Specific locations on Yatesville Lake to check out for early-season bass include Daniels Creek, Blaine Creek, Rich Creek, Right Fork, Greenbrier Creek and Upper Twin Branch.

A large portion of the lake has a no-wake rule. Be on the lookout for signs telling where to slow your boat.

Yatesville Lake also provides ample recreational opportunities for the family. Hiking trails, horseback riding, camping, bicycling and picnicking areas are available, along with some of the best bass fishing to be found anywhere in this region.

Cave Run Lake
Huge, sprawling Cave Run Lake covers over 8,200 acres during summer pool in the eastern Kentucky counties of Bath, Menifee, Rowan and Morgan. Managed primarily for muskies, this lake is also a topnotch bass lake as well. With a maximum depth of 60 feet, it provides premier largemouth bass habitat.

“This past spring, we found good numbers of largemouth bass within the slot size group, which is 13 to 16 inches. (You cannot keep largemouth bass of this size in Cave Run Lake),” said fisheries biologist Lew Kornman. “And there were also good numbers of largemouth bass longer than 16 inches. Most of the larger bass were found in the upper reaches of the lake where it is more fertile.”

The best way to get to Cave Run Lake from an eastern or western approach is from Interstate 64. Just south of Morehead, take SR 801 south to obtain access to the lake. Year-round boat ramps include the Cave Run Tailwater Recreation Area, and the High Bank, Scotts Creek, Clay Lick Boat-in Campground and Blackwater access areas.

At Cave Run Lake, recommended largemouth hotspots include the Licking River just below the dam, near the main river channel in Leatherwood Creek, Beaver Creek and in the brushpiles on the corners of the main lake area.

As for the effects on the future of bass fishing after an extremely dry year, the long-term forecast is extremely good.

CENTRAL REGION
Taylorsville Lake
Taylorsville Lake covers portions of Spencer, Anderson and Nelson counties. It’s a top-rated central Kentucky bass fishery. Covering over 3,000 acres during summer pool, this lake has an average maximum depth of around 70 feet.

“With a 15-inch size limit, Taylorsville Lake showed good available numbers of bass through 21 inches,” said fisheries biologist Kerry Prather. “There is a large number of bass moving in the harvestable range this year (11- to 14-inch fish).”

Prather also notes how weather trends play a major role in bass spawning success, as well as fishing pressure by anglers. “Dry weather usually means good conditions for bass habitat and fishing,” he said.

“All our bass management lakes in central Kentucky can produce good catches of bass, whether in size or numbers, if you are there at the right time, day, season and conditions.”

Taylorsville Lake lies about 25 miles southeast of Louisville. Follow Interstate 64 to SR 55 south. Follow SR 55 through the town of Taylorsville. Access roads are southeast of Taylorsville. From the Lexington area, follow the Bluegrass Parkway to SR 55 and turn north to reach the southern end of Taylorsville Lake.

Several sites marked “no-wake” are located around the lake, but primarily around access sites and obstructions. Buoys mark areas of stickups and downed wood in the lake as well.

Recommended locations for largemouth bass at Taylorsville include the no-wake area in front of the dam, the waters around Mitchell Branch, Jacks Creek and Little Beech Creek.

Another good spot is the Candy Branch section just below Big Island.

Access ramps include Settlers Trace, Chowning Lane, Van Buren and the Possum Ridge State Park ramp. Uplake from the Van Buren boat ramp, a portion of Taylorsville Lake (marked by signs) is closed to the public from Nov. 1 through the last day of February as a waterfowl refuge.