Big Horn Lake in Jefferson County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in Jefferson County, Kentucky. The bank gives way to mixed woodland. It covers about 4 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Most waters listed here for Jefferson County are larger. Fairdale is the closest town at 1.2 miles. Louisville sits 12 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Big Horn Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Records held for Jefferson County cover bluegill, fantail darter and longear sunfish. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Big Horn Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 77°F, while January sits near 33°F. Neither winter nor summer shuts things down for long. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. It holds true on Big Horn Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. You can park half a mile away and walk in from there. A camping area sits within 0.9 miles of here. A picnic area is mapped about half a mile away. A toilet block sits half a mile away. The water borders Horine Reservation, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Tom Wallace Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. For Big Horn Lake in particular, ask before you travel.