Fishing near Covington, Kentucky
City, Kenton County. Census 2020 residents: 40,961.
- 3 milesSouthgate Park
- 8ramps within 15 mi
- 1river within 20 mi
Pick for rainbow troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Where Covington anglers head
Covington, a city in Kenton County, had 40,961 residents when the 2020 count was taken. County government for Kenton County meets in town. Southgate Park lies about 3 miles to the northeast, nearer than any other lake page. Doe Run Lake, with 49 acres, is the widest lake within reach.
With a trailer, Fredericks Landing on Licking River is the nearest KDFWR launch at 2 miles. Around 11 miles off is the Gunpowder Creek. Southgate Park Lake, roughly 3 miles away, offers shore access. Kids can fish Southgate Park, a FINs lake 3 miles from town.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 10, 2026. Straight-line miles from the Census place point.
Lakes in driving range of Covington
| Lake | From Covington | Size | KDFWR ramps | Kind | Fish in the KDFWR table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southgate Park | 3 miles northeast | 1.8 acres | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
| Prisoner's Lake | 3 miles north | 3.8 acres | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
| Doe Run Lake | 4 miles southwest | 49 acres | 1 | lake | channel catfish, largemouth bass |
| Middleton-Mills Park | 6 miles south | no KDFWR figure | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
| Shor Lake | 9 miles southwest | 2.8 acres | 0 | lake | none in the table |
| Alexandria Community Park Lake | 10 miles southeast | 7.2 acres | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
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.
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- Gunpowder Creek11 miles, guide trout stream, special limits, 1 KDFWR access site, 1 USGS gauge
USGS readings near Covington
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Threemile Creek At Three Mile Road At Covington,ky | 2 cfs, 2.06 ft gage height | Nov 12 10:30 pm |
| Banklick Creek @ Highway 1829 Nr Erlanger, Ky | 7 cfs, 1.47 ft gage height | Nov 12 11:00 pm |
| Pleasant Run Creek At Oak Street Near Ludlow, Ky | 3 cfs, 1.21 ft gage height | Nov 12 11:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 11:32 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.
Plotted fishing spots around Covington
KDFWR Fishing Access Sites in Kentucky layer (ArcGIS service), read November 10, 2026. Census place point.
Ramps handiest to Covington
- Fredericks Landing on Licking River2 miles, Licking River, boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes
- Doe Run Ramp4 miles, Doe Run Lake, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Clines on the River Boat Ramp on Licking River4 miles, Licking River, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Riverside Public Ramp on Ohio River (Below Cincinnati)5 miles, Ohio River (Below Cincinnati), boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Kenton Co. Park Ramp (Locust Pike Park) on Licking River5 miles, Licking River, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Schmidt Field Boat Ramp on Ohio River (Above Cincinnati)6 miles, Ohio River (Above Cincinnati), boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, courtesy dock
- Ross Ramp on Ohio River (Above Cincinnati)10 miles, Ohio River (Above Cincinnati), boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes
- Camp Ernst Lake Boat Ramp11 miles, Camp Ernst Lake, boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes
KDFWR piers and bank spots near Covington
- Southgate Park Lake3 miles, Southgate Park, bank access
- Prisoner's Lake Bank Access3 miles, Prisoner's Lake, bank access
- Middleton-Mills Shelterhouse Pond on Middleton-Mills Park6 miles, Middleton-Mills Park, bank access
- Middleton-Mills Shelterhouse Pond Fishing Pier on Middleton-Mills Park6 miles, Middleton-Mills Park, fishing pier
- Middleton-Mills Long Pond on Middleton-Mills Park6 miles, Middleton-Mills Park, bank access
- Shor Lake Bank Access9 miles, Shor Lake, bank access
KDFWR Fishing Access Sites in Kentucky layer (ArcGIS service), read November 10, 2026.
FINs lakes within a drive of Covington
| Lake | Distance | Trout by month | Catfish by month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southgate Park | 3 miles | Feb 500, Mar 500, Nov 500 | Apr 400, Jun 400 |
| Prisoner's Lake | 3 miles | Feb 750, Mar 750, Oct 750 | Apr 800, Jun 800 |
| Middleton-Mills Park | 6 miles | Feb 500, Mar 500, Oct 500 | Mar 300, Apr 300, May 300, Jun 300 |
| Middleton-Mills Park | 6 miles | Feb 500, Mar 500, Oct 500 | Mar 300, Apr 300, May 300, Jun 300 |
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026, p. 6; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
Creel rules for water near Covington
Unless a nearby water carries a special regulation, Covington anglers go by this table. A year on Kentucky water costs $24.31 with residency and $58.14 without it, per the 2026 guide.
| 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** |
- Southgate ParkLargemouth Bass: Must be 15 inches or over – Limit 1 per angler
- Prisoner's LakeLargemouth Bass: Must be 15 inches or over – Limit 1 per angler
- Doe Run LakeChannel Catfish: Limit 4 per angler
- Middleton-Mills ParkLargemouth Bass: Must be 15 inches or over – Limit 1 per angler
- Alexandria Community Park LakeLargemouth Bass: Must be 15 inches or over – Limit 1 per angler
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.
KDFWR record entries around Covington
| Species | Weight as listed | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saugeye | 9.03 lbs | Bullock Pen Lake | 03/21/2021 |
Kentucky state record fish as listed by KDFWR (record list), read November 10, 2026. Record waters within 50 miles.
Guides and tackle shops near Covington
Bait stores a short hop from Covington
- Latonia Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Covington, 1 mile
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 520 Clock Tower Waybait and tackle shop, Crescent Springs, 3 miles
- Herald's Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Newport, 3 miles
- Villa Hills Marinamarina, Villa Hills, 5 miles
- BBS Tech Incbait and tackle shop, Erlanger, 6 miles
- Riverside Marina Bar and Grillmarina, Dayton, 6 miles
- Manhattan Harbour Marinamarina, Dayton, 6 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 1336 Hansel Avebait and tackle shop, Florence, 6 miles
Yellow Pages and Kentucky tourism listings; miles only where the listing gives an exact address point, read November 10, 2026.
Minutes past Covington by road
Towns sharing water with Covington
- Fort Wright1 mile, 2020 count 5,851
- Fort Mitchell2 miles, 2020 count 8,702
- Wilder2 miles, 2020 count 3,176
- Taylor Mill2 miles, 2020 count 6,873
- Park Hills2 miles, 2020 count 3,162
Still water for a second day past Covington
- Southgate Park3 miles
- Prisoner's Lake3 miles
- Doe Run Lake4 miles
- Middleton-Mills Park6 miles
- Kenton Countycounty page
Piscifun rods, reels and pliers to sort before heading to Covington
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Field-guide photos for fish at Covington
Photo: Yellowstone National Park, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Under the same moon, CC BY 2.0
Turning Covington into a tackle-box basecamp
Where is the nearest Kentucky lake to Covington?
Southgate Park, about 3 miles northeast.
Which KDFWR ramp is closest to Covington?
Fredericks Landing on Licking River, 2 miles away, on Licking River.
Can I fish from the bank near Covington, Kentucky?
Southgate Park Lake, 3 miles away (bank access).
Which shops near Covington stock tackle?
Latonia Bait & Tackle, one of 8 listings nearby.
What county includes Covington?
Kenton County. It is also a county seat.
How much is a Kentucky license for fishing near Covington?
KDFWR's 2026 fee list shows $24.31 for residents and $58.14 for nonresidents buying an annual license.
Which Kentucky town pages are near Covington?
Fort Wright (1 mile), Fort Mitchell (2 miles) and Wilder (2 miles).
How many bass can I keep near Covington under the 2026 guide?
Statewide daily limit 6*, possession 12*, minimum size 12". Lakes with a special regulation differ.
Is there a KDFWR river page near Covington?
Gunpowder Creek lies roughly 11 miles from town.
Does KDFWR stock a lake near Covington?
Southgate Park, 3 miles away, on the FINs stocking table.
Make Covington your Kentucky fishing base camp
County pages list every KDFWR launch site.