Fishing in Union County, Kentucky
County seat: Morganfield. Census 2020 residents: 13,668.
- 2lake pages
- 16launch sites
- 3river pages
Pick for rainbow troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Ohio River: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Union County water in figures
Morganfield holds the courthouse for Union County, a county of 13,668 at the last census. By Gazetteer figures the county spans 343 square miles of land and 20.3 of water. This site covers 2 lakes inside the county; Moffitt Lake has the most water.
KDFWR's access layer pins 16 launch sites and 1 pier or bank site inside the county. The county's flowing water starts with Ohio River (Central), Ohio River (West) and Tradewater River.
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.
Union 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 Union County
| Lake | Size | KDFWR ramps | Kind | Fish in the KDFWR table |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moffitt Lake | 46 acres | 1 | lake | none in the table |
| Higginson-Henry WMA | no KDFWR figure | 2 | WMA pond group | rainbow trout |
From Morganfield, these lakes outside Union County are the closest with full pages.
| Lake | From Morganfield | Size | KDFWR ramps | Kind | Fish in the KDFWR table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dixon City Lake | 15 miles southeast | 6.3 acres | 1 | lake | none in the table |
| Audubon State Park Lake | 22 miles northeast | 16 acres | 1 | lake | none in the table |
| Providence New City Lake | 22 miles south | 40 acres | 1 | lake | none in the table |
| Lake George – Marion City Lake | 29 miles southwest | 36 acres | 1 | lake | none in the table |
| Lake Peewee | 30 miles southeast | 360 acres | 1 | lake | none in the table |
| Madisonville Park | 34 miles southeast | no KDFWR figure | 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.
For the rainbow trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Tallying regulated fish on lakes around Union County
The tally covers KDFWR tables on lakes inside 40 miles of Morganfield, with rainbow trout 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 Union County kept to a short list
19 further waters in Union County carry a name on KDFWR maps but little else in print.
| Water | Size | Listed by |
|---|---|---|
| Mauzy Lake | about 85 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Grassy Pond | about 71 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Powells Lake | about 36 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Long Pond | about 24 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Honey Cypress | about 23 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Hogan Slough | about 22 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| State Lake | about 20 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Middle Slough | about 16 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Dixon Pond | about 13 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Geiger Lake | about 10 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Front Slough | about 7.9 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Mill Pond | about 7.9 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Little Ditch Lake | about 6.8 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Cypress Slough | about 5.6 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Muddy Pond | about 5.4 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Sulphur Spring Pond | about 2.5 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Mortons Lake | about 1.7 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Mullin Pond | about 0.5 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Rattle Slough | 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 Union County
- Ohio River (Central)special limits, state-line water, 32 KDFWR access sites, 2 USGS gauges
- Ohio River (West)special limits, state-line water, 21 KDFWR access sites, 3 USGS gauges
- Tradewater River10 KDFWR access sites, 2 USGS gauges
Current streamflow in Union County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio River At Old Shawneetown, Il-ky | 255,000 cfs, 15.69 ft gage height | Feb 9 9:45 am Not updated since Feb 9, 2024. |
| Ohio River At Uniontown Dam, Ky | 14.43 ft gage height | Nov 13 9:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 2026 9:32 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.
Launch sites within Union County
- Blackburn Boat Ramp on Ohio River (West)Ohio River (West), boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Caseyville Boat Ramp on Ohio River (West)Ohio River (West), boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes
- Front Slough Boat Ramp on Sloughs WMASloughs WMA, boat ramp, unpaved, single lane
- Grangertown Landing on Tradewater RiverTradewater River, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Highland Creek Unit Pond Carry-Down Launch on Sloughs WMASloughs WMA, carry-down launch, unpaved, single lane
- Hovey Lake Access Site on Ohio River (Central)Ohio River (Central), boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes
- Mauzy Lake Boat Ramp on Higginson-Henry WMAHigginson-Henry WMA, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Middle Slough Boat Ramp on Sloughs WMASloughs WMA, boat ramp, unpaved, single lane
- Moffitt Lake RampMoffitt Lake, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Mortons Lake Boat Ramp on Higginson-Henry WMAHigginson-Henry WMA, boat ramp, unpaved, single lane
- Old Providence Road Ramp on Tradewater RiverTradewater River, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Old Shawneetown Boat Ramp on Ohio River (West)Ohio River (West), boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes
- Sherburn Park Ramp on Ohio River (Central)Ohio River (Central), boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes
- Uniontown Boat Ramp on Ohio River (Central)Ohio River (Central), boat ramp, paved, single lane, courtesy dock
- Uniontown Dike Boat Ramp on Ohio River (West)Ohio River (West), boat ramp, paved, single lane, courtesy dock
- VFW Bridge Boat Ramp on Tradewater RiverTradewater River, boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes
Shore spots within Union County
- Mauzy Lake Access Pier on Higginson-Henry WMAHigginson-Henry WMA, 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.
Keeper rules on Union County lakes and streams
The statewide rows below cover every Union 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 Union County
- Higginson-Henry WMARainbow Trout: Statewide Regulations Apply
- Ohio River (Central)Hybrid Striped Bass: Limit 30 per angler of White Bass, Yellow Bass, Striped Bass and their Hybrids, singly or combined, No more than 4 fish may be over 15 inches
- Ohio River (West)Hybrid Striped Bass: Limit 30 per angler of White Bass, Yellow Bass, Striped Bass and their Hybrids, singly or combined, No more than 4 fish may be over 15 inches
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 Union County water
| Species | Weight as listed | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longnose Gar | 40.00 lbs | Ohio River (Central) | 08/08/1956 |
| Paddlefish (Spoonbill) | 106.00 lbs | Ohio River (Central) | 03/23/2004 |
| Blue Sucker | 8.34 lbs | Ohio River (Central) | 11/22/2009 |
| Silver Carp | 17.34 lbs | Ohio River (Central) | 02/27/2023 |
| Blue Catfish | 106.90 lbs | Ohio River (Central) | 10/20/2018 |
| Channel Catfish | 32.00 lbs | Ohio River (Central) | 05/26/2004 |
| Skipjack Herring | 3.10 lbs | Ohio River (Central) | 04/14/2006 |
| Gizzard Shad | 4.08 lbs | Ohio River (Central) | 05/24/2009 |
Kentucky state record fish as listed by KDFWR (record list), read November 10, 2026.
The Union County tournament schedule
1 organizer listings name Union County water; 0 are still ahead.
| Date | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 10, 2025 | Bass Pro Shops/Cabela's King Kat Classic, Ohio River (Owensboro) (result) | Ohio River | King Kat Tournament Trail |
Organizer schedule and results pages, checked November 2026.
Picking up bait inside Union County
Bait and tackle listings in Union County
- Caseyville Boat Dock and Recreation Areamarina, Sturgis
Yellow Pages and Kentucky tourism listings (city of business), read November 10, 2026.
Minutes past Union County by road
Towns inside Union County with their own pages
- Morganfield2020 count 3,256
- Sturgis2020 count 1,735
The ring of counties around Union County
- Webster County17 miles southeast
- Crittenden County22 miles south
- Henderson County23 miles northeast
- Hopkins County33 miles southeast
Piscifun rods, reels and pliers to sort before heading to Union County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Limestone banks and lake coves by Union County through a camera
Photo: William Alden, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: LouisvilleUSACE, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Thomas McGehee Photography, CC BY 2.0
Questions locals field about Union County
Does KDFWR list public ramps for Union County?
KDFWR maps 16 launch sites inside the county.
Which lake in Union County carries the biggest KDFWR acre note?
Moffitt Lake, with 46 acres.
Which fish do KDFWR tables name near Union County?
KDFWR tables on lakes within 40 miles name rainbow trout most often, then blue catfish, bluegill and channel catfish.
Which shops in Union County carry tackle?
Caseyville Boat Dock and Recreation Area is one of 1 listed here.
Where does Union County run its county government?
Morganfield.
How much is a fishing license for a trip to Union 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 Union County?
Look at Webster County, Crittenden County and Henderson County.
How many crappie can I keep in Union County under Kentucky rules?
Statewide daily limit 20*, possession 40*, minimum size none. Special-regulation waters can differ.
Do any Union County waters appear in the guide's special-regulation list?
3 waters with a page here carry their own rules, beginning with Higginson-Henry WMA.
Do fishing clubs hold events in Union County?
1 organizer entry on file, with none dated ahead.
Is Union County water on the KDFWR record list?
Longnose Gar, 40.00 lbs, from Ohio River (08/08/1956).
Work the KDFWR lakes and streams of Union County
Check a water's special regulation before keeping fish.