Fishing near me in Louisville : 13 spots within 50 miles
There are 13 mapped fishing venues within 50 miles of Louisville, and the closest, Deam Lake, is about 16 miles from the city center. The 12 nearest are listed below, ranked by distance, with Kentucky license info, the species you can expect, and answers to the questions Louisville anglers ask most.
Top Fishing Spots Near Louisville
The 12 nearest mapped venues within 50 miles of Louisville, nearest first. Click any spot for full venue details, directions, and species.
Closest first
- 1
Deam Lake
16 mi awayCLARK
Deam Lake is a surveyed public lake in CLARK County, Indiana, reaching 34ft at its deepest surveyed contour: mid-depth structure water with 17 mapped depth bands from the official Indiana DNR survey. Check local access points and Indiana fishing regulations before traveling.
- 2
Schlamm Lake
22 mi awayCLARK
Schlamm Lake is a surveyed public lake in CLARK County, Indiana, reaching 21ft at its deepest surveyed contour: shallow, weed-oriented water with 11 mapped depth bands from the official Indiana DNR survey. Check local access points and Indiana fishing regulations before traveling.
- 3
Lake Salinda
28 mi awayWASHINGTON
Lake Salinda is a surveyed public lake in WASHINGTON County, Indiana, reaching 24ft at its deepest surveyed contour: shallow, weed-oriented water with 12 mapped depth bands from the official Indiana DNR survey. Check local access points and Indiana fishing regulations before traveling.
- 4
Elk Creek Lake
29 mi awayWASHINGTON
Elk Creek Lake is a surveyed public lake in WASHINGTON County, Indiana, reaching 20ft at its deepest surveyed contour: shallow, weed-oriented water with 10 mapped depth bands from the official Indiana DNR survey. Check local access points and Indiana fishing regulations before traveling.
- 5
Spurgeon Hollow Lake
35 mi awayWASHINGTON
Spurgeon Hollow Lake is a surveyed public lake in WASHINGTON County, Indiana, reaching 16ft at its deepest surveyed contour: shallow, weed-oriented water with 8 mapped depth bands from the official Indiana DNR survey. Check local access points and Indiana fishing regulations before traveling.
- 6
Delaney County Park Lake
36 mi awayWASHINGTON
Delaney County Park Lake is a surveyed public lake in WASHINGTON County, Indiana, reaching 32ft at its deepest surveyed contour: mid-depth structure water with 16 mapped depth bands from the official Indiana DNR survey. Check local access points and Indiana fishing regulations before traveling.
- 7
Starve Hallow Lake
42 mi awayJACKSON
Starve Hallow Lake is a surveyed public lake in JACKSON County, Indiana, reaching 15ft at its deepest surveyed contour: shallow, weed-oriented water with 5 mapped depth bands from the official Indiana DNR survey. Check local access points and Indiana fishing regulations before traveling.
- 8
Springs Valley Lake
46 mi awayORANGE
Springs Valley Lake is a surveyed public lake in ORANGE County, Indiana, reaching 25ft at its deepest surveyed contour: shallow, weed-oriented water with 5 mapped depth bands from the official Indiana DNR survey. Check local access points and Indiana fishing regulations before traveling.
- 9
Brownstown Public Fishing Area
47 mi awayJackson County
- 10
Lake Celina
47 mi awayPERRY
Lake Celina is a surveyed public lake in PERRY County, Indiana, reaching 54ft at its deepest surveyed contour: mid-depth structure water with 18 mapped depth bands from the official Indiana DNR survey. Check local access points and Indiana fishing regulations before traveling.
- 11
Broomsage Lake
48 mi awayJennings County
- 12
Olinger Lake
48 mi awayORANGE
Olinger Lake is a surveyed public lake in ORANGE County, Indiana, reaching 21ft at its deepest surveyed contour: shallow, weed-oriented water with 11 mapped depth bands from the official Indiana DNR survey. Check local access points and Indiana fishing regulations before traveling.
Want more options? Browse all Kentucky fishing venues or the Kentucky fishing near me guide.
Do You Need a Fishing License in Kentucky?
The short answer for Louisville anglers, plus where to find the current Kentucky prices, exemptions, and free fishing days.
License Info
In most cases, yes: a Kentucky license before you cast
Fishing licenses in Kentucky are issued by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR). Anglers above the state minimum age need a valid license to fish public water around Louisville. Age thresholds, resident and non-resident fees, short-term options, and exemptions all vary by state and change each season, so check the current rules on the KDFWR site before you buy.
The linked guide is updated for 2026 with current resident, non-resident, and short-term fees, where to buy online and in person, and this year's free fishing days.
What Can You Catch Near Louisville?
We're still building species records for the venues around Louisville. Log your catches on GilledIt to help map what's biting where.
What's Biting
Open GilledIt to see real-time catch reports around Louisville, and log your own to help map what's biting.
Keep Exploring Kentucky Fishing
More Resources
Fishing Near Me in Louisville: FAQ
There are 13 mapped fishing venues within 50 miles of Louisville, and the closest is Deam Lake, about 16 miles from the city center. The 12 nearest are listed above, ranked by distance: city-park ponds, reservoirs, and public-access water. Open GilledIt to see live catch reports near your exact location.
Often, yes. Many city-park ponds and public reservoirs around Louisville are free to access once you hold a valid Kentucky fishing license, and many states also run free fishing days each year when no license is needed. Dates and rules change, so confirm on the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) website or in our Kentucky license guide.
In most cases, yes: anglers above the state's minimum age need a valid Kentucky fishing license to fish public water around Louisville. Licenses are issued by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR). Age cut-offs, fees, and exemptions vary by state and change each season, so check the KDFWR site or our Kentucky fishing license guide for current prices, where to buy, and free fishing days before you go.
Our species records for the venues around Louisville are still growing, so we don't yet list confirmed species here. Check each venue's page, open GilledIt for real-time catch reports around Louisville, and log your own to help map what's biting.
For most waters around Louisville, spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are the most productive windows: fish feed hard around the spawn and again before winter. Early morning and the last hour of light are the best daily bites in summer. Check the GilledIt community feed for what's working near Louisville this week.
Start logging catches around Louisville
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