Fishing in Grayson County, Kentucky
County seat: Leitchfield. Census 2020 residents: 26,420.
- 3lake pages
- 13launch sites
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Fishing Grayson County in brief
With its seat at Leitchfield, Grayson County had 26,420 residents when the 2020 Census was taken. The 2023 Gazetteer lists 500 square miles of land and 11.5 of water. Size puts Nolin River Lake first among the county's 3 lakes with pages.
Within the county, KDFWR lists 13 launch sites and 2 pier or bank sites. KDFWR's Fishing in Neighborhoods program stocks 1 lake here, including James D. Beville Park.
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 Grayson 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 Grayson County
| Lake | Size | KDFWR ramps | Kind | Fish in the KDFWR table |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nolin River Lake | 6,017 acres | 8 | Corps reservoir | black crappie, white crappie, white bass |
| Rough River Lake | 4,848 acres | 18 | Corps reservoir | white crappie, black crappie, hybrid striped bass |
| James D. Beville Park | 3.8 acres | 0 | FINs lake | channel catfish, largemouth bass, rainbow trout |
With few paged lakes in Grayson County, here are the nearest from Leitchfield.
| Lake | From Leitchfield | Size | KDFWR ramps | Kind | Fish in the KDFWR table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanty Hollow Lake | 24 miles south | 114 acres | 1 | lake | redear sunfish, largemouth bass |
| Washburn Lake | 31 miles west | 25 acres | 1 | lake | none in the table |
| Salem Lake | 32 miles east | 107 acres | 1 | lake | none in the table |
| Carlson Lake | 32 miles northeast | 14 acres | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish |
| McDougal Lake | 33 miles east | 76 acres | 1 | lake | none in the table |
| Jesse W. Thornton Lake | 40 miles south | 29 acres | 1 | 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 Leitchfield, 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 Grayson County, listed
This list holds 8 smaller named waters of Grayson County, biggest outline first.
| Water | Size | Listed by |
|---|---|---|
| Caneyville Reservoir | about 69 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Big Reedy #9 Lake | about 44 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Lake Number 1 | about 40 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Nichols Lake | about 26 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Lake Number 13 | about 22 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Lake Number 6 | about 20 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Pine Knob Lake | about 17 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Allens Lake | about 4.8 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 Grayson County
River stages across Grayson County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Rough River Near Falls Of Rough At Dam, Ky | 37.04 ft gage height | Nov 12 6:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 6:33 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.
City and park lakes stocked in Grayson County
| Lake as printed | County | Trout by month | Catfish by month |
|---|---|---|---|
| James D. Beville Park Lake | Grayson | Feb 750, Mar 750, Oct 750 | Apr 600, Jun 600 |
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 Grayson County
- Cascade Acres Ramp on Rough River LakeRough River Lake, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Cave Creek Ramp on Rough River LakeRough River Lake, boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, courtesy dock
- Conoloway Ramp on Nolin River LakeNolin River Lake, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Eveleigh Ramp on Rough River LakeRough River Lake, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Holiday Rough Ramp on Rough River LakeRough River Lake, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Iberia Boat Ramp on Nolin River LakeNolin River Lake, boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes
- Indian Valley Ramp on Rough River LakeRough River Lake, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- L.C. Likens Ramp on Rough River LakeRough River Lake, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Mangan's Foxcliff Ramp on Rough River LakeRough River Lake, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Peter Cave Ramp on Rough River LakeRough River Lake, boat ramp, paved, single lane, marina
- Pine Ridge 2 Ramp on Rough River LakeRough River Lake, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- State Park Marina on Rough River LakeRough River Lake, boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, courtesy dock, marina
- Wax Ramp on Nolin River LakeNolin River Lake, boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, marina
Bank spots spread over Grayson County
- James D. Beville Park LakeJames D. Beville Park, bank access
- RRL Tailwater Bank Access on Rough River LakeRough River Lake, 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.
Dam figures for lakes in Grayson County
Rough River Lake
USACE Louisville District reading at Rough River Lake for Rough River Lake, November 10, 2026 12:00 UTC.
USACE Louisville District via USACE Access to Water (location page), latest values at retrieval November 10, 2026. Provisional.
Nolin River Lake
USACE Louisville District reading at Nolin Lake for Nolin River Lake, November 10, 2026 19:50 UTC.
USACE Louisville District via USACE Access to Water (location page), latest values at retrieval November 10, 2026. Provisional.
Guide creel rows applied to Grayson County
Most of Grayson 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 Grayson County
- James D. Beville ParkChannel Catfish: Limit 4 per angler
- Nolin River LakeBlack Crappie: Must be 10 inches or over, Statewide creel limits apply
- Rough River LakeWhite Crappie: Must be 10 inches or over, Statewide creel limits apply
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 Grayson County
For Grayson County, the closest record-list waters sit inside 70 miles.
| Species | Weight as listed | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowfin | 15.08 lbs | Green River (Upper) | 05/31/1999 |
| Flathead Catfish | 97.00 lbs | Green River (Upper) | 06/06/1956 |
| Hybrid Striped Bass | 20.50 lbs | Barren River Lake | 04/27/1991 |
| Mooneye | 0.63 lbs | Barren River Lake | 08/23/2019 |
Kentucky state record fish as listed by KDFWR (record list), read November 10, 2026.
Tackle shops and guide services of Grayson County
Shops stocking lures in Grayson County
- F M Bait Cobait and tackle shop, Leitchfield
- Peter Care Marinamarina, Leitchfield
- Ponderosa Boat Dockmarina, Clarkson
- Rough River Boat Dockmarina, Falls Of Rough
- Wax Marinamarina, Clarkson
Yellow Pages and Kentucky tourism listings (city of business), read November 10, 2026.
Clustered near Grayson County
Home bases for fishing Grayson County
- Leitchfield2020 count 6,404
Kentucky counties that touch Grayson County on the map
- Edmonson County17 miles southeast
- Breckinridge County23 miles north
- Butler County25 miles southwest
- Hardin County27 miles northeast
Piscifun picks that suit a trip to Grayson County
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Lakes, tailwaters and floatable creeks around Grayson County, pictured

Photo: LouisvilleUSACE, CC BY 2.0

Photo: Ka!zen, CC BY 2.0

Photo: LouisvilleUSACE, CC BY 2.0

Photo: Alberto Cabello, CC BY 2.0
What Kentuckians ask about water in Grayson County
Can I launch a kayak or boat in Grayson County?
KDFWR lists 13 launch sites, named above with directions.
Which still water leads Grayson County on size?
It is Nolin River Lake at 6,017 acres.
Which fish lead the KDFWR lists near Grayson County?
KDFWR tables on lakes within 40 miles name largemouth bass most often, then redear sunfish, black crappie and blue catfish.
Is a Kentucky tackle shop listed in Grayson County?
5 in all, including F M Bait Co.
Which Kentucky town is the county seat of Grayson County?
The seat is Leitchfield.
What will fishing in Grayson 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 Grayson County?
By center point: Edmonson County, Breckinridge County and Butler County.
Is there a crappie size limit in Grayson County?
Statewide daily limit 20*, possession 40*, minimum size none. Special-regulation waters can differ.
Where do the limits change in Grayson County?
3 waters with a page here carry their own rules, beginning with James D. Beville Park.
Are there neighborhood fishing lakes in Grayson County?
James D. Beville Park, on the FINs stocking table.
Pick a KDFWR lake or creek in Grayson County
Each launch page has a directions link and KDFWR site notes.

