It’s a fishing day

Lake Cumberland fishing conditions · Kentucky

Now until 6 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 65.

Freeze Warning until Sunday 10 am
Log a trip here
Right now: 61 for walleye, marginal · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Walleye, 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. 614 pm
  2. 65
  3. 53
  4. 517 pm
  5. 41
  6. 41
  7. 4110 pm
  8. 45
  9. 45Sun
  10. 411 am
  11. 41
  12. 41
  13. 414 am
  14. 41
  15. 41
  16. 457 am
  17. 41
  18. 41
  19. 4110 am
  20. 45
  21. 47
  22. 511 pm
  23. 51
  24. 51
  25. 514 pm
  26. 55
  27. 43
  28. 437 pm
  29. 41
  30. 41
  31. 4110 pm
  32. 41
  33. 45Mon
  34. 451 am
  35. 41
  36. 41
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Walleye range 50–72°

Wind
5 mph

From the north

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:37 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
57°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.

Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

65MarginalNow until 6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Kentucky statewide: 14" minimum, 6 walleye, sauger and hybrids a day combined. Barren River and the Cumberland above the falls protect walleye from 18 to 26" and allow 2 a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Kentucky

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Oct–May, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on walleye

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

53Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Striped bass bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

22" minimum · 2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No striped bass under 22"; 2 a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Lake Cumberland

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on striped bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

53Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

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

Keep

15" minimum · 6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No largemouth under 15"; 6 black bass a day combined.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley and Lake Cumberland

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

53Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

18" minimum · 6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No smallmouth under 18"; 6 black bass a day combined.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Lake Cumberland

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

53Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

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

Keep

10" minimum · 20 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No crappie under 10"; 20 a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley and Lake Cumberland

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Jun, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on crappie

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.17 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:37 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 · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

A deep, sprawling south-central Kentucky reservoir famous as a trophy striped-bass lake, with strong largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, and crappie.

Nearby

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

Cumberland River (Wolf Creek tailwater)4 mi · KentuckyBest now until 5 pmFreeze Warning
59Marginal
Dale Hollow Lake27 mi · TennesseeBest now until 7 pm
90Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Lake Cumberland?

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Lake Cumberland?

Lake Cumberland is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, and 1 more. 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 Lake Cumberland?

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 Lake Cumberland 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 Lake Cumberland have?

Lake Cumberland has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Lake Cumberland?

state agency regulations apply at Lake Cumberland. 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 Lake Cumberland tidal water?

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