Fishing in Madison County, Kentucky
County seat: Richmond. Census 2020 residents: 92,701.
- 4lake pages
- 7launch sites
- 2river pages
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Fishing Madison County in brief
With its seat at Richmond, Madison County had 92,701 residents when the 2020 Census was taken. The 2023 Gazetteer lists 438 square miles of land and 5.3 of water. Size puts Owsley Fork Reservoir first among the county's 4 lakes with pages.
Within the county, KDFWR lists 7 launch sites and 2 pier or bank sites. Moving water with a page here includes Kentucky River (Lower) and Kentucky River (Upper). KDFWR's Fishing in Neighborhoods program stocks 1 lake here, including Whitehall Park Lake.
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 Madison 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 Madison County
| Lake | Size | KDFWR ramps | Kind | Fish in the KDFWR table |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owsley Fork Reservoir | 150 acres | 1 | lake | none in the table |
| Wilgreen Lake (Taylor Fork) | 142 acres | 1 | lake | saugeye |
| Lake Reba | 81 acres | 1 | lake | redear sunfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass |
| Whitehall Park Lake | 5.6 acres | 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 Richmond, 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 Madison County, listed
This list holds 7 smaller named waters of Madison County, biggest outline first.
| Water | Size | Listed by |
|---|---|---|
| Central KY WMA | no figure | KDFWR waterbody |
| Wilgreen Lake | about 142 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Lake Vega | about 120 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Lake Gem | about 12 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Lake Buck | about 7.8 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Parrish Tract Lake | about 3 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Goose Pond | about 1.1 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.
Creeks winding through Madison County
- Kentucky River (Lower)27 KDFWR access sites, 9 USGS gauges
- Kentucky River (Upper)special limits, 4 KDFWR access sites, 5 USGS gauges
River stages across Madison County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky River At Lock 9 At Valley View, Ky | 824 cfs, 11.24 ft gage height | Nov 12 6:45 pm |
| Kentucky River At Lock 10 Near Winchester, Ky | 825 cfs, 10.20 ft gage height | Nov 12 6:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 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.
City and park lakes stocked in Madison County
| Lake as printed | County | Trout by month | Catfish by month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitehall Park Lake | Madison | 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 Madison County
- Boonesborough State Park Boat Ramp on Kentucky River (Lower)Kentucky River (Lower), boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes
- College Hill Boat Ramp on Kentucky River (Upper)Kentucky River (Upper), boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Lake Reba Sports Complex Boat RampLake Reba, boat ramp, paved, single lane, courtesy dock
- Owsley Fork Reservoir RampOwsley Fork Reservoir, boat ramp, unpaved, single lane
- Poosey Ridge Ramp on Kentucky River (Lower)Kentucky River (Lower), boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Valley View Carrydown (Madison Co.) Carry-Down Launch on Kentucky River (Lower)Kentucky River (Lower), carry-down launch
- Wilgreen Lake (Taylor Fork) RampWilgreen Lake (Taylor Fork), boat ramp, paved, single lane, courtesy dock, marina
Bank spots spread over Madison County
- Central Kentucky WMA Fishing Access on Central KY WMACentral KY WMA, bank access
- Whitehall Park LakeWhitehall Park 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.
Guide creel rows applied to Madison County
Most of Madison 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 Madison County
- Kentucky River (Upper)Smallmouth Bass: Must be 15 inches or over – Limit 6 per angler
- Lake RebaRedear Sunfish: Statewide Regulations Apply
- Whitehall Park LakeLargemouth Bass: Must be 15 inches or over – Limit 1 per angler
- Wilgreen Lake (Taylor Fork)Saugeye: Must be 14 inches or over, Limit 6 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 Madison 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 Madison County
Shops stocking lures in Madison County
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 2145 Lantern Ridge Drbait and tackle shop, Richmond
- The Cain Polebait and tackle shop, Richmond
- Wilgreen Boat Dockmarina, Richmond
Yellow Pages and Kentucky tourism listings (city of business), read November 10, 2026.
Clustered near Madison County
Home bases for fishing Madison County
- Richmond2020 count 34,585
- Berea2020 count 15,539
Kentucky counties that touch Madison County on the map
- Garrard County16 miles southwest
- Estill County17 miles east
- Clark County18 miles northeast
- Jessamine County20 miles northwest
Piscifun picks that suit a trip to Madison County
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Bluegrass and coalfield water near Madison County, on film
Photo: ksblack99, Public domain
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Rich Bowen, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
What Kentuckians ask about water in Madison County
Can I launch a kayak or boat in Madison County?
KDFWR lists 7 launch sites, named above with directions.
Which still water leads Madison County on size?
It is Owsley Fork Reservoir at 150 acres.
Which fish lead the KDFWR lists near Madison County?
KDFWR tables on lakes within 40 miles name largemouth bass most often, then rainbow trout, redear sunfish and blue catfish.
Is a Kentucky tackle shop listed in Madison County?
3 in all, including Dick's Sporting Goods, 2145 Lantern Ridge Dr.
Which Kentucky town is the county seat of Madison County?
The seat is Richmond.
What will fishing in Madison 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 Madison County?
By center point: Garrard County, Estill County and Clark County.
Is there a crappie size limit in Madison County?
Statewide daily limit 20*, possession 40*, minimum size none. Special-regulation waters can differ.
Where do the limits change in Madison County?
4 waters with a page here carry their own rules, beginning with Kentucky River (Upper).
Are there neighborhood fishing lakes in Madison County?
Whitehall Park Lake, on the FINs stocking table.
Has Madison County produced a KDFWR state record?
Bighead Carp, 65.06 lbs, from Kentucky River (07/18/2020).
Pick a KDFWR lake or creek in Madison County
Each launch page has a directions link and KDFWR site notes.