Cumberland River Tailwater Fishing Map & Spots (KY)

Hatch outlook

Sulphurs (South Holston / Watauga)Active window

Typical here: Apr 20 – Oct 31 · heaviest May–July on the tailwaters, thinning after August; the marquee hatch of the Southeast

nymphall day between events — a #16–18 pheasant tail is the default
emergerlong glassy drifts on the spring-creek flats — match emergers, duns and spinners
dunlate afternoon into evening
spinnerevening, over the riffles and seams

Months of predictable afternoon-into-evening surface feeds on wild-brown water — the concentrating event of the Southeast.

Low-flow sulphur evenings pull big wild browns onto shallow weed flats: smallest inline spinners and 2" minnow plugs through the seams before the hatch peaks, or a casting bubble with a sulphur wet once fish pod up. On generation, fish the buffered edges instead — TVA release water moves fast.

The event happens over weed-bed flats, seams and foam lines of the tailwater; riffle-to-flat transitions

Tailwater midgesActive window

Typical here: Jan 1 – Dec 31 · the year-round baseline on every tailwater; the winter midday emergence is the show on the Clinch

pupaall day — the workhorse stage under an indicator
emergermidday in winter — the surface window
adultwinter afternoons; a clustered Griffith's Gnat for the pods

Baseline food, not an event — but the winter midday emergence concentrates surface pods in the Clinch and SoHo slicks; that midday window is the winter fishery.

Honest limit: #22 pupae can't be matched with hardware. The same fish still eat a 1/64 oz micro-jig or small soft plastic dead-drifted through the slicks — or fish minnow profiles on generation flows when the midging fish stop rising.

The event happens over slow slicks, eddies and flats the whole length of the tailwater

Sow bugs & scuds (tailwaters)Active window

Typical here: Jan 1 – Dec 31

nymphall day, year-round — not an emergence — a drifting-food baseline; dead-drift near bottom, weighted, under an indicator

The constant subsurface grocery of the limestone-fed tailwaters — fly-selection guidance, not a timing signal.

This is why micro-jig presentations flat-out work on these tailwaters year-round — a 1/64 oz mushroom-head plastic IS a scud drift. Dead-drift it under a float in walking-pace water.

The event happens over weed beds, vegetation edges and gravel throughout the tailwater

Inchworm (Green Weenie)Active window

Typical here: Jun 1 – Oct 15 · the actual inchworm drop peaks in early summer; the Green Weenie keeps producing through summer into early fall

adultall day — not a hatch — a canopy fallout: fish it under overhanging trees, dropped or drowned; the Green Weenie fishes as a sunk nymph as much as a floater

The Smokies' summer default: fish hold under wooded banks and eat it opportunistically all day.

The same logic conventional: small chartreuse soft-plastic grubs and trout worms drifted under the overhanging trees, or a bubble with a Green Weenie behind it. Target shaded tree-lined banks at midday when nothing is hatching.

The event happens over under overhanging trees and wooded, shaded banks

Little Yellow Stonefly (Yellow Sally)Active window

Typical here: Apr 15 – Aug 31 · the park's most prolific hatch; all day in spring, first and last light in summer

nymphpre-hatch — a stonefly — emerges by crawling to the banks; trout get selective on the migrating nymphs near shore, not mid-column
adultall day in spring, early morning and late evening in summer
ovipositingfemales deposit eggs just prior to dark — the dry-fly moment

The most prolific bug in the park keeps fish surface-oriented from late April into August; the dusk egg-laying flight is a daily appointment.

Summer's first-and-last-light surface orientation is spinner time: small gold and yellow single-hook spinners along the banks at dawn and dusk. Midday in summer, go deeper in the pockets.

The event happens over riffles and shaded banks; egg-layers over the riffles at dusk

Golden StoneflyActive window

Typical here: May 1 – Sep 30

nymphin fast rocky water all year — the big-fish dredge
adultall day — stonefly crawl-out emergence — banksides and mid-stream boulders, not open-water rises; fish the dry near structure

The biggest bug of the southern summer — a #6–10 meal keeps quality fish willing all day.

Fish eating #6 insects eat hardware: the best window for slightly larger spinners (#2) and small crankbaits through the boulder pockets — the golden stone is your cover story.

The event happens over fast boulder pockets, mid-stream rocks and banks

Isonychia (Slate Drake)Active window

Typical here: May 1 – Oct 31 · off and on all summer; strongest Sept–Oct in the park, May–Sept on the Hiwassee

nymphafternoons — emerges by crawling out on rocks — the fishable moment is the fast shoreward swim; swing or strip the nymph toward the bank; the dun itself matters little to anglers here
spinnerevening, secondary

The best fly-to-spin translation in the region: the natural is a darting swimmer, so #1–2 inline spinners and small minnow plugs retrieved across fast runs toward shoreline rocks genuinely match the behavior — afternoons, June to October.

The event happens over fast runs, boulder pockets and shoreline rocks

Next on this water

Blue-Winged Olives · mayflySep 1 – May 31 · in ~3 days

Fall caddis (Great Autumn Sedge) · caddisSep 1 – Oct 31 · in ~3 days

Quill Gordon · mayflyFeb 15 – Apr 30 · in ~6 months

Blue Quill · mayflyMar 1 – Apr 30 · in ~6 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours on this water are approximations. Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

Loading depth chart…

Recent catches at Cumberland River Tailwater

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put Cumberland River Tailwater on the board.

Fishing Cumberland River Tailwater: what the data says

Below Wolf Creek Dam. 75 miles of cold water and some of America's biggest brown trout. The river tops out around 30 ft. Contours on this water are modeled from its actual shoreline and max depth. Good for finding likely water, never for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.

The drawn water covers 1,599 acres wrapped in 45.7 miles of bank. A development index of 8.2 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. 49% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. Call it 9.7 mi long by 3.8 mi wide at the broadest reach. It sits in Clinton County. If the bite dies, Lake Cumberland is 19 mi to the east.

Rainbow Trout fishing at Cumberland River Tailwater

When the water first warms, rainbow trout slide up into 5 to 20 ft. By summer they slide out to 8 to 30 ft, and by winter most fish are in 6 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 7.5): a current seam around 17 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon rigged through the warm months.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	5 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Current seam (mile 7.5) (17 ft)	Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon
Summer	8 to 30 ft	dawn & dusk	Current seam (mile 7.5) (17 ft)	Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon
Fall	9 to 30 ft	dawn & dusk	Current seam (mile 7.5) (17 ft)	Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals
Winter	6 to 30 ft	dawn	Current seam (mile 7.5) (17 ft)	Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white)

Striped Bass fishing at Cumberland River Tailwater

In spring, striped bass run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 9 to 30 ft before dropping to 9 to 30 ft for winter. Summer striped bass concentrate at Wolf Creek Dam tailrace, a prime-rated dam tailrace around 26 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) most summer days.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	5 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Current seam (mile 7.5) (17 ft)	Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn)
Summer	9 to 30 ft	dawn & dusk	Wolf Creek Dam tailrace (26 ft)	Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled)
Fall	9 to 30 ft	dawn & dusk	Wolf Creek Dam tailrace (26 ft)	Topwater walker, Jerkbait
Winter	9 to 30 ft	midday	Wolf Creek Dam tailrace (26 ft)	Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon

Walleye fishing at Cumberland River Tailwater

The spring pattern is a shallow one: walleye in 4 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 9 to 30 ft before dropping to 9 to 30 ft for winter. The spot to know is Winfrey's Ferry shoals, a gravel shoal in about 5 ft of water that rates prime for walleye in spring. Plan around the evening and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a crawler harness on bottom bouncer or a deep crankbait (trolled) gets it done.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	4 to 15 ft	dusk & dawn	Winfrey's Ferry shoals (5 ft)	1/8 oz jig + minnow, Hair jig
Summer	9 to 30 ft	dusk & dawn	Wolf Creek Dam tailrace (26 ft)	Crawler harness on bottom bouncer, Deep crankbait (trolled)
Fall	9 to 30 ft	dusk & night	Wolf Creek Dam tailrace (26 ft)	Jigging rap, Jig + big minnow
Winter	9 to 30 ft	dusk & dawn	Wolf Creek Dam tailrace (26 ft)	Jigging spoon + minnow head, Rattle bait

Smallmouth Bass fishing at Cumberland River Tailwater

Early season smallmouth bass use the shallows, holding in 3 to 12 ft. Summer is a 10 to 30 ft game here, winter a 9 to 30 ft one. The chart's best answer is Wolf Creek Dam tailrace — rock pile, 14 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig and you're in the game.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	3 to 12 ft	dawn & dusk	Winfrey's Ferry shoals (5 ft)	Ned rig, Tube jig
Summer	10 to 30 ft	dawn & dusk	Wolf Creek Dam tailrace (14 ft)	Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig
Fall	8 to 25 ft	midday & dawn	Inside bend (mile 19.1) (14 ft)	Jerkbait, Blade bait
Winter	9 to 30 ft	midday	Current seam (mile 7.5) (17 ft)	Blade bait, Hair jig

Sauger fishing at Cumberland River Tailwater

The spring pattern is a shallow one: sauger in 4 to 18 ft. As the season builds they drop to 10 to 30 ft, wintering in 9 to 30 ft. Top water on the chart: Wolf Creek Dam tailrace, a dam tailrace in the 26 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a bottom bouncer + crawler or a 3-way rig with stickbait gets it done.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	4 to 18 ft	dawn & dusk	Wolf Creek Dam tailrace (14 ft)	3/8 oz jig + ringworm, Hair jig + minnow
Summer	10 to 30 ft	dawn & dusk	Wolf Creek Dam tailrace (26 ft)	Bottom bouncer + crawler, 3-way rig with stickbait
Fall	9 to 30 ft	dusk & dawn	Wolf Creek Dam tailrace (26 ft)	Jig + big minnow, Blade bait
Winter	9 to 30 ft	dusk	Wolf Creek Dam tailrace (26 ft)	Heavy jigging spoon, Jig + minnow (vertical)

Brown Trout fishing at Cumberland River Tailwater

The spring pattern is a shallow one: brown trout in 3 to 25 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 9 to 30 ft before dropping to 4 to 30 ft for winter. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 7.5), a current seam in about 17 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. Plan around after dark and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) gets it done.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	3 to 25 ft	dawn & dusk	Winfrey's Ferry shoals (5 ft)	Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines
Summer	9 to 30 ft	night & dawn	Current seam (mile 7.5) (17 ft)	Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night)
Fall	5 to 30 ft	dusk & dawn	Winfrey's Ferry shoals (5 ft)	Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon
Winter	4 to 30 ft	dawn	Wolf Creek Dam tailrace (26 ft)	Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow)

Cumberland River Tailwater also holds rock bass (5 to 20 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.

Notable structure

18 pieces of structure are mapped here — Wolf Creek Dam tailrace, around 26 ft, is the deepest of them.

Wolf Creek Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 26 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 2.8): creek channel, around 23 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 13.1): creek channel, around 23 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 15.0): creek channel, around 23 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 16.8): creek channel, around 23 ft
Current seam (mile 3.7): current seam, around 22 ft
Eddy pocket (mile 4.9): eddy pocket, around 20 ft
Channel swing (mile 11.3): creek channel, around 20 ft
Eddy pocket (mile 6.1): eddy pocket, around 19 ft
Inside bend (mile 17.9): point, around 19 ft
Tailout eddy (mile 0.3): eddy pocket, around 17 ft
Current seam (mile 7.5): current seam, around 17 ft
Current seam (mile 9.4): current seam, around 17 ft
Current seam (mile 8.3): current seam, around 17 ft

Public access & boat ramps

Lake Cumberland — ramp
Lake Cumberland Tailwater — ramp
Lake Cumberland Tailwater — ramp
Lake Cumberland Tailwater — carry-in
Lake Cumberland Tailwater — carry-in

Access data: Kentucky Fish & Wildlife — Fishing Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.

Cumberland River Tailwater fishing regulations

Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Kentucky waters are set by the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Cumberland River Tailwater specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Kentucky fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Cumberland River Tailwater?

Cumberland River Tailwater is about 30 ft (9 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.

What fish are in Cumberland River Tailwater?

Anglers target rainbow trout, striped bass, walleye, smallmouth bass, sauger, brown trout, rock bass on Cumberland River Tailwater.

Where is the best fishing spot on Cumberland River Tailwater?

Current seam (mile 7.5) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 17 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.

When is the best time to fish Cumberland River Tailwater?

For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.

What are the fishing regulations for Cumberland River Tailwater?

Fishing on Cumberland River Tailwater is regulated by the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. Check the official Kentucky regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.

Nearby waters

Lake Cumberland 19 mi · Dale Hollow Lake 21 mi, KY/TN · Metcalfe County Lake 26 mi · Green River Lake 27 mi · Mill Creek Lake 30 mi · Green River (Mammoth Cave) 38 mi · Marion County 45 mi · Cordell Hull Lake 46 mi, TN · Barren River Lake 48 mi · Cedar Creek Lake 55 mi · Laurel River Lake 56 mi · Caney Fork River 61 mi, TN

See how Cumberland River Tailwater stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Kentucky · best walleye lakes in Kentucky · best sauger lakes in Kentucky · best rainbow trout lakes in Kentucky

Browse all Kentucky fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.