Lake Linville is a quiet 320-acre lake near Mount Vernon in south-central Kentucky, an easy stop right off Interstate 75 for crappie and bass fishing, camping and a relaxed day on the water. Built as the city of Mount Vernon’s water supply and ringed by wooded hills, it’s an unpretentious, friendly local lake that rewards anglers passing through Rockcastle County.
This guide covers Lake Linville: the fishing, the marina and camping, and access. It’s part of our growing Kentucky Lakes Database.
Lake Linville at a glance
- Surface area: ~320 acres
- Location: Rockcastle County, south-central Kentucky (near Mount Vernon)
- Setting: a wooded water-supply lake just off I-75 with a marina and campground
- Top fish: largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish
Fishing Lake Linville
Lake Linville is a solid panfish-and-bass lake: largemouth bass along the wooded banks, good crappie on brush, and plenty of bluegill and channel catfish. A Kentucky fishing license is required. The lake’s modest size and easy access make it a pleasant spot to fish from a boat, kayak or the bank.
Marina, camping and access
A marina and campground on the lake provide a boat ramp, rentals, supplies and lakeside sites, making Linville an easy overnight or day stop. The quiet, wooded setting suits paddlers and small-boat anglers, and the lake’s location right at the I-75 interchange makes it one of the most accessible small lakes in the region.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Lake Linville is at Mount Vernon, right off Interstate 75 about an hour south of Lexington. The Daniel Boone National Forest, Renfro Valley’s country-music venues and Laurel River Lake are all close.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Lake Linville?
Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and channel catfish.
Is there camping at Lake Linville?
Yes – a marina and campground on the lake offer a boat ramp, rentals and lakeside sites.
Where is Lake Linville?
At Mount Vernon in Rockcastle County, right off I-75 about an hour south of Lexington.
Related: explore more of 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.