Paintsville Lake is a clear, narrow, cliff-lined reservoir in the eastern Kentucky coalfields – a 1,100-acre lake on Paint Creek prized for its clean water, its scenic bluffs, and a multi-species fishery that punches above the lake’s modest size. With a state park, a marina and a setting deep in the Appalachian foothills near Paintsville, it’s a quiet gem for boaters and anglers.
This guide covers Paintsville Lake: the fishing, the state park and marina, and what’s nearby. It’s part of our growing Kentucky Lakes Database.
Paintsville Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~1,140 acres; long, narrow and cliff-lined
- Location: Johnson & Morgan counties, eastern Kentucky (near Paintsville)
- Built: Paintsville Dam on Paint Creek, completed 1983 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
- Top fish: largemouth, smallmouth & spotted bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish
Fishing Paintsville Lake
The clear, deep water supports a strong bass fishery – largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass all share the rocky banks and bluffs – along with crappie, bluegill and catfish. A Kentucky fishing license is required. The narrow, structure-rich lake rewards anglers who work the cliffs, points and creek mouths.
Paintsville Lake State Park and marina
Paintsville Lake State Park provides a campground, a marina with rentals and slips, a boat ramp and the Kiwanis hiking trail along the wooded shore. The lake’s clean water and steep, scenic banks make it a pleasant spot for pontooning and paddling. The area is rich in Appalachian heritage – nearby Butcher Hollow is the birthplace of country legend Loretta Lynn, and the Mountain HomePlace living-history farm and US-23 “Country Music Highway” run right through Paintsville.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Paintsville Lake is just off US-23 near Paintsville, about 2 hours east of Lexington in the eastern Kentucky mountains. Jenny Wiley State Resort Park on Dewey Lake is a short drive south.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: a Kentucky license is required.
- Narrow, cliffy lake: beautiful for paddling – work the bluffs and creek mouths for bass.
- Best seasons: spring and fall for bass and crappie, summer for boating and camping.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Paintsville Lake?
Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish, in clear, deep water.
Is there camping at Paintsville Lake?
Yes – Paintsville Lake State Park has a campground, a marina and a boat ramp.
Where is Paintsville Lake?
In eastern Kentucky near Paintsville off US-23, about 2 hours east of Lexington.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in Kentucky, or head back to the Kentucky Lakes Database.
Explore more Kentucky lakes: the largest lakes in Kentucky and the deepest lakes in Kentucky.
