A long carport-style marina with multiple covered boat slips along a calm lake, several boats docked under a glass roof, and wooden piers in foreground.
Sunset over a calm lake with a wooden pier extending into the water; pink and purple sky, distant horizon, and silhouetted birds.
A lakeside scene with calm water, a tree-lined shore, and a distant dock; gentle waves, blue sky, and green vegetation.

Kentucky Lake

Description

This 160,000-acre reservoir on the Tennessee River is the largest artificial lake by surface area in the United States east of the Mississippi River. With 2,064 miles of shoreline, it boasts many activities such as camping, hiking, fishing, boating, paddling and bird watching. 

Optimized Fish:
Crappie
Crappie
Largemouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Enhancements

  • Continued management for quality bass and crappie fishing. 

  • Continued stocking of Florida Largemouth bass. 

  • Annual habitat management and improvements.  

Activities:
Camping
Cabins
Hiking
Fishing
Boating
Paddling
Golfing
Birding
A lakeside scene with orange wooden docks extending into calm water, support posts visible, and a cloudy sky.
Location
  • Henry
  • Stewart
Map of Kentucky Lake region with counties labeled; a blue waterway runs north-south through central area.
History

Created in 1944 by the Tennessee Valley Authority's impounding of the Tennessee River via Kentucky Dam for flood control and hydroelectric power 

Rules & Regulations

For rules and regulations, please visit TWRA.com.

Hours of operation may vary.