Lake Barkley Tailwater Fishing
The Kentucky river reach below Barkley Lock and Dam, in Crittenden and Livingston counties.
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Lake Barkley Tailwater, quick facts first
Lake Barkley Tailwater begins at Barkley Lock and Dam, where Lake Barkley spills back into the river, in Crittenden and Livingston counties. Ice and gas wait in Eddyville, some 11 miles off by the KDFWR points.
Anglers reach it at 4 access sites.
KDFWR waterbody page for Lake Barkley Tailwater, read November 10, 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 10, 2026.
KDFWR notes on Lake Barkley Tailwater
Snagging is only permitted downstream of US 62 bbridge with a daily creel limit of 8 fish. Harvesting of sportfish by snagging is prohibited. Snagging anglers cannot release or cull any snagged paddlefish.
KDFWR waterbody page for Lake Barkley Tailwater, read November 10, 2026.
Corps dam figures upstream of Lake Barkley Tailwater
Releases from Barkley Lock and Dam set the current below it; these are dated Corps readings, not a live feed.
USACE Nashville District reading at Barkley Lock and Dam for Lake Barkley Tailwater, November 10, 2026 18:00 UTC.
USACE Nashville District via USACE Access to Water (location page), latest values at retrieval November 10, 2026. Provisional.
Fish KDFWR names for Lake Barkley Tailwater
KDFWR waterbody page for Lake Barkley Tailwater, read November 10, 2026.
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Below is the special-regulation table KDFWR posts for Lake Barkley Tailwater, unedited.
| Species | Rule as KDFWR prints it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass | Statewide Regulations Apply | |
| White Bass | Statewide Regulations Apply | |
| Sauger | Must be 14 inches or over, Limit 6 per angler |
KDFWR waterbody page for Lake Barkley Tailwater, read November 10, 2026.
Guide special-regulation text for Lake Barkley Tailwater
- CUMBERLAND RIVER from Lake Barkley Dam downstream to confluence with Ohio RiverGigging and snagging regulations along with special regulations for the Cumberland River below Lake Barkley can be found on page 14. Fishing prohibited at the mouth of the lock chamber at Barkley Dam as designated by signs.
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026, p. 7-12; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
Baseline Kentucky creel rows for Lake Barkley Tailwater
| Species group | Daily | Possession | Minimum size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye, Sauger, and their Hybrids | 6* | 12* | 14" |
| White & Hybrid Striped Bass | 15** | 30** | none** |
| Striped Bass | 5 | 10 | 15" |
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026, p. 4; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
Possession at Lake Barkley Tailwater follows the guide line: "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.
Wading and bank spots on Lake Barkley Tailwater
- Pinckneyville Ramp on Lake Barkley Tailwaterboat ramp, paved, single lane; Livingston County
- Vicksburg Ramp on Lake Barkley Tailwaterboat ramp, paved, single lane; Livingston County
- Dycusburg ramp on Lake Barkley Tailwaterboat ramp, paved, single lane; Crittenden County
- Iuka Boat Ramp on Lake Barkley Tailwaterboat ramp, paved, single lane; Livingston County
Alternate launch points beside Lake Barkley Tailwater
- Haddock Ferry Boat Ramp on Tennessee RiverTennessee River, 9 miles
- Old Ferry Landing on Tennessee RiverTennessee River, 9 miles
- Barkley Tailwater Boat RampLake Barkley, 9 miles
- Smithland Ramp on Ohio River (West)Ohio River (West), 9 miles
- Poplar Creek Boat Ramp on Lake BarkleyLake Barkley, 9 miles
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.
Pool water behind the dam over Lake Barkley Tailwater
Upstream sits Lake Barkley.
39,496 acres in Kentucky by KDFWR.
In the same corner as Lake Barkley Tailwater
Below other Corps dams than Lake Barkley Tailwater
- Kentucky Lake Tailwater9 miles
- Nolin River Lake Tailwater110 miles
- Barren River Lake Tailwater118 miles
- Green River Lake Tailwater160 miles
- Lake Cumberland Tailwater163 miles
- Herrington Lake Tailwater199 miles
- Cave Run Lake Tailwater266 miles
Bait and tackle on the way to Lake Barkley Tailwater
- Cabin & Bait Tacklebait and tackle shop, Kuttawa, 9 miles
- Buzzard Rock Marinamarina, Kuttawa, 10 miles
- Green Turtle Bay Conferencemarina, Grand Rivers, 11 miles
- Lighthouse Landing Resort and Marinamarina, Grand Rivers, 11 miles
- Sporrtmans Bait & Marine Repairbait and tackle shop, Gilbertsville, 11 miles
- Kentucky Dam Marinamarina, Gilbertsville, 11 miles
Towns a county-road drive from Lake Barkley Tailwater
- Eddyville11 miles
- Calvert City11 miles
- Marion15 miles
- Reidland18 miles
Lake Barkley Tailwater split up by Kentucky county
- Crittenden County
- Livingston County
Piscifun tackle set aside for a day on Lake Barkley Tailwater
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Bluegrass and coalfield water near Lake Barkley Tailwater, on film
Photo: LouisvilleUSACE, CC BY 2.0
Photo: LouisvilleUSACE, CC BY 2.0
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Land Between the Lakes KY\/TN, Public domain
Common puzzles about fishing Lake Barkley Tailwater
Which Kentucky county holds Lake Barkley Tailwater?
In Crittenden and Livingston counties, just downstream of Barkley Lock and Dam and Lake Barkley.
When does KDFWR stock Lake Barkley Tailwater?
The trout table does not list it.
Which KDFWR license covers a day at Lake Barkley Tailwater?
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.
What is the release from Lake Barkley Tailwater today?
The dam band lists 7,000 cfs released, with its time.
What does KDFWR restrict at Lake Barkley Tailwater?
4 special-regulation lines apply; read them above.
Which KDFWR site serves Lake Barkley Tailwater?
KDFWR maps 4 access sites; Dycusburg ramp on Lake Barkley Tailwater is one.
Where do Lake Barkley Tailwater regulars restock flies and line?
Stop at Cabin & Bait Tackle, about 9 miles away.
Where else can I fish below a Corps dam besides Lake Barkley Tailwater?
The rest are Barren River Lake Tailwater, Nolin River Lake Tailwater, Herrington Lake Tailwater, Lake Cumberland Tailwater, Kentucky Lake Tailwater, Cave Run Lake Tailwater and Green River Lake Tailwater.
Time the generation schedule at Lake Barkley Tailwater
Check the creel numbers first.