Fishing in Kenton County, Kentucky
County seats: Covington and Independence. Census 2020 residents: 169,064.
- 3lake pages
- 3launch sites
- 1river pages
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Kenton County water in figures
Unusually for Kentucky, Kenton County names two seats, Covington and Independence, and counted 169,064 residents in 2020. By Gazetteer figures the county spans 160 square miles of land and 3.9 of water. This site covers 3 lakes inside the county; Doe Run Lake has the most water.
KDFWR's access layer pins 3 launch sites and 4 pier or bank sites inside the county. The county's flowing water starts with Licking River. Licking River is on KDFWR's list of Blue Water Trails crossing the county. The FINs table names 2 lakes in the county; Middleton-Mills Park is one.
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.
Kenton 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 Kenton County
| Lake | Size | KDFWR ramps | Kind | Fish in the KDFWR table |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doe Run Lake | 49 acres | 1 | lake | channel catfish, largemouth bass |
| Prisoner's Lake | 3.8 acres | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
| Middleton-Mills Park | no KDFWR figure | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
From Covington, these lakes outside Kenton County are the closest with full pages.
| Lake | From Covington | Size | KDFWR ramps | Kind | Fish in the KDFWR table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southgate Park | 3 miles northeast | 1.8 acres | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
| Shor Lake | 9 miles southwest | 2.8 acres | 0 | lake | none in the table |
| Alexandria Community Park Lake | 10 miles southeast | 7.2 acres | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
| Camp Ernst Lake | 11 miles west | 25 acres | 1 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
| Inglewood Park Lake | 11 miles west | 1.2 acres | 0 | lake | none in the table |
| A.J. Jolly Lake | 13 miles southeast | 175 acres | 1 | lake | white crappie, black crappie, 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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The tally covers KDFWR tables on lakes inside 40 miles of Covington, with largemouth bass 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.
Still water in Kenton County kept to a short list
8 further waters in Kenton County carry a name on KDFWR maps but little else in print.
| Water | Size | Listed by |
|---|---|---|
| Boone Lake | about 17 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Thorn Hill Lake | about 14 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Southgate Lake | about 1.8 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Middleton Mills Long Pond | about 1.2 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Middleton Mills Shelterhouse Pond | about 1.2 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| City of Southgate Pond | about 1.1 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Fort Wright Nature Center Lake | about 1.1 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Iron Bridge Pond | no figure | 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.
Streams cutting across Kenton County
- Licking RiverBlue Water Trail, 15 KDFWR access sites, 7 USGS gauges
Current streamflow in Kenton County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Pleasant Run Creek At Oak Street Near Ludlow, Ky | 3 cfs, 1.20 ft gage height | Nov 13 8:00 pm |
| Dry Creek At Sewage Plant Near Erlanger, Ky | 5 cfs, 1.41 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:40 pm |
| Banklick Creek @ Highway 1829 Nr Erlanger, Ky | 3 cfs, 1.31 ft gage height | Nov 13 8:00 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.
Blue Water Trail miles in Kenton County
- Licking River25.4 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.
FINs lakes in Kenton County
| Lake as printed | County | Trout by month | Catfish by month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middleton Mills Long Pond | Kenton | Feb 500, Mar 500, Oct 500 | Mar 300, Apr 300, May 300, Jun 300 |
| Middleton Mills Shelterhouse Pond | Kenton | Feb 500, Mar 500, Oct 500 | Mar 300, Apr 300, May 300, Jun 300 |
| Prisoners Lake | Kenton | Feb 750, Mar 750, Oct 750 | Apr 800, Jun 800 |
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026, p. 6; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
Launch sites within Kenton County
- Doe Run RampDoe Run Lake, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Kenton Co. Park Ramp (Locust Pike Park) on Licking RiverLicking River, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Riverside Public Ramp on Ohio River (Below Cincinnati)Ohio River (Below Cincinnati), boat ramp, paved, single lane
Shore spots within Kenton County
- Middleton-Mills Long Pond on Middleton-Mills ParkMiddleton-Mills Park, bank access
- Middleton-Mills Shelterhouse Pond Fishing Pier on Middleton-Mills ParkMiddleton-Mills Park, fishing pier
- Middleton-Mills Shelterhouse Pond on Middleton-Mills ParkMiddleton-Mills Park, bank access
- Prisoner's Lake Bank AccessPrisoner's 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.
Keeper rules on Kenton County lakes and streams
The statewide rows below cover every Kenton 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 Kenton County
- Doe Run LakeChannel Catfish: Limit 4 per angler
- Middleton-Mills ParkLargemouth Bass: Must be 15 inches or over – Limit 1 per angler
- Prisoner's LakeLargemouth 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.
Kentucky record fish traced to Kenton County water
Nothing caught in Kenton County holds a Kentucky record; these close waters do.
| Species | Weight as listed | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saugeye | 9.03 lbs | Bullock Pen Lake | 03/21/2021 |
| White Catfish | 5.27 lbs | Guist Creek Lake | 10/11/2016 |
| 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.
Picking up bait inside Kenton County
Bait and tackle listings in Kenton County
- Coraggio Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Independence
- Latonia Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Covington
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 520 Clock Tower Waybait and tackle shop, Crescent Springs
- Villa Hills Marinamarina, Villa Hills
Yellow Pages and Kentucky tourism listings (city of business), read November 10, 2026.
Minutes past Kenton County by road
Towns inside Kenton County with their own pages
- Covington2020 count 40,961
- Independence2020 count 28,676
- Erlanger2020 count 19,611
- Elsmere2020 count 9,159
- Fort Mitchell2020 count 8,702
- Edgewood2020 count 8,435
- Villa Hills2020 count 7,310
- Taylor Mill2020 count 6,873
- Fort Wright2020 count 5,851
- Ludlow2020 count 4,385
- Crescent Springs2020 count 4,319
- Crestview Hills2020 count 3,246
- Park Hills2020 count 3,162
- Lakeside Park2020 count 2,841
The ring of counties around Kenton County
- Campbell County8 miles east
- Boone County11 miles west
- Pendleton County19 miles southeast
- Grant County20 miles south
Piscifun rods, reels and pliers to sort before heading to Kenton County
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Bluegrass and coalfield water near Kenton County, on film
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Morgan, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: ksblack99, Public domain
Questions locals field about Kenton County
Does KDFWR list public ramps for Kenton County?
KDFWR maps 3 launch sites inside the county.
Which lake in Kenton County carries the biggest KDFWR acre note?
Doe Run Lake, with 49 acres.
Which fish do KDFWR tables name near Kenton County?
KDFWR tables on lakes within 40 miles name largemouth bass most often, then redear sunfish, bluegill and channel catfish.
Which shops in Kenton County carry tackle?
Coraggio Outdoors is one of 4 listed here.
Where does Kenton County run its county government?
It has two: Covington and Independence.
How much is a fishing license for a trip to Kenton 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 Kenton County?
Look at Campbell County, Boone County and Pendleton County.
How many crappie can I keep in Kenton County under Kentucky rules?
Statewide daily limit 20*, possession 40*, minimum size none. Special-regulation waters can differ.
Do any Kenton County waters appear in the guide's special-regulation list?
3 waters with a page here carry their own rules, beginning with Doe Run Lake.
Where can kids fish a stocked lake in Kenton County?
Middleton-Mills Park and Prisoner's Lake, on the FINs stocking table.
Work the KDFWR lakes and streams of Kenton County
Check a water's special regulation before keeping fish.