Elkhorn Creek Fishing Map & Spots (KY)

Hatch outlook

Willow fly (summer mayfly)Active window

Typical here: Apr 1 – Oct 31 · recurring broods all summer — the heart of it is June–July, famously around July 4th on the Tennessee River lakes; any one hatch lasts days to ~3 weeks

dunhatches at dusk — clouds of bugs just before dark, continuing into the night — after hatching they fly to shoreline foliage — trees near lighted docks get covered; the feeding zone is the water under bug-loaded overhanging bushes and willows
spinnerthe following days: mating, egg drop and spent flies falling from the overhangs — the bream bite under the bushes runs as long as the bugs do

A two-level event: bream stack under the bug trees, and the big bass stack under the bream. Fish the same bushes twice — small for bream, big for the bass just outside them.

Crickets or small poppers under a float tight to the bug-covered bushes for bream; beetle spins and hair jigs just under the surface; for the bass, run a bluegill-pattern topwater or squarebill down the outside edge of the overhangs.

The event happens over under and just outside overhanging willows and bushes on steep banks; trees near lighted docks after dark

Next on this water

Spring crawfish emergence · forageFeb 15 – May 15 · 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.

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Recent catches at Elkhorn Creek

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 Elkhorn Creek on the board.

Fishing Elkhorn Creek: what the data says

The Bluegrass State's famous smallmouth creek, from the Forks to the Kentucky River. The river tops out around 8 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.

Drawn out, this is 266 acres of water rimmed by 35.3 miles of bank. With a shoreline index of 15.5, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Figure 8.3 mi of water from one end to the other, 2.5 mi at the beam. You'll find it in Franklin County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Elmer Davis Lake, 16 mi north of here.

Smallmouth Bass fishing at Elkhorn Creek

In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 8 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 8 ft, and they winter in 2 to 8 ft. Spring smallmouth bass concentrate at Forks of Elkhorn riffles, a prime-rated rock pile around 3 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig most summer days.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 8 ft	dawn & dusk	Forks of Elkhorn riffles (3 ft)	Ned rig, Tube jig
Summer	2 to 8 ft	dawn & dusk	Forks of Elkhorn riffles (3 ft)	Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig
Fall	2 to 8 ft	midday & dawn	Inside bend (mile 4.7) (6 ft)	Jerkbait, Blade bait
Winter	2 to 8 ft	midday	Current seam (mile 15.5) (4 ft)	Blade bait, Hair jig

Channel Catfish fishing at Elkhorn Creek

Spring puts channel catfish in skinny water — 2 to 8 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 2 to 8 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 8 ft. Outside-bend hole (mile 3.4) is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for summer channel catfish. Plan around after dark and the evening in the warm months.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	2 to 8 ft	dusk	Tailout eddy (mile 0.3) (4 ft)
Summer	2 to 8 ft	night & dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 3.4) (6 ft)
Fall	2 to 8 ft	dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 3.4) (6 ft)
Winter	2 to 8 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 3.4) (6 ft)

Rock Bass fishing at Elkhorn Creek

Come spring, look for rock bass tight to the bank in 2 to 8 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 8 ft; the winter hold is 2 to 8 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Forks of Elkhorn riffles: a rock pile around 3 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is the evening. A ned rig (small) or a marabou jig is the honest summer answer here.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 8 ft	midday & dawn	Forks of Elkhorn riffles (3 ft)	1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner
Summer	2 to 8 ft	dusk	Forks of Elkhorn riffles (3 ft)	Ned rig (small), Marabou jig
Fall	2 to 8 ft	midday	Forks of Elkhorn riffles (3 ft)	Small tube jig, Inline spinner
Winter	2 to 8 ft	midday	Forks of Elkhorn riffles (3 ft)	Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike

Notable structure

Structure-wise the chart holds 14 features, led in depth by Lowhead weir tailrace at roughly 7 ft.

Lowhead weir tailrace: dam tailrace, around 7 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 3.4): creek channel, around 6 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 6.2): creek channel, around 6 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 8.4): creek channel, around 6 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 12.1): creek channel, around 6 ft
Channel swing (mile 10.2): creek channel, around 6 ft
Inside bend (mile 4.7): point, around 6 ft
Channel swing (mile 7.2): creek channel, around 6 ft
Current seam (mile 13.9): current seam, around 5 ft
Eddy pocket (mile 1.9): eddy pocket, around 5 ft
Tailout eddy (mile 0.3): eddy pocket, around 4 ft
Current seam (mile 15.5): current seam, around 4 ft
Current seam (mile 16.6): current seam, around 4 ft
Forks of Elkhorn riffles: rock pile, around 3 ft

Public access & boat ramps

Kentucky River - Lower — ramp
Elkhorn Creek — carry-in
Elkhorn Creek — carry-in
Elkhorn Creek — carry-in
Elkhorn Creek — carry-in

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

Elkhorn Creek 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 Elkhorn Creek specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Kentucky fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Elkhorn Creek?

Elkhorn Creek is about 8 ft (2 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 Elkhorn Creek?

Anglers target smallmouth bass, channel catfish, rock bass on Elkhorn Creek.

Where is the best fishing spot on Elkhorn Creek?

Forks of Elkhorn riffles is the top-rated area: a rock pile in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for smallmouth bass in spring. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.

When is the best time to fish Elkhorn Creek?

For smallmouth bass, 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 Elkhorn Creek?

Fishing on Elkhorn Creek 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

Elmer Davis Lake 16 mi · Guist Creek Lake 17 mi · Benjy Kinman Lake 19 mi · Corinth Lake 21 mi · Beaver Lake 23 mi · Kentucky River (Palisades) 25 mi · Taylorsville Lake 28 mi · Jacobson Park Lake 29 mi · Williamstown Lake 32 mi · Boltz Lake 32 mi · Ohio River - McAlpine Pool 35 mi, IN/KY · Herrington Lake 37 mi

See how Elkhorn Creek stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Kentucky · best channel catfish lakes in Kentucky · best rock bass 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.