Fishing on Herrington Lake

Fish Species and Population Quality

Herrington Lake supports a mixed warm-water fishery dominated by largemouth bass, spotted bass, white bass, hybrid striped bass, bluegill, crappie, and two species of catfish (channel and flathead). No smallmouth bass — the lake's warm, eutrophic character does not provide the cold, well-oxygenated rocky habitat that smallmouth require. This distinguishes Herrington from the nearby USACE lakes like Dale Hollow, where the smallmouth fishery is the primary draw.

The largemouth bass fishery is rated good to excellent by KDFWR. Good numbers of fish over 12 to 15 inches are present, with potential for trophy-size fish at 23 inches. Summer night fishing for largemouth is described as consistently productive. The 12-inch minimum size limit — unique to Herrington among the high-volume Kentucky lake markets — has protected the largemouth population quality and is a management success story that KDFWR actively maintains.

Hybrid striped bass (the cross between white bass and striped bass) are present in the main channel and open water sections of the lake. KDFWR rates the hybrid bass fishery as fair to good, with fish in the 2 to 5-pound range present and potential for trophy-size fish at 23 inches. Hybrid bass are active feeders on shad schools in the open water — surface action in the fall when shad are pushed to the surface is a spectacle that experienced Herrington anglers specifically seek out.

White bass are the most abundant bass-family species on the lake in terms of raw numbers. During the spring run when white bass stage at creek mouths and upstream arms, white bass fishing can be exceptional — multiple fish per cast is not uncommon during peak staging periods. Crappie are best in the spring before spawn when water temperatures climb into the mid-50s, drawing fish to shallow cove cover. The HLCL fishing reports consistently describe the spring crappie fishing in shallow coves near creek entrances as the lake's most accessible and productive fishery category.

Longnose gar are abundant and visible — the most abundant of Kentucky's four gar species, growing to more than three feet in length. During fall months, schools of gar near shad concentrations are a reliable sighting for boaters and an occasional nuisance for anglers working shad-imitating lures in open water sections.

The 12-Inch Largemouth Minimum

Herrington Lake is one of only five Kentucky lakes with a 12-inch minimum size limit on largemouth bass. The other four are Green River Lake, Guist Creek Lake, Martins Fork Lake, and Paintsville Lake. On most Kentucky lakes the standard minimum is 10 inches. The 12-inch minimum at Herrington means anglers who keep 10 or 11-inch largemouth that are legal on other Kentucky lakes are in violation of Herrington-specific regulations.

The 12-inch minimum has been in place long enough to have demonstrably improved the size distribution of the largemouth population. Anglers who have fished Herrington over multiple decades consistently report that the average size of fish in the population improved after the higher minimum was established. KDFWR reviews size limit regulations periodically — always confirm the current regulation at fw.ky.gov before fishing, as regulations can be adjusted in any given year.

Fish Consumption Advisory: The Coal Ash Context

The E.W. Brown coal ash contamination history at Herrington Lake creates a fish consumption advisory question that anglers need to verify independently before keeping and eating fish from the lake. State testing found elevated selenium levels in fish tissue samples near the E.W. Brown plant, with 9 out of 10 samples exceeding Kentucky standards in the documented testing period. KU's 2019 Ramboll study concluded the lake as a whole is safe for recreational use; environmental groups dispute the adequacy of that conclusion.

This site does not state whether eating fish from Herrington Lake is safe or unsafe — that determination requires current regulatory information from authoritative sources. Before keeping and eating fish caught on Herrington Lake, check the current fish consumption advisory status at the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (dep.ky.gov) and KDFWR (fw.ky.gov). The documented elevated contamination was concentrated in samples near the E.W. Brown plant on the Mercer County shore; fish caught in other sections of the lake may have different exposure profiles, but the published advisory status as of any given time is the authoritative source.

Many Herrington Lake anglers practice catch-and-release specifically because of the contamination history and exercise their own judgment about fish kept for consumption. This is the individual angler's decision to make based on current advisory information from primary sources.

Seasonal Fishing Calendar

Late February and March mark the first consistent fishing action on Herrington as water temperatures begin climbing from winter lows in the upper 40s. White bass are the first movers — staging at the mouths of feeder creeks and in the upper arms of the lake as they prepare for their spring run. This early-season white bass action requires locating the staging concentrations, which move as water temperature rises, but once found it is some of the most consistent fast-action fishing on the lake. Crappie in the shallower cove areas begin showing up in March and April as the water warms into the 50s, with peak spawn-stage crappie fishing occurring through mid-May.

Summer fishing at Herrington shifts toward night fishing for largemouth bass and toward pursuing hybrid striped bass on the main channel. KDFWR's assessment specifically notes that summer night fishing for largemouth is consistently productive — the deep, thermally stratified lake creates a situation where surface water temperatures in the 80s push largemouth toward shaded and deeper structure during the day, but the evening temperature drop triggers movement to shallower water where topwater presentations are effective. Hybrid striped bass blitzes on shad schools in the main open water sections are unpredictable in timing but spectacular in action.

Fall is the most broadly active fishing period for multiple species simultaneously. Cooling water temperatures in September and October reactivate largemouth that were sluggish during August heat. Catfish feeding activity increases as water temperatures drop through the 60s. Crappie move back to accessible structure in shallower water as they transition from their deep summer holding areas. Anglers who fish fall on Herrington often target a rotation of species in a single outing — largemouth early in the morning, catfish at midday, crappie in the afternoon — taking advantage of the multi-species fishery in a way that the more season-specific USACE lakes with dominant single-species fisheries do not offer.

Tackle, Guides, and Access Points

Local bait and tackle supply is available at the marinas — Chimney Rock Marina, Royalty's Fishing Camp, and Mid Lake Marina all carry basic tackle, live bait, and fishing supplies. Danville and Harrodsburg both have sporting goods retailers with a broader tackle selection. Harrodsburg-area fishing guides with Herrington Lake experience are periodically advertised through the HLCL and marina boards — a local guide's knowledge of current holding areas, productive coves for each species in current conditions, and the seasonal patterns specific to the lake's limestone gorge character is difficult to replicate without years of local experience.

Boat launch fees are $8 at Royalty's and $20 at Herrington Lake Marina. Chimney Rock Marina provides launch access for its slip renters and for boaters using its fuel and services. The HLCL boating map shows all launch ramp locations on the lake. Shore fishing is available at certain accessible points, though the limestone bluff character of much of the shoreline limits walk-in bank access compared to more gradually sloped Kentucky reservoirs. The areas around marina approaches and county road water access points provide the most practical shore fishing locations.

Fishing License and Regulations

Herrington Lake falls entirely within Kentucky — unlike Dale Hollow or Lake Gaston, there is no two-state license complexity. A valid Kentucky fishing license from KDFWR covers all fishing on Herrington Lake. Licenses are available at fw.ky.gov, through the KDFWR mobile app, and at local sporting goods retailers and Walmart locations in Harrodsburg, Danville, and Lancaster. The 12-inch largemouth minimum, standard creel limits for other species, and any special regulations specific to Herrington are published in the Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide — confirm current regulations before each season.