Kentucky Tailwaters
8 Kentucky tailwaters below Corps dams with release readings, trout totals, KDFWR access and the rules that apply below each dam.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Barren River Lake: LouisvilleUSACE, CC BY 2.0
Photo of Newport: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Kentucky tailwaters, alphabetical
B
- Barren River Lake TailwaterAllen County
C
- Cave Run Lake TailwaterBath County
G
- Green River Lake TailwaterTaylor County
H
- Herrington Lake TailwaterMercer County
K
- Kentucky Lake TailwaterMarshall County
L
- Lake Barkley TailwaterCrittenden and Livingston counties
- Lake Cumberland TailwaterCumberland County and 2 other counties
N
- Nolin River Lake TailwaterEdmonson County
Bluegrass tailwaters list: asked and answered
Which tailwaters have a page?
8 that KDFWR lists as their own waterbodies: Barren River Lake Tailwater, Cave Run Lake Tailwater, Green River Lake Tailwater, Herrington Lake Tailwater, Kentucky Lake Tailwater, Lake Barkley Tailwater, Lake Cumberland Tailwater and Nolin River Lake Tailwater.
Do they show dam releases?
7 tailwater pages print the latest Corps release with its reading time.
Which ones get stocked trout?
4 of them carry a row from the guide’s tailwater trout table.
Is a trout permit needed below Wolf Creek Dam?
Yes. The guide requires the trout permit of every licensed angler on the Cumberland River from Wolf Creek Dam to the Tennessee line.
Are the other stocked tailwaters listed?
10 more tailwaters in the guide’s trout table have no KDFWR waterbody page and are listed on the trout fishing page.
Are release readings live?
No. USACE readings print with the time they were read; check the Corps location page before a trip.
Who supplies the access sites?
The KDFWR Fishing Access Sites layer.
Where do the rules come from?
The 2026 guide and 301 KAR 1:201, quoted as printed.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 KDFWR rules and directories beside the Kentucky tailwaters list
- Every Kentucky water, A to Zlakes, rivers, tailwaters, counties, towns and fish in one list
- Kentucky license prices and statewide limits2026 guide fees, the 26-row creel table, possession and culling
- Special-regulation watersall 92 guide entries plus the 301 KAR 1:201 exceptions
- Trout rules and stocking tablespermit reach, catch-and-release streams, tailwater totals
- Border-water agreementsOhio River, Kentucky Lake, Dale Hollow, Big Sandy; Barkley excluded
- Trout fishing in Kentuckytailwaters below the Corps dams, stocked creeks and lakes
- Fishing in Neighborhoods lakescity and park lakes stocked with catfish and rainbows
- Blue Water TrailsKDFWR paddling routes with their listed miles
- Free Fishing Daysthe June weekend when license and permits are waived
- Kentucky state record fishweights, waters and dates from the KDFWR list
- Trout stocking schedulethe November 2026 rows and the FINs table
- Lake levels and river flowsdated Corps dam readings and live USGS gauges
- Boat rampsKDFWR-listed launches grouped by county
- Shore fishingKDFWR piers and bank access
- Bait and tackle shopstackle counters and marinas in four parts of the state
- Fishing guideslisted guide services with towns and phones
- Tournamentsupcoming events and posted winners
- Protected fishfish and lampreys with a Kentucky or federal status