Appalachians
Cumberland River Tailwater
Live Conditions
Cumberland River Tailwater — Cumberland River at Burkesville, KY
7-Day Flow
↓ Falling
24-Hr Pressure
29.44 inHg · → High/stable
Local Weather
Tough conditions — fish deep
Today
☁️Overcast
56° / 40°
Tomorrow
☀️Clear sky
67° / 35°
Mon
☀️Clear sky
69° / 41°
Tue
☁️Overcast
72° / 43°
Cold front incoming — go deep with nymphs, surface activity likely slow.
Weather by Open-Meteo · No API key · Updated every 30 min
What should I fish today?
⚡ AIAI-powered recommendation using today's live flow, temperature, and hatch data.
6
Time of Day
Using: 3,070 CFS · BWO
What should I pack?
Rod, flies, tippet, and safety gear specific to today's Cumberland River Tailwater conditions.
🪰 Hatch Calendar
Cumberland River Tailwater · October · Fall
Showing typical dates — water temperature data unavailable for live hatch predictions.
Select month
BWO (peak), Caddis, midges. Brown trout pre-spawn aggressive — best fall fishing of the year on the Cumberland.
River Map
About Cumberland River Tailwater
Kentucky's crown jewel and one of the finest tailwater trout fisheries in the Southeast. Below Wolf Creek Dam, 75 miles of cold, oxygen-rich water hold Kentucky's state records for all four trout species — including a 21-lb brown. Prolific insect hatches, year-round cold temperatures, and exceptional holdover fish make this a destination-caliber fishery that rivals any tailwater in the country.
Regulations
Kentucky Fishing License + Trout Permit ($10.57) required. 8 trout/day, no size limit. No special slot or artificial-only restrictions on main Cumberland tailwater. CFS alone does not indicate fishability — check Wolf Creek Dam generation schedule. Verify current rules at fw.ky.gov.
Learn More
Guides to help you fish Cumberland River Tailwater with more confidence.
Kentucky Trout Fishing Regulations Guide
Kentucky fishing license + the separate Trout Permit ($10.57), the standard 8 trout/day creel on the main Cumberland tailwater, the Hatchery Creek…
Trout Species of Kentucky
Kentucky has no native trout — but the Cumberland tailwater below Wolf Creek Dam holds state records for all four classic trout species (rainbow,…
How Barometric Pressure Affects Fishing (And How to Use It)
That gorgeous bluebird day after a cold front? Worst fishing of the year. Here's the data behind why pressure changes matter more than the weather…