Through the years, Taylorsville Lake has yielded some really impressive channel cats, though creel surveys show that most harvested are about 12 inches long. Also, channel cats are much easier to catch than the blues, since they will bite on just about anything.

You will catch them on live bait such as minnows, night crawlers, mealworms, or crayfish. They can also be caught on chicken liver, cut bait, shad guts, or blood bait as well as dough balls, cheese balls, commercial catfish baits or other stink baits.

Most people target channel catfish by tight-lining on the bottom, though many others prefer to drift-fish or suspend baits under a slip-bobber. Other anglers will use limblines, juglines and trotlines.

In addition to these blue and channel cats, there’s also a smaller population of flatheads. Not many folks target the flatheads specifically with rod and reel, but there’s a contingent of people who like to noodle for them. A few large flatheads are caught on occasion, but most generally average close to 24 inches long.

Anglers specifically seeking the flathead cats will want to use live bait, as flatheads do not generally bite on traditional channel cat offerings. With the flatheads, live crayfish, bluegills or minnows work best.

Taylorsville Lake is 3,050 acres in size. Even though the lake receives a tremendous amount of fishing pressure, it still offers plenty of fishing opportunity for catfish anglers.

Both bank-fishing and boating anglers can have great success here. There are four boat ramps on the lake, as well as a full-service marina with food, gas, bait and boat rentals.

Camping is available at the Taylorsville Lake State Park. Log on to www.parks.ky.gov/findparks/rec parks/tl , or call (502) 477-8713 for more information.

Currently, there are no special regulations on catfishing at Taylorsville Lake.

Statewide regulations apply, which you can find in the 2008 Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide.