Fishing in Warren County, Kentucky
County seat: Bowling Green. Census 2020 residents: 134,554.
- 2lake pages
- 20launch sites
- 4river pages
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Planning a first outing in Warren County
County business for Warren County happens in Bowling Green; the 2020 head count was 134,554. Census mapping gives it 542 square miles of land and 5.8 of water. Shanty Hollow Lake heads a list of 2 lakes in the county that have their own page.
The KDFWR access map holds 20 launch sites plus 0 pier or bank sites here. For current, start with Green River (Upper), Barren River and Drakes Creek. The Blue Water Trail list includes Gasper River here. FINs catfish and trout go into 1 lake here, starting with Jesse W. Thornton 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.
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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 scattered across Warren County
| Lake | Size | KDFWR ramps | Kind | Fish in the KDFWR table |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanty Hollow Lake | 114 acres | 1 | lake | redear sunfish, largemouth bass |
| Jesse W. Thornton Lake | 29 acres | 1 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
Short drives out of Bowling Green reach these lakes beyond the Warren County boundary.
| Lake | From Bowling Green | Size | KDFWR ramps | Kind | Fish in the KDFWR table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Fork Drakes Reservoir | 19 miles south | 69 acres | 1 | lake | none in the table |
| Barren River Lake | 22 miles east | 9,674 acres | 14 | Corps reservoir | white crappie, black crappie, hybrid striped bass |
| Briggs Lake | 23 miles west | 18 acres | 1 | lake | none in the table |
| Nolin River Lake | 29 miles northeast | 6,017 acres | 8 | Corps reservoir | black crappie, white crappie, white bass |
| Spa Lake | 33 miles west | 221 acres | 1 | lake | none in the table |
| Lake Malone | 34 miles west | 814 acres | 3 | lake | largemouth bass, black crappie, redear sunfish |
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.
The Warren County species count from KDFWR tables
Bars count lake pages within 40 miles of Bowling Green whose KDFWR rule or stocking table names the fish; largemouth bass tops the tally.
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.
More named lakes on the Warren County map
The KDFWR maps name 3 more lakes inside Warren County; they stay on this list for now.
| Water | Size | Listed by |
|---|---|---|
| Three Springs Lake | about 29 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Goud Lake | about 7.4 acres of mapped outline | Named Lakes layer |
| Limestone Lake | about 6 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.
Rivers to float in Warren County
- Green River (Upper)24 KDFWR access sites, 6 USGS gauges
- Barren Riverspecial limits, 11 KDFWR access sites, 2 USGS gauges
- Drakes Creek9 KDFWR access sites, 1 USGS gauge
- Gasper RiverBlue Water Trail, 2 KDFWR access sites
Flow gauges around Warren County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Barren River At Bowling Green, Ky | 2,970 cfs, 8.94 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:45 pm |
| Drakes Creek Near Alvaton, Ky | 73 cfs, 4.32 ft gage height | Nov 13 7:45 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.
Floating Warren County on a KDFWR trail
- Gasper River31.6 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.
Stocked neighborhood lakes of Warren County
| Lake as printed | County | Trout by month | Catfish by month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jesse W. Thornton Lake | Warren | Feb 1,500, Mar 1,500, Nov 1,500 | Mar 1,450, Apr 1,450, May 1,450, Jun 1,450 |
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026, p. 6; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
Trailer launches dotting Warren County
- Beach Bend Campground Ramp on Barren RiverBarren River, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Boat Landing Road Ramp on Barren RiverBarren River, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Ditmore Road Carrydown Carry-Down Launch on Drakes CreekDrakes Creek, carry-down launch
- Duncan Road Ford Carrydown Carry-Down Launch on Drakes CreekDrakes Creek, carry-down launch
- Greencastle Ramp on Barren RiverBarren River, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Highway 622 Access on Drakes CreekDrakes Creek, carry-down launch
- Honakers Ferry Ramp on Green River (Upper)Green River (Upper), boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Hullett Lane Carrydown Carry-Down Launch on Gasper RiverGasper River, carry-down launch
- Lock & Dam #5 Ramp on Green River (Upper)Green River (Upper), boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Lonnie White Boat Ramp on Barren RiverBarren River, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Matinsville Ford Boat Ramp on Barren RiverBarren River, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Morgantown Bridge Carrydown Carry-Down Launch on Gasper RiverGasper River, carry-down launch
- Phil Moore Park Carrydown #2 Carry-Down Launch on Drakes CreekDrakes Creek, carry-down launch
- Phill Moore Park Carry-Down Launch on Drakes CreekDrakes Creek, carry-down launch
- Potter/Combs Ramp on Barren RiverBarren River, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Riverside Boat Ramp on Barren RiverBarren River, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Romanza Johnson Park Carry-Down Launch on Drakes CreekDrakes Creek, carry-down launch
- Shanty Hollow Lake RampShanty Hollow Lake, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- State Street Bridge Access on Barren RiverBarren River, boat ramp, unpaved, single lane
- Three Springs Lake Boat Ramp on Jesse W. Thornton LakeJesse W. Thornton Lake, boat ramp, paved, single lane
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.
Statewide creel rules on Warren County water
In Warren County, begin with these statewide limits; a special-regulation water replaces them where listed. Budget $24.31 for the resident annual license or $58.14 for the out-of-state version.
| 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 |
Exceptions printed for Warren County waters
- Barren RiverWalleye: 18-26 inch protective slot limit. All fish between 18 and 26 inches must be released. Limit 2 per angler for other sizes.
- Jesse W. Thornton LakeLargemouth Bass: Must be 15 inches or over – Limit 1 per angler
- Shanty Hollow LakeRedear Sunfish: 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.
Record-list catches from water by Warren County
| 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 |
Kentucky state record fish as listed by KDFWR (record list), read November 10, 2026.
Gear stores in Warren County
Warren County marinas and bait shops
- Cabela's, 3395 Nell Obryan Ctbait and tackle shop, Bowling Green
- Camping World – Bowling Greenbait and tackle shop, Bowling Green
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 2300 Gary Farms Blvdbait and tackle shop, Bowling Green
Yellow Pages and Kentucky tourism listings (city of business), read November 10, 2026.
In the same corner as Warren County
Town pages within Warren County
- Bowling Green2020 count 72,294
Adjoining Warren County
- Edmonson County20 miles northeast
- Simpson County20 miles southwest
- Butler County20 miles northwest
- Allen County21 miles southeast
Piscifun tackle set aside for a day on Warren County
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Sorting out the Warren County fish by eye
Photo: Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Richard Hurd, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Under the same moon, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, Public domain
Casting around Warren County: what folks ask
How many ramps does KDFWR list for Warren County?
There are 20 launch sites on KDFWR's map.
Which Warren County lake is the biggest one on this site?
Shanty Hollow Lake: 114 acres.
What species have special rules around Warren County?
KDFWR tables on lakes within 40 miles name largemouth bass most often, then redear sunfish, black crappie and blue catfish.
Where can I buy bait in Warren County, Kentucky?
Start with Cabela's, 3395 Nell Obryan Ct; the county has 3.
What town serves as seat for Warren County?
It is Bowling Green.
What KDFWR license do Warren County anglers buy?
An annual Kentucky license runs $24.31 for residents; nonresidents are charged $58.14.
What counties surround Warren County?
Begin with Edmonson County, Simpson County and Butler County.
What crappie rule covers Warren County?
Statewide daily limit 20*, possession 40*, minimum size none. Special-regulation waters can differ.
Which Warren County lakes have their own limits?
3 waters with a page here carry their own rules, beginning with Barren River.
Which Warren County lakes get FINs stocking?
Jesse W. Thornton Lake, on the FINs stocking table.
What Kentucky record fish came out of Warren County?
Bowfin, 15.08 lbs, from Green River (05/31/1999).
Set up a fishing weekend in Warren County
River pages list KDFWR access sites and live USGS flow.