Fishing in Franklin County, Kentucky
County seat: Frankfort. Census 2020 residents: 51,541.
- 2lake pages
- 11launch sites
- 2river pages
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Fishing Franklin County in brief
With its seat at Frankfort, Franklin County had 51,541 residents when the 2020 Census was taken. The 2023 Gazetteer lists 208 square miles of land and 4.1 of water. Size puts Kleber WMA Pond first among the county's 2 lakes with pages.
Within the county, KDFWR lists 11 launch sites and 3 pier or bank sites. Moving water with a page here includes Kentucky River (Lower) and Elkhorn Creek. Kayakers get Elkhorn Creek, one of KDFWR's marked trails. KDFWR's Fishing in Neighborhoods program stocks 1 lake here, including Sportsman's Lakes.
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.
Plotting Franklin County water: ramps, lakes, bank sites
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.
Choosing among the lakes of Franklin County
| Lake | Size | KDFWR ramps | Kind | Fish in the KDFWR table |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kleber WMA Pond | 2.4 acres | 0 | WMA pond group | none in the table |
| Sportsman's Lakes | no KDFWR figure | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
With few paged lakes in Franklin County, here are the nearest from Frankfort.
| Lake | From Frankfort | Size | KDFWR ramps | Kind | Fish in the KDFWR table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson County Community Park | 11 miles south | 1 acres | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
| Guist Creek Lake | 15 miles west | 328 acres | 1 | lake | hybrid striped bass, white bass, yellow bass |
| Scott County Park | 16 miles east | 2.4 acres | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
| Lusby Lake | 16 miles east | 2.3 acres | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
| Beaver Lake | 18 miles southwest | 146 acres | 1 | lake | black crappie, redear sunfish, white crappie |
| Kentucky Horse Park | 19 miles east | about 5.6 acres of mapped outline | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
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.
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Out to 40 miles from Frankfort, largemouth bass shows up in more KDFWR lake tables than any other fish.
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.
Little lakes and ponds of Franklin County, listed
This list holds 7 smaller named waters of Franklin County, biggest outline first.
| Water | Size | Listed by |
|---|---|---|
| Cedarmore Lake | about 58 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Trailwood Lake | about 56 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Silver Lake | about 7.7 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Upper Sportsman's Lake | about 6.2 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Glass Pond | about 4.1 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Hickory Hill Lake | about 2.9 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Lower Sportsman's Lake | about 2.7 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
Outline area from the KDFWR Named Lakes in Kentucky layer (ArcGIS service; GIS polygon area, not a KDFWR surface-acre figure), read November 10, 2026. KDFWR fishing waterbody list (app.fw.ky.gov), read November 10, 2026.
Creeks winding through Franklin County
- Kentucky River (Lower)27 KDFWR access sites, 9 USGS gauges
- Elkhorn CreekBlue Water Trail, special limits, 4 KDFWR access sites, 1 USGS gauge
River stages across Franklin County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky River At Lock 4 At Frankfort, Ky | 1,640 cfs, 7.47 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:30 pm |
| Elkhorn Creek Near Frankfort, Ky | 144 cfs, 2.50 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:15 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.
Kayak routes through Franklin County
- Elkhorn Creek19.3 miles as KDFWR lists them
KDFWR fishing waterbody list (app.fw.ky.gov), read November 10, 2026. KDFWR Blue Water Trails layer (ArcGIS service; miles as KDFWR lists them), read November 10, 2026.
City and park lakes stocked in Franklin County
| Lake as printed | County | Trout by month | Catfish by month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Sportsman's Lake | Franklin | Feb 500, Mar 500, Oct 500 | Mar 600, Apr 600, May 600, Jun 600 |
| Upper Sportsman's Lake | Franklin | Feb 1,500, Mar 1,500, Oct 1,500 | Mar 1,200, Apr 1,200, May 1,200, Jun 1,200 |
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026, p. 6; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
Public ramps in Franklin County
- American Whitewater/Elkhorn Acres AccessElkhorn Creek, carry-down launch
- Benson Creek Boat Ramp on Kentucky River (Lower)Kentucky River (Lower), boat ramp, paved, single lane, courtesy dock
- Elkhorn Campground AccessElkhorn Creek, carry-down launch
- Frankfort Boat Dock Ramp on Kentucky River (Lower)Kentucky River (Lower), boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, marina
- Kentucky River Campgrounds Boat RampKentucky River (Lower), boat ramp, unpaved, single lane
- Lee's Dock Ramp on Kentucky River (Lower)Kentucky River (Lower), boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Pfeiffer Fish Hatchery Access on Elkhorn CreekElkhorn Creek, carry-down launch
- Steele Branch Ramp on Kentucky River (Lower)Kentucky River (Lower), boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Still Waters Boat Ramp on Kentucky River (Lower)Kentucky River (Lower), boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Switzer Covered Bridge Carry-Down Launch on North Fork Elkhorn CreekNorth Fork Elkhorn Creek, carry-down launch
- T. N. Sullivan WMA Carry-Down Launch on Elkhorn CreekElkhorn Creek, carry-down launch
Bank spots spread over Franklin County
- Kleber WMA Bank AccessKleber WMA Pond, bank access
- Lower Sportsman's Lake Bank AccessSportsman's Lakes, bank access
- Upper Sportman's Lake Fishing Pier on Sportsman's LakesSportsman's Lakes, fishing pier
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.
Guide creel rows applied to Franklin County
Most of Franklin County fishes under the guide's statewide table, shown here. KDFWR's 2026 fee list shows $24.31 for residents and $58.14 for nonresidents buying an annual license.
| 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 |
Water-specific rules across Franklin County
- Elkhorn CreekLargemouth Bass: 12-15 inch protective slot limit. All fish between 12 and 15 inches must be released. Limit 6 black bass per angler.
- Sportsman's LakesLargemouth Bass: Must be 15 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.
KDFWR record entries close to Franklin County
| Species | Weight as listed | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bighead Carp | 65.06 lbs | Kentucky River (Lower) | 07/18/2020 |
| Goldeye | 2.64 lbs | Kentucky River (Lower) | 04/21/2001 |
Kentucky state record fish as listed by KDFWR (record list), read November 10, 2026.
Tackle shops and guide services of Franklin County
Shops stocking lures in Franklin County
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 7800 John Davis Drbait and tackle shop, Frankfort
- Slippery Joe's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Frankfort
- Benson Valley Boat Detailmarina, Frankfort
- Frankfort Boat Club Barmarina, Frankfort
Yellow Pages and Kentucky tourism listings (city of business), read November 10, 2026.
Clustered near Franklin County
Home bases for fishing Franklin County
- Frankfort2020 count 28,602
Kentucky counties that touch Franklin County on the map
- Woodford County15 miles southeast
- Scott County16 miles east
- Anderson County17 miles south
- Owen County18 miles north
Piscifun picks that suit a trip to Franklin County
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Sorting out the Franklin County fish by eye
Photo: Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel, CC BY 2.0
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Under the same moon, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, Public domain
What Kentuckians ask about water in Franklin County
Can I launch a kayak or boat in Franklin County?
KDFWR lists 11 launch sites, named above with directions.
Which still water leads Franklin County on size?
It is Kleber WMA Pond at 2.4 acres.
Which fish lead the KDFWR lists near Franklin County?
KDFWR tables on lakes within 40 miles name largemouth bass most often, then channel catfish, redear sunfish and blue catfish.
Is a Kentucky tackle shop listed in Franklin County?
4 in all, including Dick's Sporting Goods, 7800 John Davis Dr.
Which Kentucky town is the county seat of Franklin County?
The seat is Frankfort.
What will fishing in Franklin County cost in license fees?
The 2026 guide prices the resident annual fishing license at $24.31 and the nonresident annual at $58.14.
Which Kentucky counties lie next to Franklin County?
By center point: Woodford County, Scott County and Anderson County.
Is there a crappie size limit in Franklin County?
Statewide daily limit 20*, possession 40*, minimum size none. Special-regulation waters can differ.
Where do the limits change in Franklin County?
2 waters with a page here carry their own rules, beginning with Elkhorn Creek.
Are there neighborhood fishing lakes in Franklin County?
Sportsman's Lakes, on the FINs stocking table.
Has Franklin County produced a KDFWR state record?
Bighead Carp, 65.06 lbs, from Kentucky River (07/18/2020).
Pick a KDFWR lake or creek in Franklin County
Each launch page has a directions link and KDFWR site notes.