Barren River Lake Fishing
A Kentucky lake of 9,674 acres in Allen and Barren counties.
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Barren River Lake: the essentials
KDFWR records Barren River Lake at 9,674 acres of water in Allen and Barren counties. The managing owner on the KDFWR map is Army Corps of Engineers. Kentucky back roads put Scottsville roughly 12 miles away.
Trailers reach it at 14 ramps and carry-down launches on the KDFWR layer. Read its 15 special-regulation lines before keeping fish.
Acreage as KDFWR notes it on the Barren River Lake waterbody page (KDFWR), read November 10, 2026.
KDFWR waterbody page for Barren River Lake, read November 10, 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 10, 2026.
The KDFWR waterbody note for Barren River Lake
KDFWR writes this about Barren River Lake:
9,674 acre lake To protect Native strain walleye during restoration, there is a two fish daily creel limit with an 18- to 26-inch protective slot limit for walleye in the upper Barren River and its tributaries, The area includes the Barren River, Barren River Lake and all tributaries upstream of Barren River Lake Dam. It also includes Barren River and all tributaries downstream of the lake to Lock and Dam 1. All walleye caught from these waters between 18 and 26 inches must be immediately released.
Links on the Barren River Lake waterbody page
- Barren River Lake Fish Attractors in Google maps!KDFWR link
- Barren River Lake Largemouth Bass Fishing Quality AssessmentKDFWR link
KDFWR waterbody page for Barren River Lake, read November 10, 2026.
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The chips below come from the Barren River Lake rule table and stocking tables, not from a fish survey.
KDFWR waterbody page for Barren River Lake, read November 10, 2026.
Sliding a hull into Barren River Lake
- Austin Ramp on Barren River Lakeboat ramp, paved, multiple lanes; parking for 25 or fewer vehicles, paved lot; no fee; seasonal, all hours
- BRL State Park Ramp on Barren River Lakeboat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, marina; parking for 51 or more vehicles, paved lot; no fee; open year-round, all hours
- Baileys Point Ramp on Barren River Lakeboat ramp, paved, multiple lanes; parking for 25 or fewer vehicles, paved lot; fee charged (amount not listed by KDFWR); open year-round, all hours
- Barren River Lake WMA Carry-Down Launchcarry-down launch; parking for 25 or fewer vehicles, unpaved lot; no fee; open year-round, all hours
- Barren River SRP Campground Rampboat ramp, paved, single lane; parking for 25 or fewer vehicles, paved lot; no fee; seasonal, limited hours
- Beaver Creek Ramp BRL on Barren River Lakeboat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, courtesy dock; parking for 26 to 50 vehicles, paved lot; fee charged (amount not listed by KDFWR); seasonal, all hours
- Browns Ford Ramp on Barren River Lakeboat ramp, paved, multiple lanes; parking for 25 or fewer vehicles, paved lot; fee charged (amount not listed by KDFWR); seasonal, all hours
- Dry Creek Unit WMA Carry-Down Launch on Barren River Lakecarry-down launch; parking for 25 or fewer vehicles, unpaved lot; no fee; open year-round, all hours
- Narrows Marina on Barren River Lakeboat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, marina; parking for 51 or more vehicles, paved lot; no fee; open year-round, limited hours
- Narrows Ramp on Barren River Lakeboat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, courtesy dock, marina; parking for 51 or more vehicles, paved lot; fee charged (amount not listed by KDFWR); open year-round, all hours
- Peninsula Ramp on Barren River Lakeboat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, courtesy dock, marina; parking for 51 or more vehicles, paved lot; fee charged (amount not listed by KDFWR); open year-round, all hours
- Port Oliver Ramp on Barren River Lakeboat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, courtesy dock; parking for 51 or more vehicles, paved lot; fee charged (amount not listed by KDFWR); open year-round, all hours
- Quarry Road Beach Carry-Down Launch on Barren River Lakecarry-down launch; parking for 25 or fewer vehicles, paved lot; fee charged (amount not listed by KDFWR); open year-round, all hours
- Walnut Creek Ramp on Barren River Lakeboat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, marina; parking for 26 to 50 vehicles, paved lot; no fee; seasonal, all hours
Other launch sites close to Barren River Lake
- Peter Creek Carrydown Carry-Down LaunchPeter Creek, 3 miles east
- Barren River Lake Tailwater Boat RampBarren River Lake Tailwater, 4 miles northwest
- Barren River Lake WMA Skaggs Creek Carry-Down LaunchSkaggs Creek, 6 miles northeast
- Matinsville Ford Boat Ramp on Barren RiverBarren River, 10 miles west
- Long Creek Unit of Barren River WMA Carry-Down LaunchLong Creek, 11 miles south
- Temple Hill Ramp on Skaggs CreekSkaggs Creek, 12 miles east
No dollar amounts or opening times for Barren River Lake come with the KDFWR points.
KDFWR Fishing Access Sites in Kentucky layer (ArcGIS service: lanes as single or multiple, fees as yes or no, hours as categories), read November 10, 2026.
Dam and gauge numbers for Barren River Lake
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Barren River Lake Near Finney, Ky | 37.58 ft gage height, 537.58 ft lake elevation | Nov 11 8:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 9:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
USACE Louisville District reading at Barren River Lake Dam for Barren River Lake, November 10, 2026 12:00 UTC.
USACE Louisville District via USACE Access to Water (location page), latest values at retrieval November 10, 2026. Provisional.
For Barren River Lake, a dated Corps value is not a live feed; the USGS line is.
Size and creel rules for Barren River Lake
These rows come straight off the KDFWR page for Barren River Lake.
| Species | Rule as KDFWR prints it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| White Crappie | Must be 10 inches or over, Statewide creel limits apply | |
| Black Crappie | Must be 10 inches or over, Statewide creel limits apply | |
| Hybrid Striped Bass | Statewide Regulations Apply | |
| White Bass | Statewide Regulations Apply | |
| Yellow Bass | Statewide Regulations Apply | |
| Redear Sunfish | Statewide Regulations Apply | |
| Spotted Bass | Statewide Regulations Apply | |
| Blue Catfish | Limit 15 per angler, channel catfish and blue catfish combined – No more than 1 fish may be over 25 inches | |
| Channel Catfish | Limit 15 per angler, channel catfish and blue catfish combined – No more than 1 fish may be over 25 inches | |
| Walleye | 18-26 inch protective slot limit. All fish between 18 and 26 inches must be released. Limit 2 per angler for other sizes. | |
| Largemouth Bass | Must be 15 inches or over – Limit 6 per angler | |
| Smallmouth Bass | Must be 15 inches or over – Limit 6 per angler |
KDFWR waterbody page for Barren River Lake, read November 10, 2026.
The 2026 guide on Barren River Lake
- BARREN RIVER and all tributaries including Barren River LakeWalleye: 2-fish daily limit; 18- to 26-inch protective slot limit. All walleye caught from 18 to 26 inches long must be immediately released.
- BARREN RIVER and all tributaries including Barren River LakeSmallmouth Bass: 15-inch minimum size limit.
- BARREN RIVER LAKEThe boundaries of Barren River Lake are from the dam upstream to the KY 100 bridge, Long Creek to the KY 100 bridge, Beaver Creek to the KY 1297 bridge, Skaggs Creek to the Matthews Mill Road bridge and Peter Creek to the Peter Creek Road bridge.
- BARREN RIVER LAKEBlue and Channel Catfish: 15-fish aggregate daily limit, only 1 fish may be longer than 25 inches.
- BARREN RIVER LAKECrappie: 10-inch minimum size limit.
- BARREN RIVER LAKELargemouth and Smallmouth Bass: 15-inch minimum size limit.
- BARREN RIVER LAKEWalleye: 2-fish daily limit; 18- to 26-inch protective slot limit. All walleye caught from 18 to 26 inches long must be immediately released.
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026, p. 7-12; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
Kentucky Administrative Regulations on Barren River Lake
- Barren River Lake.Crappie size limit, ten (10) inches.
- Barren River Lake.Largemouth and smallmouth bass size limit, fifteen (15) inches.
- Barren River Lake.Blue and channel catfish aggregate daily limit of fifteen (15), only one (1) of which shall be longer than twenty-five (25) inches.
- Barren River Lake.Barren River Lake shall extend up:
- Barren River Lake.1. Barren River to the Highway 100 bridge;
- Barren River Lake.2. Long Creek to the Highway 100 bridge;
- Barren River Lake.3. Beaver Creek to the Highway 1297 bridge;
- Barren River Lake.4. Skaggs Creek to the Mathews Mill Road bridge; and
- Barren River Lake.5. Peter Creek to the Peter Creek Road bridge.
301 KAR 1:201 Section 3(3), last effective September 3, 2026 (Kentucky Administrative Regulations), read November 10, 2026.
Default creel table for Barren River Lake
| Species group | Daily | Possession | Minimum size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 6* | 12* | 12" |
| Smallmouth Bass | 6* | 12* | 12" |
| Kentucky (Spotted) Bass | 6* | 12* | none |
| Redear Sunfish | 20 | 40 | none |
| Walleye, Sauger, and their Hybrids | 6* | 12* | 14" |
| White & Hybrid Striped Bass | 15** | 30** | none** |
| Yellow Bass | none | none | none |
| Crappie (Black & White) | 20* | 40* | none |
| Channel Catfish 28" and above | 1 | 2 | 28" |
| Blue & Flathead Catfish 35" and above | 1 each | 2 each | 35" |
| Channel Catfish below 28" | none | none | none |
| Blue & Flathead Catfish below 35" | none | none | none |
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026, p. 4; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
The guide sets possession this way: "A possession limit is two times the daily limit for all fish species with a daily limit, excluding previously processed fish."
Anglers 16 and older need a Kentucky fishing license; the 2026 guide prints $24.31 for the resident annual license and $58.14 for nonresidents.
License prices as printed in the 2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide, p. 2 (2026 CPI-adjusted fees; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
Heaviest Commonwealth fish logged at Barren River Lake
| Species | Weight | Date | Water as KDFWR prints it | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Striped Bass | 20.50 lbs | 04/27/1991 | Barren River | current |
| Mooneye | 0.63 lbs | 08/23/2019 | Barren River | current |
Kentucky state record fish as listed by KDFWR (record list), read November 10, 2026.
Organizer schedules that include Barren River Lake
Organizer dates and results for Barren River Lake sit on its tournament page.
The tailwater below Barren River Lake
- Barren River Lake TailwaterKDFWR tailwater page
Sizing Barren River Lake against its neighbors
For a bigger lake, tow to Shanty Hollow Lake, which KDFWR sizes at 114 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Size | County | KDFWR launches | KDFWR rule rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barren River Lake | 9,674 acres | Allen County | 14 | 12 | |
| Jesse W. Thornton Lake | 21 miles west | 29 acres | Warren County | 1 | 6 |
| Mill Creek Lake (Monroe Co.) | 24 miles southeast | 95 acres | Monroe County | 2 | 0 |
| Shanty Hollow Lake | 26 miles northwest | 114 acres | Warren County | 1 | 2 |
| City Lake | 26 miles east | 4.1 acres | Metcalfe County | 1 | 0 |
| Metcalfe County Lake | 28 miles northeast | 21 acres | Metcalfe County | 1 | 0 |
KDFWR waterbody pages and access layer; outline sizes are GIS figures. Read November 10, 2026.
Plotted beside Barren River Lake on the KDFWR map
Impoundments a short haul from Barren River Lake
- Jesse W. Thornton Lake21 miles west
- Mill Creek Lake (Monroe Co.)24 miles southeast
- Shanty Hollow Lake26 miles northwest
- City Lake26 miles east
- Metcalfe County Lake28 miles northeast
Restocking line and lures for Barren River Lake
- Walnut Creek Marina, 275 Barren River Hlsmarina, Scottsville, 2 miles
- Barren River State Park Marinamarina, Lucas, 3 miles
- Beaver Creek Boat Dock & Campgroundmarina, Glasgow, 4 miles
- Barren Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Glasgow, 10 miles
- Blinky's Baitbait and tackle shop, Scottsville, 10 miles
- Walnut Creek Marina, 2001 Walnut Creek Rdmarina, Scottsville, 10 miles
Kentucky towns with lodging near Barren River Lake
- Scottsville11 miles
- Glasgow12 miles
- Cave City19 miles
Which Kentucky counties hold Barren River Lake
- Allen Countyseat: Scottsville
- Barren Countyseat: Glasgow
A Piscifun kit for the drive out to Barren River Lake
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Bluegrass State fish to recognize at Barren River Lake
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Argyleist, CC BY 2.0
Barren River Lake: what Bluegrass anglers want to know
Which Kentucky county holds Barren River Lake?
County lines put it in Allen and Barren counties; the closest Census town, Scottsville, is about 12 miles away.
What surface area does KDFWR print for Barren River Lake?
About 9,674 acres, by KDFWR.
Can a trailered bass boat get onto Barren River Lake?
KDFWR maps 14 ramps and carry-down launches; Austin Ramp on Barren River Lake is one.
Does KDFWR stock or regulate bass at Barren River Lake?
Species with KDFWR rules or stockings here: white crappie, black crappie, hybrid striped bass, white bass, yellow bass, redear sunfish and spotted bass.
Has KDFWR printed special regulations for Barren River Lake?
Read the 15 special-regulation lines in the limits band before keeping fish.
What does KDFWR charge for the license Barren River Lake calls for?
Anglers 16 and older need a Kentucky fishing license; the 2026 guide prints $24.31 for the resident annual license and $58.14 for nonresidents.
Will a shore angler find KDFWR footing along Barren River Lake?
The KDFWR data list no pier here.
Where do Barren River Lake regulars buy minnows?
Our Kentucky list points to Walnut Creek Marina, 275 Barren River Hls, about 2 miles away.
Has the Corps drawn Barren River Lake down this season?
The level band shows the newest reading with agency and time (USGS).
Which Kentucky record fish did Barren River Lake give up?
Barren River holds the hybrid striped bass entry at 20.50 lbs, dated 04/27/1991.
Does Barren River Lake host Kentucky team events?
Kentucky organizer events and winners fill its tournament page.
Put Barren River Lake on the Kentucky calendar
Read the limits, then pick the launch nearest your spot.