Appalachians
Cumberland River Tailwater
Live Conditions
Cumberland River Tailwater — Cumberland River Near Rowena, KY
24-Hr Pressure
29.22 inHg · → High/stable
Local Weather
Tough conditions — fish deep
Today
🌦️Drizzle
80° / 63°
0.01"
Tomorrow
☀️Clear sky
81° / 58°
Wed
☀️Clear sky
80° / 56°
Thu
☁️Overcast
81° / 58°
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?
One call. Specific to today's exact conditions on the Cumberland River Tailwater.
Time of Day
What should I pack?
Rod, flies, tippet, and safety gear specific to today's Cumberland River Tailwater conditions.
🪰 Hatch Calendar
Cumberland River Tailwater · June · Early Summer
Showing typical dates — water temperature data unavailable for live hatch predictions.
Select month
Midges dominate. Scuds and Sowbugs subsurface. Streamer fishing for browns in low light.
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.