LAKES AND RIVERS
Freshwater and some of the best lakes in KY surrounds Livingston County.
The Ohio River marks the northern and western boundaries of Livingston County, and the Tennessee River and Kentucky Lake mark the southern boundary. The Cumberland River and Lake Barkley mark part of the southeastern boundary. The Cumberland River then flows through the middle of the county, merging with the Ohio River at Smithland.
Check us out for some of the best fishing and best lakes in KY.
Smithland Pool
The Smithland Pool was created with the completion of the Smithland Dam on the Ohio River.
The Smithland Pool runs from the Smithland Dam to the J T Meyers Dam near Uniontown, KY. The pool is 72 miles long and contains over 27000 acres of the beautiful Ohio Rivers waters. This river pool is well known to bass fisherman & is recognized as one of the finest fishing areas in the nation.
Livingston County offers Ohio River public access boat ramps at Carrsville, Birdsville, Dyer Creek, Givens Creek, Smithland Ramp (unpaved) and Ohio River Bayou Creek. The Haddock Ferry ramp gives access to the Tennessee River. For access to Lake Barkley tailwaters/ Cumberland River check out the ramps in Iuka, Pinckneyville, and Vicksburg.
You can check all Kentucky Waterbodies and Search for Fishing and Boating ramp and bank fishing access sites online.
Kentucky Lake
The largest lake in the state of Kentucky, the largest watershed on the Tennessee River system, a legendary fishing lake on the tournament circuit; welcome to Kentucky Lake.
Created by the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1944, Kentucky Lake covers 160,000 surface acres of water and is the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi River. This big body of water is a great lake for fishing, recreational boating, kayaking, and even sailing.
Kentucky Lake is one of the best lakes for sports fishing in the country, and a great fishing lake for crappie, bass, bluegill, and catfish.
LAKE BARKLEY
The second largest lake in Kentucky, Lake Barkley offers a variety of recreational opportunities for millions of visitors each year.
Lake Barkley is 134 miles long with a shoreline measuring 1,004 miles. A canal connects Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley at Grand Rivers, combining these two lakes into one huge water playground.
Sports fishing and recreational boating are as popular on Lake Barkley as they are on Kentucky Lake. Some visitors prefer Barkley’s narrower protected main lake, and calm seclude bays.
Like Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley offers a navigation lock for Cumberland River traffic.
