrowbone Ck At Mud Camp Rd At Waterview, Ky | 5.91 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 8:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
KDFWR fishing waterbody list (app.fw.ky.gov), read November 10, 2026. USGS Water Data for the Nation, live through the site, retrieved on page view.
Water running out of the dams in Cumberland County
- Lake Cumberland Tailwaterbelow Lake Cumberland
KDFWR fishing waterbody list (app.fw.ky.gov), read November 10, 2026.
Launch sites within Cumberland County
- Bakerton (Fish Tales) Ramp on Lake Cumberland TailwaterLake Cumberland Tailwater, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Burkesville Ramp on Lake Cumberland TailwaterLake Cumberland Tailwater, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Cloyds Landing on Lake Cumberland TailwaterLake Cumberland Tailwater, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Hendricks Creek Marina on Dale Hollow LakeDale Hollow Lake, boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, courtesy dock, marina
- Hwy 61 bridge access on Lake Cumberland TailwaterLake Cumberland Tailwater, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Sulphur Creek Marina on Dale Hollow LakeDale Hollow Lake, boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, courtesy dock, marina
Shore spots within Cumberland County
- Crocus Creek Fishing Access on Lake Cumberland TailwaterLake Cumberland Tailwater, bank access
- Highway 61 bank access on Lake Cumberland TailwaterLake Cumberland Tailwater, bank access
- Mud Camp Creek WMA Bank Access on Lake Cumberland TailwaterLake Cumberland Tailwater, bank access
KDFWR Fishing Access Sites in Kentucky layer (ArcGIS service), read November 10, 2026. KDFWR publishes fees as yes or no and lanes as single or multiple.
USACE gauge snapshots from Cumberland County
Dale Hollow Lake
USACE Nashville District reading at Dale Hollow Dam for Dale Hollow Lake, November 10, 2026 18:00 UTC.
USACE Nashville District via USACE Access to Water (location page), latest values at retrieval November 10, 2026. Provisional.
Keeper rules on Cumberland County lakes and streams
The statewide rows below cover every Cumberland County lake and stream without its own entry in the guide. A year on Kentucky water costs $24.31 with residency and $58.14 without it, per the 2026 guide.
| Species | Daily | Possession | Minimum size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 6* | 12* | 12" |
| Smallmouth Bass | 6* | 12* | 12" |
| Kentucky (Spotted) Bass | 6* | 12* | none |
| Coosa Bass | 6* | 12* | none |
| Rock Bass | 15 | 30 | none |
| Redear Sunfish | 20 | 40 | none |
| Walleye, Sauger, and their Hybrids | 6* | 12* | 14" |
| Muskellunge | 1 | 2 | 30" |
| Chain Pickerel | 5 | 10 | none |
| White & Hybrid Striped Bass | 15** | 30** | none** |
| Striped Bass | 5 | 10 | 15" |
| Yellow Bass | none | none | none |
Special limits in Cumberland County
- Dale Hollow LakeBlack Crappie: Must be 10 inches or over – Limit 15 Crappie, Black or White, per angler
- Lake Cumberland TailwaterBrown Trout: Must be 20 inches or over – Limit 1 per angler
Kentucky special-regulation waters
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026. License prices as printed in the 2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide, p. 2 (2026 CPI-adjusted fees; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
Kentucky record fish traced to Cumberland County water
| Species | Weight as listed | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth Bass | 11.94 lbs | Dale Hollow Lake | 07/09/1955 |
| Yellow Bass | 1.40 lbs | Lake Cumberland Tailwater | 03/19/2009 |
| Freshwater Drum | 42.81 lbs | Dale Hollow Lake | 04/26/2021 |
Kentucky state record fish as listed by KDFWR (record list), read November 10, 2026.
Picking up bait inside Cumberland County
Bait and tackle listings in Cumberland County
- Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Burkesville
- Strange Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Burkesville
- Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park Marinamarina, Burkesville
South Central Kentucky tackle shops
Guides with a Cumberland County address
- Rainbow Guide Servicefishing guide, Burkesville, (270) 433-7674
Yellow Pages and Kentucky tourism listings (city of business), read November 10, 2026.
Minutes past Cumberland County by road
Towns inside Cumberland County with their own pages
- Burkesville2020 count 1,388
The ring of counties around Cumberland County
- Clinton County14 miles east
- Monroe County19 miles west
- Metcalfe County20 miles northwest
- Adair County23 miles north
Piscifun rods, reels and pliers to sort before heading to Cumberland County
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Lakes, tailwaters and floatable creeks around Cumberland County, pictured
Photo: LouisvilleUSACE, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Tim Creque, CC BY 2.0
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 4.0
Photo: LouisvilleUSACE, CC BY 2.0
Questions locals field about Cumberland County
Does KDFWR list public ramps for Cumberland County?
KDFWR maps 6 launch sites inside the county.
Which lake in Cumberland County carries the biggest KDFWR acre note?
Dale Hollow Lake, with 6,614 acres in Kentucky.
Which fish do KDFWR tables name near Cumberland County?
KDFWR tables on lakes within 40 miles name black crappie most often, then largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and spotted bass.
Which shops in Cumberland County carry tackle?
Bait Shop is one of 3 listed here.
Where does Cumberland County run its county government?
Burkesville.
How much is a fishing license for a trip to Cumberland County?
KDFWR's 2026 fee list shows $24.31 for residents and $58.14 for nonresidents buying an annual license.
Which county pages sit near Cumberland County?
Look at Clinton County, Monroe County and Metcalfe County.
How many crappie can I keep in Cumberland County under Kentucky rules?
Statewide daily limit 20*, possession 40*, minimum size none. Special-regulation waters can differ.
Do any Cumberland County waters appear in the guide's special-regulation list?
2 waters with a page here carry their own rules, beginning with Dale Hollow Lake.
Is Cumberland County water on the KDFWR record list?
Smallmouth Bass, 11.94 lbs, from Dale Hollow Lake (07/09/1955).
Does Cumberland County have a tailwater page?
Lake Cumberland Tailwater, each with its own page and rules.
Work the KDFWR lakes and streams of Cumberland County
Check a water's special regulation before keeping fish.