Lake Reba in Madison County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Within Madison County, Kentucky, you have Lake Reba. The surroundings are open valley. The water covers some 86 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Around 2.1 miles of margin, front to back. For supplies, Richmond is 2.5 miles out. Further out sit Berea (12 miles) and Irvine (15 miles). No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lake Reba

  Depth is on record at 23 ft. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Records held for Madison County cover green sunfish, fantail darter, bluegill, white crappie and black bullhead. The county list is broader than any single water. At Lake Reba light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 76°F and January near 32°F. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lake Reba.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public land surrounds it, and access follows the standard rules. Launching is possible: a slipway lies half a mile off. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Taylor Fork Lake sits 5.2 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Lake Reba in what we hold.