Lake Beshear Fishing
A Kentucky lake of 819 acres in Caldwell County.
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Lake Beshear, quick facts first
Lake Beshear holds 819 acres on the KDFWR page and sits in Caldwell County. KDFWR’s layer files the land under Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Groceries and gas wait in Dawson Springs, around 3 miles off.
Boaters can choose among 1 ramp or carry-down launch in the KDFWR layer. KDFWR, the guide and the KAR together print 3 special-regulation lines for it.
Acreage as KDFWR notes it on the Lake Beshear waterbody page (KDFWR), read November 10, 2026.
KDFWR waterbody page for Lake Beshear, read November 10, 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 10, 2026.
The Lake Beshear entry on the KDFWR waterbody list
Further reading on Lake Beshear from KDFWR
- Lake Beshear Fish Attractors in Google maps!KDFWR link
- Lake Behsear Fish Attractor Data in various formats for downloadKDFWR link
- Lake Beshear 2 foot contours in Google maps!KDFWR link
- Lake Beshear Largemouth Bass Fishing Quality AssessmentKDFWR link
KDFWR waterbody page for Lake Beshear, read November 10, 2026.
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These are the fish KDFWR regulates or stocks at Lake Beshear; the list says what the rules cover, not what a survey found.
KDFWR waterbody page for Lake Beshear, read November 10, 2026.
Public KDFWR ramps on Lake Beshear
- Lake Beshear Boat Rampboat ramp, paved, single lane, courtesy dock; parking for 25 or fewer vehicles, paved lot; no fee; open year-round, all hours
More KDFWR ramps near Lake Beshear
- Dawson Springs Ramp on Tradewater RiverTradewater River, 2 miles north
- Riverside Park Access on Tradewater RiverTradewater River, 2 miles north
- Nortonville City Lake RampNortonville City Lake, 13 miles east
- Clear Creek Ramp on Clear Creek WMAClear Creek WMA, 13 miles north
- Earlington Lake Boat Ramp on Loch MaryLoch Mary, 13 miles northeast
Shoreline access by Lake Beshear
- Pennyrile Forest State ParkPennyrile Lake, 4 miles
For Lake Beshear, the KDFWR layer gives fee yes or no and an hours category, never a dollar figure.
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.
How many keepers Lake Beshear allows each day
KDFWR lists these Lake Beshear rules on its waterbody page; the wording is theirs.
| Species | Rule as KDFWR prints it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Black Crappie | Statewide Regulations Apply | |
| Largemouth Bass | Statewide Regulations Apply | |
| White Crappie | Statewide Regulations Apply |
KDFWR waterbody page for Lake Beshear, read November 10, 2026.
Statewide guide rows that still reach Lake Beshear
| Species group | Daily | Possession | Minimum size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 6* | 12* | 12" |
| Crappie (Black & White) | 20* | 40* | none |
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026, p. 4; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
For anything held after a day at Lake Beshear, the guide says: "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.
Where Lake Beshear fits among area lakes
Among the five closest Kentucky lakes with pages, Loch Mary has the largest KDFWR acreage at 144 acres.
| Lake | Distance | Size | County | KDFWR launches | KDFWR rule rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Beshear | 819 acres | Caldwell County | 1 | 3 | |
| Pennyrile Lake | 4 miles south | 48 acres | Christian County | 0 | 4 |
| Nortonville City Lake | 13 miles east | 27 acres | Hopkins County | 1 | 0 |
| Loch Mary | 13 miles northeast | 144 acres | Hopkins County | 1 | 0 |
| Lake Blythe | 17 miles southeast | 81 acres | Christian County | 1 | 1 |
| Madisonville Park | 17 miles northeast | – | Hopkins County | 0 | 6 |
KDFWR waterbody pages and access layer; outline sizes are GIS figures. Read November 10, 2026.
Clustered near Lake Beshear
Lakes worth a detour from Lake Beshear
- Pennyrile Lake4 miles south
- Nortonville City Lake13 miles east
- Loch Mary13 miles northeast
- Lake Blythe17 miles southeast
- Madisonville Park17 miles northeast
Where to grab nightcrawlers and hooks near Lake Beshear
- Winding Creek Baitbait and tackle shop, Madisonville, 16 miles
- Anglers Edge Guide Servicesbait and tackle shop, Hopkinsville, 17 miles
- Wild Pride Outdoors LLCbait and tackle shop, Providence, 18 miles
- Eddy Creek Marina Resortmarina, Eddyville, 20 miles
- Moon River Marina and Resortmarina, Cadiz, 21 miles
- B & J Bait Cobait and tackle shop, Hopkinsville, 22 miles
Beds and campsites handy to Lake Beshear
- Dawson Springs3 miles
- Princeton11 miles
- Earlington14 miles
Kentucky counties strung along Lake Beshear
- Caldwell Countyseat: Princeton
Piscifun picks that suit a trip to Lake Beshear
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Sorting out the Lake Beshear fish by eye
Photo: USDAgov, Public domain
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Photo: robposse, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Fizzishin, CC BY 4.0
Short answers for a day at Lake Beshear
Which Census town makes the handiest base for Lake Beshear?
KDFWR places it in Caldwell County; the closest Census town, Dawson Springs, is about 3 miles away.
Is Lake Beshear one of the bigger Kentucky lakes?
KDFWR's figure is 819 acres.
Which ramp suits a first trip to Lake Beshear?
Start at Lake Beshear Boat Ramp, one of 1 ramp or carry-down launch.
What species have their own rules at Lake Beshear?
On the KDFWR lists: black crappie, largemouth bass and white crappie.
How many fish may a Kentucky angler take home from Lake Beshear?
3 special-regulation lines apply; each is quoted above.
Which KDFWR permits apply at Lake Beshear?
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.
Is Lake Beshear good for bank fishing?
KDFWR maps no pier or bank site on it; launch sites often allow bank casting nearby.
Which shop on our Kentucky list is closest to Lake Beshear?
Our shop list starts with Winding Creek Bait, about 16 miles away.
Plan a Bluegrass weekend on Lake Beshear
License prices and limit tables share one page.