Fishing near Independence, Kentucky
City, Kenton County. Census 2020 residents: 28,676.
- 2 milesDoe Run Lake
- 8ramps within 15 mi
- 1river within 20 mi
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Casting a line near Independence
Census figures for 2020 put 28,676 people in the Kenton County city of Independence. It doubles as the Kenton County seat of government. About 2 miles north of town sits Doe Run Lake, the nearest lake covered here.
The shortest tow runs 2 miles to Doe Run Ramp. The closest stream page is the Gunpowder Creek, 10 miles away. Shore casters drive about 3 miles to Middleton-Mills Long Pond on Middleton-Mills Park. Middleton-Mills Park, roughly 3 miles off, gets FINs catfish or trout.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census counts (TIGERweb) and the 2023 Gazetteer, read November 10, 2026. Straight-line miles from the Census place point.
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| Lake | From Independence | Size | KDFWR ramps | Kind | Fish in the KDFWR table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doe Run Lake | 2 miles north | 49 acres | 1 | lake | channel catfish, largemouth bass |
| Middleton-Mills Park | 3 miles east | no KDFWR figure | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
| Shor Lake | 4 miles southwest | 2.8 acres | 0 | lake | none in the table |
| Southgate Park | 8 miles northeast | 1.8 acres | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
| Prisoner's Lake | 9 miles north | 3.8 acres | 0 | FINs lake | largemouth bass, rainbow trout, bluegill |
| Camp Ernst Lake | 9 miles west | 25 acres | 1 | 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.
Floatable streams near Independence
- Gunpowder Creek10 miles, guide trout stream, special limits, 1 KDFWR access site, 1 USGS gauge
Stream gauges close to Independence
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Banklick Creek @ Highway 1829 Nr Erlanger, Ky | 0 cfs, 1.04 ft gage height | Nov 11 6:00 pm |
| Licking River At Hwy 536 Near Alexandria, Ky | 345 cfs, 6.59 ft gage height | Nov 11 5:30 pm |
| Threemile Creek At Three Mile Road At Covington,ky | 1 cfs, 1.92 ft gage height | Nov 11 5:30 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 6:33 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.
Independence ramps and lakes, charted
KDFWR Fishing Access Sites in Kentucky layer (ArcGIS service), read November 10, 2026. Census place point.
Boat put-ins closest to Independence
- Doe Run Ramp2 miles, Doe Run Lake, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Kenton Co. Park Ramp (Locust Pike Park) on Licking River5 miles, Licking River, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Clines on the River Boat Ramp on Licking River6 miles, Licking River, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Fredericks Landing on Licking River7 miles, Licking River, boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes
- Riverside Public Ramp on Ohio River (Below Cincinnati)9 miles, Ohio River (Below Cincinnati), boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Camp Ernst Lake Boat Ramp9 miles, Camp Ernst Lake, boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes
- A.J. Jolly Park Boat Ramp11 miles, A.J. Jolly Lake, boat ramp, paved, single lane
- Schmidt Field Boat Ramp on Ohio River (Above Cincinnati)11 miles, Ohio River (Above Cincinnati), boat ramp, paved, multiple lanes, courtesy dock
Shore casting close to Independence
- Middleton-Mills Long Pond on Middleton-Mills Park3 miles, Middleton-Mills Park, bank access
- Middleton-Mills Shelterhouse Pond on Middleton-Mills Park3 miles, Middleton-Mills Park, bank access
- Middleton-Mills Shelterhouse Pond Fishing Pier on Middleton-Mills Park3 miles, Middleton-Mills Park, fishing pier
- Shor Lake Bank Access4 miles, Shor Lake, bank access
- Southgate Park Lake8 miles, Southgate Park, bank access
- Prisoner's Lake Bank Access9 miles, Prisoner's Lake, bank access
KDFWR Fishing Access Sites in Kentucky layer (ArcGIS service), read November 10, 2026.
Neighborhood fishing lakes around Independence
| Lake | Distance | Trout by month | Catfish by month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middleton-Mills Park | 3 miles | Feb 500, Mar 500, Oct 500 | Mar 300, Apr 300, May 300, Jun 300 |
| Middleton-Mills Park | 3 miles | Feb 500, Mar 500, Oct 500 | Mar 300, Apr 300, May 300, Jun 300 |
| Southgate Park | 8 miles | Feb 500, Mar 500, Nov 500 | Apr 400, Jun 400 |
| Prisoner's Lake | 9 miles | Feb 750, Mar 750, Oct 750 | Apr 800, Jun 800 |
2026 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide (Regulations Summary March 2026 to February 2027, updated September 2026, p. 6; KDFWR PDF), read November 10, 2026.
What the 2026 guide lets anglers near Independence keep
Around Independence, the guide's statewide limits apply wherever a water has no special regulation. Budget $24.31 for the resident annual license or $58.14 for the out-of-state version.
| 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** |
- Doe Run LakeChannel Catfish: Limit 4 per angler
- Middleton-Mills ParkLargemouth Bass: Must be 15 inches or over – Limit 1 per angler
- 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
- Camp Ernst 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.
Record-list waters near Independence
| 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.
Bait counters handy to Independence
Bait and tackle on the way to Independence
- Coraggio Outdoorsbait and tackle shop, Independence, 3 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods, 1336 Hansel Avebait and tackle shop, Florence, 6 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse, 520 Clock Tower Waybait and tackle shop, Crescent Springs, 7 miles
- Latonia Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Covington, 7 miles
- Butler Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Walton, 7 miles
- BBS Tech Incbait and tackle shop, Erlanger, 8 miles
- Villa Hills Marinamarina, Villa Hills, 8 miles
- Herald's Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Newport, 9 miles
Yellow Pages and Kentucky tourism listings; miles only where the listing gives an exact address point, read November 10, 2026.
In the same corner as Independence
More Kentucky towns near Independence
- Edgewood4 miles, 2020 count 8,435
- Elsmere4 miles, 2020 count 9,159
- Taylor Mill4 miles, 2020 count 6,873
- Crestview Hills5 miles, 2020 count 3,246
- Lakeside Park5 miles, 2020 count 2,841
Reservoirs and small lakes around Independence
- Doe Run Lake2 miles
- Middleton-Mills Park3 miles
- Shor Lake4 miles
- Southgate Park8 miles
- Kenton Countycounty page
Piscifun tackle set aside for a day on Independence
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Bluegrass and coalfield water near Independence, on film
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Morgan, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Alissa Weaver, CC0 1.0
Questions from rod-carrying guests in Independence
Which KDFWR-covered lake sits closest to Independence?
Doe Run Lake, about 2 miles north.
Is there a public boat ramp near Independence?
Doe Run Ramp, 2 miles away, on Doe Run Lake.
Is there a KDFWR fishing pier near Independence?
Middleton-Mills Long Pond on Middleton-Mills Park, 3 miles away (bank access).
Where can I buy bait near Independence, Kentucky?
Coraggio Outdoors, one of 8 listings nearby.
Which Kentucky county is Independence part of?
Kenton County. It is also a county seat.
What license do visitors to Independence need?
An annual Kentucky license runs $24.31 for residents; nonresidents are charged $58.14.
Where else in Kentucky could I stay near Independence?
Edgewood (4 miles), Elsmere (4 miles) and Taylor Mill (4 miles).
What Kentucky bass rule applies around Independence?
Statewide daily limit 6*, possession 12*, minimum size 12". Lakes with a special regulation differ.
Which Kentucky river is closest to Independence?
Gunpowder Creek lies roughly 10 miles from town.
Which FINs lake is closest to Independence?
Middleton-Mills Park, 3 miles away, on the FINs stocking table.
Head for the water from Independence
River pages show KDFWR access sites and USGS flow.