It’s a fishing day

Cumberland River (Wolf Creek tailwater) fishing conditions · Kentucky

Now until 5 pmBrown trout

The bite peaks at 59. Water is 61°, inside their 45–68° range.

Freeze Warning until Sunday 10 am
Log a trip here
Right now: 59 for brown trout, marginal · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Brown trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 594 pm
  2. 51
  3. 49
  4. 497 pm
  5. 39
  6. 39
  7. 3910 pm
  8. 39
  9. 39Sun
  10. 391 am
  11. 39
  12. 39
  13. 394 am
  14. 39
  15. 39
  16. 397 am
  17. 39
  18. 39
  19. 3910 am
  20. 39
  21. 39
  22. 411 pm
  23. 41
  24. 41
  25. 494 pm
  26. 41
  27. 39
  28. 397 pm
  29. 39
  30. 39
  31. 3910 pm
  32. 39
  33. 39Mon
  34. 391 am
  35. 39
  36. 39
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
61°F

Brown trout range 45–68°

Wind
5 mph

From the north

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:38 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
58°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Kentucky regulations for these waters.

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

59MarginalNow until 5 pm

Water

61°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside brown trout's active range. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

20" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Brown and cutthroat trout: 20" minimum, 1 a day. Trout permit required; no chumming.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Cumberland River, Wolf Creek Dam to the Tennessee line

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on brown trout

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

59MarginalNow until 5 pm

Water

61°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside rainbow trout's active range. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Release 15–20".

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Rainbows from 15 to 20" must be released; 5 a day with only 1 over 20". Trout permit required; no chumming.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Cumberland River, Wolf Creek Dam to the Tennessee line

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on rainbow trout

The water

  • Water temperature61°F
  • Barometer30.17 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:38 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:11 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 4:10 pm–5:10 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:30 pm–12:30 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:20 am–7:20 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Kentucky Fish & Wildlife has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · trout stocking · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The cold tailwater below Wolf Creek Dam — Kentucky's premier trout river and home of the state-record 21-pound brown trout. Long generation-driven flows grow trophy browns and stocked rainbows over 50+ miles of fishable water; drift-boated and waded at low generation.

KY: trout permit required, no chumming. Brown trout 20" minimum, 1 a day; rainbows from 15 to 20" must be released, 5 a day with only 1 over 20"; brook trout 15" minimum, 1 a day. Flows swing fast with dam generation.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Lake Cumberland4 mi · KentuckyBest now until 6 pmFreeze Warning
65Marginal
Dale Hollow Lake23 mi · TennesseeBest now until 7 pm
90Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Cumberland River (Wolf Creek tailwater)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Cumberland River (Wolf Creek tailwater) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Cumberland River (Wolf Creek tailwater)?

Cumberland River (Wolf Creek tailwater) is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Cumberland River (Wolf Creek tailwater)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Cumberland River (Wolf Creek tailwater) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Cumberland River (Wolf Creek tailwater) have?

Cumberland River (Wolf Creek tailwater) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. KY: trout permit required, no chumming. Brown trout 20" minimum, 1 a day; rainbows from 15 to 20" must be released, 5 a day with only 1 over 20"; brook trout 15" minimum, 1 a day. Flows swing fast with dam generation.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Cumberland River (Wolf Creek tailwater)?

state agency regulations apply at Cumberland River (Wolf Creek tailwater). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Cumberland River (Wolf Creek tailwater) tidal water?

No. Cumberland River (Wolf Creek tailwater) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.