Fishing Willisburg Lake in Washington County, Kentucky

• Overview

  In Kentucky, Willisburg Lake falls inside Washington County. The bank is 738 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 120 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The shoreline runs about 4.3 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. Springfield is the closest place, 10 miles off. For a city, Lexington is 39 miles off. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Willisburg Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Across Washington County, recorded fish include longear sunfish, bluegill and green sunfish. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Willisburg Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 32°F in January and 76°F in July. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. On Willisburg Lake that shapes the whole year. After a storm, the water clears from the edges inwards.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Springfield Reservoir is 12 miles distant. For Willisburg Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.