The Cumberland River below Lake Cumberland is one of the premier trout fishing destinations in the southeastern United States. Home to the state record 21-pound brown trout and a 14-pound, 6-ounce rainbow trout, the 75-mile Kentucky portion of the Cumberland tailwater rivals the White River of Arkansas and the Caney Fork in Tennessee.

Wolf Creek Dam, which holds back the waters of Lake Cumberland, unleashes a powerful current that can be dangerous to paddlers. At lower water flows and when the dam is not generating electricity through its turbines, however, the Cumberland is ideal for small boats.

​The first 16 miles of water from Lake Cumberland’s Wolf Creek Dam to Winfrey’s Ferry is a great place for canoeists, kayakers and owners of small johnboats to float and fish. A few mildly challenging shoals exist in this stretch, perfect water for beginning canoeists and kayakers to hone their skills.

Fishing Access Type:
    Boat Y under typical conditions
    Kayak Y under typical conditions
    Wading Y under 0 generation

Fishing Access:
    Kendall Campground
        Boat Ramp right below the dam
    Hatchery Creek Access
        Located below hatchery at the dam
    Old Kendall Ferry Ramp
​        Lat 36.8844 Lon -85.1295 2 Miles from dam
​    River Map

Fishing Style:
    Nymph
    Midge Larva
    Midge Pupae
   Terrestrials
​    Streamers

Equipment:
    10' or 11' 3wt rod
    10' or 11' 4wt rod
      9' 5wt rod
      9' 6wt rod
      9' 7wt rod

Flies: Hatch Chart

Water Flow: Data

Species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout

Misc. Information: Fishing License