Fishing in Laurel County, Kentucky
County seat: London. Census 2020 residents: 62,613.
- 3lake pages
- 8launch sites
- 1river pages
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Laurel County: the essentials
Laurel County runs its courthouse out of London, and the 2020 Census found 62,613 people living there. The Census Gazetteer measures it at 434 square miles of land and 10 of water. The county holds 3 lakes with full pages, led on size by Laurel River Lake.
Count 8 launch sites and 2 pier or bank sites on KDFWR's access map of the county. River pages for the county cover Rockcastle River. KDFWR marks Rockcastle River as a Blue Water Trail through 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.
The Laurel County fishing map, KDFWR layers only
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.
Lakes and farm-country ponds in Laurel County
| Lake | Size | KDFWR ramps | Kind | Fish in the KDFWR table |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel River Lake | 5,768 acres | 8 | Corps reservoir | largemouth bass, black crappie, white crappie |
| Wood Creek Lake | 625 acres | 1 | lake | black crappie, rainbow trout, redear sunfish |
| Corbin City Reservoir | 74 acres | 0 | lake | none in the table |
Closest lake pages to London, all outside Laurel County.
| Lake | From London | Size | KDFWR ramps | Kind | Fish in the KDFWR table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickyard Pond | 19 miles southeast | 10 acres | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
| Beulah Lake | 21 miles northeast | 71 acres | 1 | lake | rainbow trout, largemouth bass |
| Bert T. Combs Lake | 21 miles east | 31 acres | 1 | lake | rainbow trout, largemouth bass |
| Lake Linville | 24 miles northwest | 356 acres | 1 | lake | saugeye |
| Lake Cumberland – Upper | 26 miles southwest | no KDFWR figure | 10 | lake | black crappie, white crappie, largemouth bass |
| Owsley Fork Reservoir | 30 miles north | 150 acres | 1 | lake | none in the table |
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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Lake tables within 40 miles of London name largemouth bass most often.
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.
Named ponds of Laurel County without a full write-up
KDFWR and its Named Lakes layer list 3 more lakes in Laurel County that lack enough published facts for a page.
| Water | Size | Listed by |
|---|---|---|
| Woods Creek Lake | about 625 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Reynolds Circle Lake | about 5.7 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Feltner 4H Camp Lake | about 4.1 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.
Forks and branches threading Laurel County
- Rockcastle RiverBlue Water Trail, special limits, 3 KDFWR access sites, 1 USGS gauge
Real-time creek and river gauges in Laurel County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Rockcastle River At Billows, Ky | 41 cfs, 1.18 ft gage height | Nov 13 6:30 pm |
| Laurel River At Municipal Dam Near Corbin, Ky | 19.91 ft gage height | Nov 13 6:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 7:33 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.
Canoe water marked in Laurel County
- Rockcastle River42.2 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.
KDFWR boat ramps inside Laurel County
- Beaver Creek WMA Marina on Rockcastle RiverRockcastle River, boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, marina
- Bee Rock Recreation Area Boat Ramp on Rockcastle RiverRockcastle River, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Craigs Creek Ramp LRL on Laurel River LakeLaurel River Lake, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Flatwoods Ramp on Laurel River LakeLaurel River Lake, boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, courtesy dock
- Holly Bay Campers Only Ramp on Laurel River LakeLaurel River Lake, boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, courtesy dock
- Holly Bay Marina and Ramp on Laurel River LakeLaurel River Lake, boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, courtesy dock, marina
- Marsh Branch Ramp on Laurel River LakeLaurel River Lake, boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, courtesy dock
- Wood Creek Lake RampWood Creek Lake, boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, courtesy dock, marina
Piers and bank access across Laurel County
- Corbin City Reservoir Fishing AccessCorbin City Reservoir, bank access
- LRL Tailwater Bank Access on Laurel River LakeLaurel 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.
Corps lake readings for Laurel County
Laurel River Lake
USACE Nashville District reading at Laurel Dam for Laurel River Lake, November 10, 2026 21:00 UTC.
USACE Nashville District via USACE Access to Water (location page), latest values at retrieval November 10, 2026. Provisional.
Daily and size limits across Laurel County
Anglers in Laurel County use these statewide figures except on waters the guide singles out. The 2026 guide prices the resident annual fishing license at $24.31 and the nonresident annual at $58.14.
| 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 |
Guide entries for Laurel County waters
- Laurel River LakeLargemouth Bass: Must be 15 inches or over, Statewide creel limits apply
- Rockcastle RiverWalleye: 18-26 inch protective slot limit. All fish between 18 and 26 inches must be released. Limit 2 per angler for other sizes.
- Wood Creek LakeBlack Crappie: Statewide Regulations 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.
Where Laurel County turns up on the KDFWR record list
| Species | Weight as listed | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Redhorse | 5.38 lbs | Rockcastle River | 04/17/2010 |
| Northern Pike | 10.53 lbs | Laurel River Lake | 10/29/2006 |
Kentucky state record fish as listed by KDFWR (record list), read November 10, 2026.
Marinas, guides and tackle in Laurel County
Tackle counters of Laurel County
- A J's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, London
- Bait Bucketbait and tackle shop, Corbin
- D & L Tacklebait and tackle shop, Corbin
- London Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, London
- Tackle Spotbait and tackle shop, London
- The Tackle Spotbait and tackle shop, London
- Tony's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, London
- Holly Bay Marinamarina, London
- London Dock Marinamarina, London
- Wood Creek Boat Dockmarina, London
Yellow Pages and Kentucky tourism listings (city of business), read November 10, 2026.
Plotted beside Laurel County on the KDFWR map
Lodging towns across Laurel County
- London2020 count 7,572
Kentucky counties abutting Laurel County
- Rockcastle County20 miles northwest
- Jackson County21 miles north
- Knox County21 miles southeast
- Clay County23 miles east
A Piscifun kit for the drive out to Laurel County
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Bluegrass State fish to recognize at Laurel County
Photo: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Richard Hurd, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Under the same moon, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jeangagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fast answers on fishing Laurel County
How many KDFWR launch sites does Laurel County have?
The KDFWR layer shows 8 launch sites.
Which Laurel County lake tops the KDFWR size figures?
On size, Laurel River Lake (5,768 acres).
Which species keep showing up in KDFWR tables around Laurel County?
KDFWR tables on lakes within 40 miles name largemouth bass most often, then rainbow trout, black crappie and white crappie.
Does Laurel County have a marina or bait store?
There are 10; A J's Bait & Tackle is first.
Which Bluegrass town is the seat of Laurel County?
County offices sit in London.
Do I need a KDFWR license to fish in Laurel County?
A year on Kentucky water costs $24.31 with residency and $58.14 without it, per the 2026 guide.
Which counties are near Laurel County?
Rockcastle County, Jackson County and Knox County sit nearest.
What crappie figures apply to Laurel County water?
Statewide daily limit 20*, possession 40*, minimum size none. Special-regulation waters can differ.
Which waters in Laurel County break from the statewide table?
3 waters with a page here carry their own rules, beginning with Laurel River Lake.
Has a Kentucky record fish come from Laurel County?
Silver Redhorse, 5.38 lbs, from Rockcastle River (04/17/2010).
Hitch up the boat for Kentucky water in Laurel County
Open a lake for its launches, limits and Corps readings.