Paintsville Lake near Paintsville: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Look for Paintsville Lake in the Johnson County part of Kentucky. It sits in open valley country. Supplies mean a trip to Paintsville, 5.1 miles off. After that come Van Lear at 9 miles and Salyersville at 12 miles. Near neighbours: Thelma Lake 7.5 miles away, Martha Fish Pond a shade over 11 miles, Dewey Lake 14 miles away, Martin County Lake a shade over 18 miles and Yatesville Lake 19 miles away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Paintsville Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Survey and observation records for Johnson County include greenside darter, bluegill and johnny darter. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Paintsville Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 74°F and January about 32°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Paintsville Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out. Long daylight spreads fish out; short daylight concentrates them.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Boat access is recorded roughly half a mile away. For boats, Paintsville Lake Marina lies half a mile out. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Mapping shows a jetty some half a mile off. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Thelma Lake, 7.5 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Paintsville Lake.