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Elkhorn Creek Fishing Report

Updated Mon, Nov 9, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

Central Kentucky's float-and-wade smallmouth creek from the Forks of Elkhorn to the Kentucky River, with a 12- to 15-inch protective slot.

3/5
Fair. Fish the windows.A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.
Flow
171 cfs
Air / High
37 / 65 F
Wind
SSW 4 mph

Sources: USGS gauge 03289500, Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view
Monday
9
November 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

3/5Fair. Fish the windows.A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.

Elkhorn Creek feels the season turning: shorter days, grouping fish. The river is running 171 cfs, on the rise. Today brings clear skies, wind SSW around 4 mph, steady pressure near 1020 hPa and a high of 65. Water sits around 51 F for the season (estimated). With the new moon, the solunar majors run 11:21 PM-1:21 AM and 11:41 AM-1:41 PM: the windows to build the day around.

The plan, species by species

Smallmouth bassFair

Spring pre-spawn and fall: Iowa DNR notes the larger bass come up to shallow structure, where a shallow-running minnow bait or a spinnerbait just under the surface works.

Catfish (blue, channel)Fair

In spring after ice-out, Iowa finds channel cats feeding on winter-killed shad on the shallow, warmer mudflats at the upper ends of reservoirs; cut bait on the bottom works there.

Largemouth bassFair

In spring, pre-spawn bass push shallow as the water climbs through the mid-50s; in fall they feed actively until the water cools into the low 50s, then drop back toward deeper structure.

Tomorrow: Similar at 67 F. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Tue, Nov 10, 6:30 AMHow this report is made β†’

Before you go

Kentucky requires a fishing licence from age 16, from $23.00 for residents. What a Kentucky licence costs and where to buy it β†’

Chasing smallmouth bass here? Check the size and bag limits with KDFWR before you keep anything. The season dates for Kentucky, read off the agency, are on the Kentucky seasons page.

Water and weather

Live readings from ELKHORN CREEK NEAR FRANKFORT, KY.

Flow, last 30 days

USGS gauge 03289500.

138304471171 cfs10/1010/2010/3011/09

Today’s flow against 86 years of November 9

At 171 cfs, the flow at USGS gauge 03289500 (ELKHORN CREEK NEAR FRANKFORT, KY) is at the 60th percentile for the date: normal. In half of the 86 years of approved record the daily mean on November 9 was below 107 cfs; the highest was 2,090 cfs and the lowest 11 cfs.

p10 25median 107p90 811

Percentiles of the daily mean flow for this date, from the USGS Water Data Statistics API for gauge 03289500; today’s reading is the latest instantaneous value. Classes follow the ones the USGS used on its WaterWatch maps (retired at the end of 2025): below 10th, much below normal; 10th–24th, below; 25th–75th, normal; 76th–90th, above; over 90th, much above.

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp37 F
High / Low65 / 37 F
WindSSW 4-8 mph
Pressure1020.4 hPa, steady
Sky / Rain0% cloud, 0%
Sunrise / Sunset07:14 / 17:31
MoonNew Moon, 0%
Water temp (gauge)51 F USGS
Water temp (seasonal)~51 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PMsunrisesunsetPRIMEPRIME

Which day to fish Elkhorn Creek this week

The best day on Elkhorn Creek this week looks like Saturday Nov 14, at 4 out of 5, against 3 today.

Best day this week: Saturday, Nov 14 β€” good at 4/5, falling pressure, usually the best window of a week.

Today, Nov 9 β€” Fair

A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.

Solunar majors
11:21 PM-1:21 AM and 11:41 AM-1:41 PM
Minor period
7:23 AM-8:23 AM
Sun
07:14 to 17:31
Moon
New Moon, 0% lit
Sky and wind
Clear, 6 mph
Rain chance
0%

Forecast-based scores, less reliable further out: how the score is built.

Species guide

The species that matter on Elkhorn Creek: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Smallmouth bass illustration

Smallmouth bass

Best: spring and fall, when bigger fish come shallow

A bronze-brown black bass of clear, cool streams and rocky lakes, with dark vertical bars instead of a side stripe. Michigan DNR says its southeastern coast, from Port Huron to Lake Erie, is known nationally for both the size and the number of its smallmouth. Spring pre-spawn and fall: Iowa DNR notes the larger bass come up to shallow structure, where a shallow-running minnow bait or a spinnerbait just under the surface works.

Catfish (blue, channel) illustration

Catfish (blue, channel)

Year-round, best at dusk and after dark

Three big catfish share most of the country's rivers and reservoirs: the channel catfish, the most widespread; the blue catfish, the largest; and the flathead, which hunts live fish. All feed mostly on or near the bottom. In spring after ice-out, Iowa finds channel cats feeding on winter-killed shad on the shallow, warmer mudflats at the upper ends of reservoirs; cut bait on the bottom works there.

Largemouth bass illustration

Largemouth bass

Best: the spring pre-spawn and the fall feed

A warm-water sunfish of lakes, reservoirs, ponds and slow river backwaters that holds tight to cover: weeds, logs, rock ledges and docks. In Texas, TPWD surveys rank it "by far" the freshwater fish anglers most want to catch. In spring, pre-spawn bass push shallow as the water climbs through the mid-50s; in fall they feed actively until the water cools into the low 50s, then drop back toward deeper structure.

When to come: the Elkhorn Creek calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Smallmouth bass
Catfish (blue, channel)
Largemouth bass
SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 51 F (estimated, not a reading).

4050607080JanMarMayJulSepNovNov, ~51 F now

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks Elkhorn Creek today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data
Sun, Nov 8

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Smallmouth bass led the card at good. High of 61 F, wind to 11 mph.

Sat, Nov 7

3/5 Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day. Smallmouth bass led the card at fair. High of 57 F, wind to 7 mph.

Fri, Nov 6

3/5 Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day. Smallmouth bass led the card at fair. High of 57 F, wind to 11 mph.

Where roughly, what depth, what bait. Skip anything you want to keep secret.
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Before you go

License

Kentucky requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

Kentucky fishing license. On the main stem from the forks to the Kentucky River, largemouth and smallmouth from 12 to 15 inches must be released (KDFWR 2026–27 Fishing and Boating Guide). Check the guide for daily limits.

Access

KDFWR VPA sites #1–#3, T.N. Sullivan WMA off KY 1262, the Pfeiffer Fish Hatchery (weekdays) and the fee ramp at Still Waters Campground. AMA on the Creek and the American Whitewater access are boat launches only.

About this water

A central Kentucky creek in Franklin County, about 13 miles (KDFWR) from the Forks of Elkhorn to the Kentucky River; flow is read at USGS gauge 03289500 near Frankfort.

Fishing Elkhorn Creek: the full guide

From the Forks to the Kentucky River

Elkhorn Creek forms where its North and South forks join just east of Frankfort and runs to the Kentucky River. KDFWR calls it one of the state's best-known streams for floating and fishing for smallmouth bass, channel catfish and rock bass, and puts the run from the Forks of Elkhorn to the river at 13 miles.

Smallmouth under a slot

KDFWR's 2026 forecast reports very good numbers of smallmouth, especially on the main stem within the slot section, and a good number over 15 inches. On the main stem, from the forks down to a marker just below the first shoal above the Kentucky River, largemouth and smallmouth from 12 to 15 inches must be released. Rock bass of 6 to 8 inches are common, the lower main stem has good numbers of channel catfish, and flatheads are present.

Public access

Much of the corridor is private. KDFWR lists Voluntary Public Access sites #1 and #2 for bank and wade fishing only, VPA #3 for wading and canoe launching, the 146-acre T.N. Sullivan WMA off KY 1262 (a 0.2-mile walk down an old road bed), and the Pfeiffer Fish Hatchery on Indian Gap Road, open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. The AMA on the Creek launch below US 460 and the American Whitewater access below Knight's Bridge are for boats only, with no fishing from the bank.

Reading the gauge

KDFWR rates the Frankfort gauge as good for boating and fishing between 2.5 and 4.0 feet, or 100 to 600 cubic feet per second; below that it is low. Its float legs run from the AMA launch to VPA #3 (4.8 miles), on to the American Whitewater access (2.6), T.N. Sullivan WMA (1.3), the hatchery (5.8) and Still Waters Campground at the Kentucky River (3.5).

Common questions

Is there a size rule for bass?

Yes. On the main stem, largemouth and smallmouth from 12 to 15 inches must be released immediately.

What gauge level is good for a float?

KDFWR calls 2.5 to 4.0 feet, or 100 to 600 cubic feet per second, on the Elkhorn Creek near Frankfort gauge good; under that it is low.

Where can I fish Elkhorn Creek from the bank?

At KDFWR's VPA sites #1 to #3, T.N. Sullivan WMA and the Pfeiffer Fish Hatchery on weekdays. The AMA and American Whitewater launches do not allow bank fishing.

Is fishing good at Elkhorn Creek right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.

Nearby waters

Taylorsville Lake29 miHerrington Lake38 miLicking River38 miCave Run Lake71 miGreen River Lake75 miBlue River77 mi

Where this page's numbers come from

River and reservoir readings
USGS 03289500 β€” ELKHORN CREEK NEAR FRANKFORT, KY
Read from the USGS Water Data API (api.waterdata.usgs.gov). Latest value timestamped 2026-11-09 at 11:15 UTC.
Weather and pressure
Open-Meteo forecast model
Queried at 38.2687, -84.8147 in this water's own timezone. A model, not an observation.
Moon and solunar windows
Calculated on this site
Astronomical calculation from these coordinates and the date, not a third-party feed. How much weight it deserves.
Pages checked
The facts in the written guide were checked against these pages, from the agencies and operators that manage the water, on October 5, 2026. Anything we could not verify was taken out.
The written guide on this page
Pablo Ruiz Quintero
How this page was made. The daily report is computed by our scoring engine from live readings; nobody types it. The written text was drafted with AI assistance from the official pages listed above, and its facts were checked against those pages by automated verification on October 5, 2026; anything that could not be verified was taken out. Pablo Ruiz Quintero sets every guideline, the data-verification system and the minimum standards a page must meet to be published, reviews page structure and approves what goes live; the responsibility is his, and the AI carries out the work. We work this way because it is how one person can keep every page current with named sources. Errors are published in the verification log; the full policy is in the editorial policy.

Readings refresh on a 30-minute window. The full method, with every figure and its source, is on how our reports are made. Something wrong here? Tell us and it goes in the log with the date.