Fishing

Lexington has several great fishing spots for citizens to take advantage of.

Public fishing locations

Jacobson Park Lake
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) stocks the lake with trout in the early spring and fall. Channel catfish are stocked in late spring. The bass and bluegill populations are monitored and are stocked at various times.

West Hickman Creek
(flows through Veterans Park and Bella Woods Park)
Stocked with trout in the early spring and mid-fall.

Hisle Park pond
A two- acre farm pond that has bass and bluegills.

Gainesway pond
The pond has as a variety of fish, but anglers will primarily find bass and bluegills.

Kentucky Horse Park

  • The Kentucky Horse Park has three lakes for public fishing. The Kentucky Horse Park Rolex Lake at 5.6 acres, the Kentucky Horse Park Man O' War Moat at 1.1 acres and the Kentucky Horse Park Alltech Pond at 0.6 acres.
  • Rolex Lake is stocked with channel catfish up to four times annually. It is also stocked with rainbow trout in the spring and fall. Largemouth bass and sunfish are regularly sampled and stocked if necessary.

Fishing License

You can purchase a fishing license online through the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources or purchase in-person at many local outdoor stores and other large retail centers. Youth ages 15 and younger are not required to have a fishing license.

You can purchase online or at one of these license vendors.

Fishing licenses available and cost for residents:

  • Annual fishing                                  $23
  • Joint spouse annual fishing             $42
  • 1-day fishing                                     $7
  • 3-year fishing (online only)               $55
  • Trout permit                                      $10

* Hunting/fishing combo licenses are available

Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs) program

Daily creel limits for lakes in the FINs program (including Jacobson Park, West Hickman Creek and the Kentucky Horse Park):

  • Rainbow trout: 5-fish daily limit (no culling* of trout)
  • Catfish: 4-fish daily limit
  • Sunfish: 15-fish daily limit
  • Largemouth bass: 15-inch minimum size limit, 1 fish daily limit


Learn more about the FINs program.

*Culling is holding a trout in a livewell, fish basket or stringer and later replacing it with another fish. 

Contact