Guist Creek Lake is a quality bass-and-crappie lake just outside Shelbyville in central Kentucky – a 317-acre reservoir famous for big largemouth bass (fish over 20 inches are real possibilities) and easy access between Louisville and Lexington. With a marina, campground and a deep, fishy main channel, it’s one of the best close-to-the-city fishing lakes in the Bluegrass. This guide is part of our growing Kentucky Lakes Database.
Guist Creek Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~317 acres, with about 27 miles of shoreline
- Depth: average ~15 ft, maximum ~48 ft
- Elevation: in the Bluegrass region of central Kentucky
- Location: Shelby County, about 5 miles east of Shelbyville
- Top fish: largemouth bass, white & black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish
How deep is Guist Creek Lake?
Guist Creek averages about 15 feet deep and reaches roughly 48 feet at its deepest, with about 27 miles of winding, fingered shoreline across just 317 acres. That depth and the abundant cover make it a rich, productive fishery despite its modest size.
Fishing Guist Creek Lake
Guist Creek is best known for its largemouth bass – the fishery is rated good to excellent, with very good numbers of fish over 12 inches and genuine potential for quality bass over 20 inches (the lake record tops 10 pounds). It also offers a good crappie fishery (both white and black, mostly 7-10 inches with bigger fish possible), plus bluegill and channel catfish. A Kentucky fishing license is required. Work the timber, points and creek arms for bass and the brush for crappie.
Marina, camping and boating
The Guist Creek Marina & Campground on the north shore offers boat ramps, slips, rentals, a campground and supplies, making the lake easy to fish and a comfortable weekend base. Boating, fishing and paddling are the main draws; the lake’s many coves and arms give anglers and paddlers plenty to explore. There’s no developed public swim beach, so swimming is limited.
Water level
Guist Creek is a fairly stable reservoir, though levels can vary with rainfall and management. Check conditions before launching.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Guist Creek Lake is about 5 miles east of Shelbyville in Shelby County, central Kentucky, via KY-1779 (Benson Pike), roughly midway between Louisville and Lexington off I-64. Historic Shelbyville and the Bluegrass horse country are nearby.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: a Kentucky license is required.
- Big-bass water: quality largemouth, with fish over 20 inches possible.
- Easy access: a marina and campground, midway between Louisville and Lexington.
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Guist Creek Lake?
It averages about 15 feet and reaches roughly 48 feet at its deepest, across about 317 acres.
What fish are in Guist Creek Lake?
Largemouth bass (a quality fishery, with fish over 20 inches possible), white and black crappie, bluegill and channel catfish.
Where is Guist Creek Lake?
In Shelby County, central Kentucky, about 5 miles east of Shelbyville, midway between Louisville and Lexington.
Related: explore the small lakes of Kentucky, or head back to the Kentucky Lakes Database.
Explore more Kentucky lakes: the largest lakes in Kentucky and the deepest lakes in Kentucky.