Lake elevationCurrent
487.12Reported 1:00 PM CDT · NGVD 1929
24-hour change−0.43 ft7-day change−2.72 ft
Fish Rough River
Fishing at Rough River Lake
Check TARR’s water temperature, lake level, weather, practical fishing outlook, boat ramps, monthly reports, tournaments and current regulations in one place.
Last reviewed September 11, 2026Before you launch
Conditions anglers watch
Start with TARR’s locally measured water temperature, then check lake elevation, wind, pressure, rain and dam outflow before heading to the water.
Current
Water temperature
68.9°FLong Lick Creek · Reported 1:58 PM CDT
Current
Current wind
12 mph ENENWS Aviation Weather Center · KI93 · 12.7 mi from lake · Reported 1:55 PM CDT
Current
Barometric pressure
30.25 inHgNWS Aviation Weather Center · KI93 · 12.7 mi from lake · Reported 1:55 PM CDT · Falling
Current
Forecast rain chance
0%NWS daily forecast · This Afternoon · Falls of Rough
Current
24-hour rain total
0.00 inUSACE CWMS · Louisville District · Reported 6:00 AM CDT
Current
Dam outflow
871 cfsUSACE CWMS · Louisville District · Reported 6:00 AM CDT
Water temperature trend
Long Lick Creek · past 8 days
Oct 15, 3:12 PMOct 23, 1:58 PM
- Since yesterday
- −0.4°F · cooler
- Past 7 days
- −4.5°F · cooler
Data checked 2:16 PM CDT. Individual source report times appear on each reading.
Sources: Water temperature is measured by TARR’s privately operated lake sensor. Lake level, rainfall and outflow come from USGS or USACE; nearby weather observations come from NWS Aviation Weather Center station KI93, 12.7 miles from the lake.
Today’s fishing outlook
When, where and why
Start with the clearest practical signals: lower light, current lake conditions and the latest dated Rough River fishing report.
Today
☀Start with the lower-light periods today.
Sunrise and sunset are the clearest starting points; brighter midday light can make shade, cover and deeper structure more important. Light winds should make casting and boat control easier. Pressure is falling; watch the accompanying wind, clouds and temperature change as the more practical clues.
Start around sunrise. Try again near sunset.
MorningSunrise First light
EveningSunset Last light
Start around the first break, channel edges and steeper cover.
Falling water can move fish away from shallow flats toward nearby structure.
- Bass & hybridsWatch open water, points and larger-cove mouths around low light; after surface activity ends, move toward main-lake points, channel swings and brush near the first drop.
- CrappieStart around brush and standing timber in approximately 8–12 feet, keeping minnows or small plastic jigs above suspended fish.
These are the signals behind today’s plan.
- Water
- 68.9°F at the surface. Transition areas and the direction of the temperature trend become especially useful clues.
- Lake
- 487.12 ft · −0.43 ft over 24 hours. Falling water can move fish away from shallow flats toward nearby structure.
- Weather
- Sunny · 5 mph E · 0% rain chance · pressure falling.
Tomorrow
≋Start with the lower-light periods tomorrow.
Sunrise and sunset are the clearest starting points; brighter midday light can make shade, cover and deeper structure more important. Light winds should make casting and boat control easier.
MorningSunrise First light
EveningSunset Last light
- Daytime high
- 75°
- Rain chance
- 0%
- Wind
- 2 mph SE
- Forecast
- Patchy Fog then Sunny
Plan farther ahead
Compare the next seven days
Compare weather, wind and rain, then use sunrise and sunset as practical starting points for each day.
- Today72°
Sunny
- Rain
- 0%
- Wind
- 5 mph E
Sunrise 7:02 AMSunset 5:58 PMMorning & evening low light - Tomorrow75°
Patchy Fog then Sunny
- Rain
- 0%
- Wind
- 2 mph SE
Sunrise 7:03 AMSunset 5:56 PMMorning & evening low light - Sun76°
Sunny
- Rain
- 0%
- Wind
- 1 mph S
Sunrise 7:04 AMSunset 5:55 PMMorning & evening low light - Mon76°
Mostly Sunny
- Rain
- 0%
- Wind
- 2 mph W
Sunrise 7:05 AMSunset 5:54 PMMorning & evening low light - Tue75°
Partly Sunny
- Rain
- 0%
- Wind
- 2 mph E
Sunrise 7:06 AMSunset 5:53 PMMorning & evening low light - Wed76°
Partly Sunny
- Rain
- 0%
- Wind
- 0 to 5 mph S
Sunrise 7:07 AMSunset 5:51 PMMorning & evening low light - Thu76°
Sunny
- Rain
- 2%
- Wind
- 0 to 5 mph S
Sunrise 7:08 AMSunset 5:50 PMMorning & evening low light
Moon phase & optional traditional timing+
How TARR uses this: Moon phase can add nighttime context, but moon transit does not override daylight, weather, lake readings or the latest local report in the main outlook.
Longer traditional windows—often called major periods—are centered on the moon overhead or underfoot.
Shorter traditional windows—often called minor periods—are centered on moonrise or moonset.
Today92%
Tomorrow97%
Sun100%
Mon99%
Tue97%
Wed91%
Thu83%
New moon Nov 9 · Full moon Oct 25
Today
- Sunrise
- Sunset
- Moonrise
- Moonset
- Moon overhead
- Moon underfoot
Longer traditional windows
- Moon underfoot
- Moon overhead
Shorter traditional windows
- Moonset
- Moonrise
Tomorrow
- Sunrise
- Sunset
- Moonrise
- Moonset
- Moon overhead
- Moon underfoot
Longer traditional windows
- Moon underfoot
- Moon overhead
Shorter traditional windows
- Moonset
- Moonrise
Sun and moon times are calculated locally for Rough River Dam State Resort Park using Astronomy Engine. Weather comes from the National Weather Service. All times are local.
TARR’s main outlook prioritizes the latest Rough River report, surface-water temperature, lake movement, daylight and forecast conditions. Moon timing remains available as optional context.
Latest monthly report · September 2, 2026
Falling Water Changes the September Pattern
Falling water moved bass toward deeper structure while crappie remained around brush and standing timber.
Archived observations from the Rough River Lake Living newsletter. Conditions may have changed since publication.Lake size5,100acres at normal summer pool · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Start here
Essential fishing tools
Find structure, confirm your license and compare lake contours before heading to the water.
01Official
Fish attractor map
Open the official Rough River Lake map of fish-attractor locations.
Kentucky Fish & Wildlife↗
02Official
Buy a fishing license
Kentucky’s official license information and purchasing portal for residents and visitors.
Kentucky Fish & Wildlife↗
03Third-party
Interactive lake contour viewer
Explore lake contours and approximate depths in an interactive web map.
Depths appear based on Rough River’s approximate 495-foot summer-pool level—not live conditions. In Settings → Depth Offset (ft), enter the difference from 495 (negative below 495; positive above). Third-party planning aid only; not an official navigation chart.i-Boating / GPS Nautical Charts↗
Choose your launch
Find the right boat ramp for your fishing trip.
Compare all 18 KDFWR-listed launch locations, including surfaces, directions and practical access notes.
Links and descriptions checked September 8, 2026.
Know your catch
Rough River fish guide
Use these photos and species notes as a quick identification guide. Correct identification matters because fishing limits differ by species.
01 · Rough River guide
Black bass
Largemouth · Spotted (Kentucky)Rough River Lake’s black bass include largemouth and spotted (Kentucky) bass, so identification matters before deciding whether to keep a fish.
Rough River special: largemouth bass must be 15 inches or longer. Black bass share a six-fish daily limit.
02 · Rough River guide
Black crappie
Black crappieOne of Rough River Lake’s two crappie species and covered by the lake-specific minimum length.
Rough River special: black crappie must be 10 inches or longer. The statewide creel limit applies.
03 · Rough River guide
White crappie
White crappieWhite crappie share Rough River Lake with black crappie and follow the same lake-specific minimum length.
Rough River special: white crappie must be 10 inches or longer. The statewide creel limit applies.
04 · Rough River guide
Bluegill & sunfish
Bluegill · Redear and other sunfishPopular panfish around docks, shallow cover and protected coves, especially for family fishing.
Statewide rules apply. Confirm the current 2026–27 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide before keeping fish.
05 · Rough River guide
White & hybrid striped bass
White bass · Hybrid striped bassSchooling, open-water fish that are often discussed together but still need to be identified correctly.
Current statewide rule: 15 fish daily, white and hybrid striped bass combined. No minimum size, but no more than five fish may be longer than 15 inches.
06 · Rough River guide
Striped bass
Striped bassStriped bass should be distinguished from white bass and hybrid striped bass before deciding whether to keep one.
Current statewide guide: 15-inch minimum and a five-fish daily limit. Confirm before fishing.
07 · Rough River guide
Catfish
Channel · Blue · FlatheadSeveral catfish species are covered by statewide rules, including separate limits for trophy-size fish.
Trophy rules begin at 28 inches for channel catfish and 35 inches for blue and flathead catfish.Fish appearance can vary by age, season, water conditions and individual.
Know before you cast
Rough River special regulations
These are the lake-specific rules listed on the current official KDFWR Rough River Lake profile. Statewide rules still apply to the rest of the fish guide.
10″ minimum
White and black crappie. Statewide daily creel limit applies.
15″ minimum
Black bass have a combined six-fish daily limit per angler.
How to measure a fish
Mouth closed. Fish flat. Measure to the tip of the tail.
Use the current Kentucky guide’s measuring method and release an undersized fish immediately.
This is a trip-planning summary, not legal advice or a substitute for current KDFWR information. Always verify the rules before keeping a fish.
Verify before you fish
Official fishing sources
Current agency resources for forecasts, lake details, attractors and scheduled tournaments.
01Official
Official lake profile
Access sites, fish species, current special regulations and fisheries links for Rough River Lake.
Kentucky Fish & Wildlife↗
02Official
2026 Fishing Forecast
Kentucky’s current species-by-species outlook, based on Fish & Wildlife’s 2025 surveys.
Kentucky Fish & Wildlife↗
03Official
Fish attractor program
Learn what the marked structures are and find statewide attractor information.
Kentucky Fish & Wildlife↗
04Official
Tournament schedule
Open Kentucky Fish & Wildlife’s Rough River Lake schedule for all ramps and months.
Kentucky Fish & Wildlife↗
Back to the lake