Martins Fork Lake is a small, scenic mountain reservoir deep in the southeastern Kentucky coalfields near Harlan – a 340-acre Corps of Engineers lake ringed by steep Appalachian ridges. Quiet, lightly visited and surrounded by public wildlife land, it’s a peaceful spot for bass and panfish fishing, paddling and a true off-the-beaten-path getaway in the Cumberland Mountains.
This guide covers Martins Fork Lake: the fishing, the setting, and access. It’s part of our growing Kentucky Lakes Database.
Martins Fork Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~340 acres in the southeastern Kentucky mountains
- Location: Harlan County, southeastern Kentucky (near Harlan)
- Built: Martins Fork Dam on Martins Fork of the Cumberland River, completed 1979 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
- Top fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish
Fishing Martins Fork Lake
Martins Fork is a quiet mountain fishery with largemouth bass along the wooded banks, plus bluegill, crappie and channel catfish. A Kentucky fishing license is required. The small size and steep, forested shoreline make it an easy, scenic lake to fish from a boat, kayak or the bank, with little crowding.
The setting and access
Built primarily for flood control on the Cumberland River headwaters, Martins Fork sits among the steep ridges of the Cumberland Mountains, with surrounding Corps and wildlife-management land offering hiking and hunting. There’s a boat ramp and basic day-use access; this is a wild, undeveloped lake rather than a resort, so come self-sufficient and enjoy the quiet.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Martins Fork Lake is near Harlan in far southeastern Kentucky, about 2.5 hours southeast of Lexington. Kingdom Come State Park, the Pine Mountain ridge and the Appalachian communities of Harlan County surround it.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Martins Fork Lake?
Largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and channel catfish.
Is Martins Fork Lake developed?
No – it’s a quiet, undeveloped Corps of Engineers flood-control lake with a boat ramp and day-use access in the southeastern Kentucky mountains.
Where is Martins Fork Lake?
In Harlan County, far southeastern Kentucky near Harlan, about 2.5 hours southeast 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.