Reservoir · Kentucky
Rough River Lake
Rough River Lake
Reservoir · Kentucky
Information Only
StrikeTracks does not currently provide a live condition rating for this destination. Destination and fishery information is still available.
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Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Rough River Lake.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Rough River Lake is a 5,100-acre USACE reservoir. KDFWR 2026 forecast covers channel catfish, crappie (10-inch minimum in 2026), an excellent hybrid striped bass fishery with trolling and jump-fishing tactics, and largemouth bass with May and September creel peaks. The tailwater may close intermittently during dam work.
Target species
Hybrid Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis × Morone chrysops
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- unknown
- Confidence
- High confidence
2026 forecast describes an excellent hybrid fishery with spring upstream, summer trolling/jumps, and fall/winter points and flats.
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus nigricans
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- unknown
- Confidence
- High confidence
2026 forecast describes stable 15-inch-plus largemouth; May and September most productive by creel data.
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- unknown
- Confidence
- High confidence
2026 forecast describes good crappie numbers with many over 11 inches and seasonal shallow-to-timber shifts.
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Established
- Native status
- unknown
- Confidence
- High confidence
2026 forecast describes many 22-inch-plus channel catfish.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
USACE reservoir with riverine upper ends, main-lake points, and documented summer water-quality constraints keeping fish shallower than about 18 feet June–September.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Boat fishing
- Spinning
- Trolling
Access and Public Fishing Rights
KDFWR WaterbodyDetail lists many public ramps. Confirm current USACE dam-construction and tailwater-closure notices; those notices apply to the tailwater, not automatically to the pool.
Stocking information
Hybrid striped bass are a featured managed fishery in the 2026 forecast. Confirm current KDFWR outlooks.
- Stocked
Hybrid Striped Bass
Stocked · Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Official sources
KDFWR raised the crappie minimum to 10 inches in 2026. Tailwater can close during dam construction and is not pool temperature. Verify current guide text and USACE notices.
Public catalog object under TN-KY-LAKE-RECOVERY-1. conditionPublicationPolicy=static-value-structural-unavailable. Unavailable means insufficient thermal information, not Poor.
Location and Access
Cataloged lake location
Kentucky
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Lake Details
Management Category
Public reservoir fishery
Regulation Scope
Rough River Lake
Regulation Summary
KDFWR Rough River Lake special regulations; 2026 crappie minimum 10 inches.
Surface Area
5100 acres
Target Species
Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Hybrid Striped Bass, Channel Catfish
Public Access
Public
Boat Launch
Available
Shore Fishing
Available
Description
USACE Rough River Lake. Catalog-visible Unavailable: no qualifying same-lake live USGS 00010. Not Rough River tailwater / construction closures. Coordinates: Rough River Lake body representative. Unavailable means insufficient thermal information, not Poor.
