The riverbed is cluttered with concrete and other remnants from the dam construction. This makes excellent fish cover but is hard on equipment. A bottombouncing rig using a threeway swivel can help reduce tackle loss. Rister conducted electroshocking surveys in the Kentucky Lake tailwater and was surprised at the concentration of largemouth bass crowding the rocks that line the banks. The west shore is easily accessible to bank fishermen, thanks to a pier and concrete walkway that parallels the riprap for about 200 yards.
Shad are also thick and usually concentrated along the wing wall opposite the lock chamber.
Anglers use cast or dip nets to scoop bait by the handfuls. The tailwater also holds a good population of crappie, according to Rister. That's where we see most of the crappie. Most are black crappie. Boaters should use caution when fishing the tailwater.