LIMESTONE DRIFT KENTUCKY WATER, TOLD STRAIGHT
FIELD CARD Pool & Access · No. 13-1
Corps lake · KY 252 across the dam · Allen and Barren counties · Central time

Barren River Lake

The Corps end of the lake, on the one road that crosses the dam. Barren County side: the Corps office, Quarry Road and KY 2065 to Peninsula. Allen County side: Port Oliver, the tournament ramp, and KY 517 to Baileys Point and its 215-site campground.

KY 252 · KY 2065 · KY 517 · THE DAM KDFWR coordinates · dam at USGS 03312900 · schematic
Dam / tailraceBarren River Lake Damsummer 552 · winter 528 ft NGVD29Tailwater Rampits own water · single lane · no feeWalk-in accessQuarry Road BeachCarry-down · Corps fee beach · two piersMarinaPeninsula RampFee · multi-lane · dock · marina · KY 2065Boat rampBaileys Point RampFee · multi-lane · no dock · uphill lotBoat rampPort Oliver RampFee · multi-lane · dock · tournament rampKY 252KY 2065Port Oliver Boat Ramp RdTailwater roadKY 517N01 miSchematic · launches at KDFWR coordinates · hollow discs are other corridors · dam at the USGS 03312900 gauge
Three numbers to get right
What you hearWhat the primary sources actually say
"The drawdown is one drop."Two stages, 24 feet. 552.0 to 551.0 from 15 Sep to 14 Oct, then 551.0 to 528.0 from 15 Oct to 1 Dec. Refill 15 Mar to 13 Apr (USACE Fill and Drawdown).
"Just read the gauge."Read the right parameter. USGS 03312900 offers 62614 (lake elevation, NGVD29 — compares to 552/528) and 00065 (gage height, local datum — does not). Corps line (270) 646-2122, 7 a.m. Central: the lake runs on Central time.
"Crappie and bass are statewide."Not here. KDFWR: crappie "Must be 10 inches or over"; largemouth and smallmouth "Must be 15 inches or over - Limit 6 per angler"; channel and blue catfish 15 combined, one over 25 in; walleye 18–26 in slot, limit 2.
What coming down actually changes on this road
KDFWR's Port Oliver record, verbatim: "This ramp is not useable at lower water levels, primarily during winter drawdowns." It is the only per-ramp winter statement any agency makes for this lake. After 15 October, plan on Peninsula or Baileys Point, both flagged year-round (reasoning from the flags, not a Corps figure). KDFWR also warns that a Port Oliver tournament release, mid-September to early November, risks "low oxygen levels".

Fees changed hands, and one lot is a walk

Peninsula: "Effective Jan. 1, 2025, Peninsula Day Use area (to include boat ramp and parking area) at Barren River Lake will be managed by Peninsula Marina" — pass and fee questions go to the marina. Baileys Point: no dock; "Parking area is a considerable distance uphill from the ramp." Quarry Road: fee beach, carry-down only.

LIMESTONE DRIFT
BARREN RIVER LAKE · KY 252 Access and limits
Trailered ramp
Carry-down launch
Marina launch
Other corridor · tailwater
Four sites on the dam road — and the tailwater
LaunchLanesFeeSeasonKDFWR directions (verbatim) and flags
Peninsula Ramp
asid 27		Multi · dockYesYear-round 24 h"US 31E SW of Glasgow; right on KY 252; left on KY 2065". Parking 51+, restrooms year-round, marina. Fee collected by Peninsula Marina since 2025.
Quarry Road Beach · carry-down
asid 29		Carry-downYesYear-round 24 h"US 31E SW of Glasgow; right on KY 252 (10 miles); left on Corps road. Swimming area." Corps fee beach area; two fishing piers; Corps office adjacent.
Port Oliver Ramp
asid 740		Multi · dockYesYear-round 24 h"US-31E northeast of Scottsville, left on KY 252, right on Port Oliver Boat Ramp Road before crossing dam." Accessible pier, boardwalk, weigh-in shelter. Tournament ramp; "not useable at lower water levels, primarily during winter drawdowns."
Baileys Point Ramp
asid 7		Multi · no dockYesYear-round 24 h"US 31E NE of Scottsville; left on KY 252; right on KY 517 Parking area is a considerable distance uphill from the ramp." Parking ≤25, restrooms and camping year-round. Corps campground, 215 sites.
Tailwater · below the dam
asid 6		Single · no dockNoYear-round 24 h"US 31E NE of Scottsville; left on KY 252; left on road before crossing dam". 48-site Corps campground. Its own water (KDFWR wid 79).
Limits — four special rules, then statewide
SpeciesSizeDaily creel
White and black crappie10 in minimumstatewide creel
Largemouth and smallmouth15 in minimum6 per angler
Channel and blue catfishno more than 1 over 25 in15 combined
Walleye18–26 in slot — release all between2 per angler
Everything else is statewide — hybrid, white and yellow bass, spotted bass, redear. The walleye slot is a native-strain restoration rule covering the whole Barren River (301 KAR 1:201 §4). KDFWR 2026: summer oxygen "too low to support fish below 15 feet". Attractors: KDFWR GPX and map, no count stated. Camping: Baileys Point (Corps, 215 sites, "open April through October", 270-622-6959); Tailwater (Corps, 48 sites, 270-622-7732); dates on Recreation.gov. Marina: Peninsula, phone status pending. Beach: Quarry Road, gate attendant Memorial Day–Labor Day, no lifeguard.
Live level: USGS 03312900, parameter 62614 (NGVD29) · Corps line (270) 646-2122, 7 a.m. Central daily · pools 552.0 / 528.0, spillway 590, record 583.6 ft on 7 Apr 2025, "still rising" (final crest per the Corps) · Corps office (270) 646-2055, hours in Central time · tailwater USGS 03313000, live status pending.
Sources: USACE LRD project and recreation pages, Louisville District Fill and Drawdown, DVIDS 494660 / 494755, Corps Lakes Gateway; KDFWR records 77, 78, 79, fifteen access-site records, 2026 Fishing Forecast, WMA 129; USGS 03312900, 03313000; Recreation.gov 233420, 233650, 233698; Ky State Parks reservation system.
Conditions change. Verify pool, access and regulations before you travel. Revised October 2026.
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