Yatesville Lake is a quiet 2,300-acre reservoir in the eastern Kentucky hills near Louisa – one of the newest Corps of Engineers lakes in the state and a managed trophy largemouth bass fishery. With a state park, long forested coves and very little crowding, it’s a peaceful, under-the-radar destination for anglers and paddlers.
This guide covers Yatesville Lake: the bass fishing, the state park, and the boating. It’s part of our growing Kentucky Lakes Database.
Yatesville Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~2,300 acres; long, forested shoreline
- Location: Lawrence County, eastern Kentucky (near Louisa)
- Built: Yatesville Dam on Blaine Creek, completed 1992 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
- Top fish: trophy largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish, muskie
Fishing Yatesville Lake
Yatesville is managed for trophy largemouth bass, with length limits designed to grow big fish – check the regulations before keeping a bass. The lake also holds crappie, bluegill, catfish and stocked muskie. A Kentucky fishing license is required. The many long, fingered coves and standing timber give bass anglers endless water to explore.
Yatesville Lake State Park
Yatesville Lake State Park provides a campground, a marina, a boat ramp, a swimming beach and disc golf, all in a quiet, wooded setting. The Corps adds more access around the lake. It’s a calm, family-friendly park that rarely feels busy, ideal for a low-key fishing or paddling weekend.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Yatesville Lake is near Louisa in eastern Kentucky, about 2 hours east of Lexington and 45 minutes from Ashland, off US-23. Paintsville Lake and Jenny Wiley State Resort Park are a short drive south.
Know before you go
- Fishing license & bass limits: a Kentucky license is required, and trophy-bass length limits apply.
- Quiet park: a peaceful, uncrowded lake – good for paddling and relaxed fishing.
- Best seasons: spring and fall for bass and crappie, summer for camping and the beach.
Frequently asked questions
Is Yatesville Lake good for bass fishing?
Yes – it’s managed as a trophy largemouth bass fishery with special length limits, plus crappie, bluegill, catfish and muskie.
Is there camping at Yatesville Lake?
Yes – Yatesville Lake State Park has a campground, marina, boat ramp and swimming beach.
Where is Yatesville Lake?
In eastern Kentucky near Louisa, about 2 hours east of Lexington off US-23.
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.
