LIMESTONE DRIFT KENTUCKY WATER, TOLD STRAIGHT
FIELD CARD Releases & Access · No. 07-3
Trout tailwater · KY 61 at Burkesville · the middle river

Cumberland River tailwater

Where the discharge gauge is and the striper anglers go. Crocus Creek bank access off KY 704 and KY 912, the private Bakerton ramp, the no-fee Burkesville ramp off the square, and the KY 61 bridge with a fee ramp on one side and a gravel bank lot on the other.

KY 61 · BURKESVILLE Sites at KDFWR coordinates · river line and roads schematic
US 127 · Jamestown–dam–AlbanyKY 55 · KY 1058 · KY 379KY 3063 · Wells Bottom RdKY 61 · BurkesvilleKY 704 · KY 912KY 953 · KY 1424KY 100 · KY 214 · TompkinsvilleKY 90 · Burkesville–AlbanyDam / tailraceWolf Creek DamUSGS 03414100ParkingCrocus CreekBank · KY 704, KY 912Boat rampBakerton (Fish Tales)Private · patrons only · feeBoat rampBurkesville RampNo fee · from the squareBoat rampHwy 61 bridge rampFee · pavedParkingHwy 61 bank accessBank · gravel lotN02 miSchematic · sites at KDFWR coordinates · hollow discs are other corridors · gold squares are USGS gauges
Three numbers to get right
What you hearWhat the primary sources actually say
"Check the gauge for the flow."No discharge gauge below the dam. USGS 03414000 and 03414002 read stage, temperature and oxygen only; the first discharge series (00060) is 03414100 at Burkesville. The number that matters is the Corps generation schedule.
"One turbine is wadeable."KDFWR, dated: "45 means one turbine of generation and 90 means two." June 2020: near the dam, daybreak to about 10 a.m. under typical summer schedules; mark the bank and leave when it rises. Corps: releases "change without notice."
"Statewide trout rules."Not here. Brown 20 in / 1 (statewide 16). Rainbow 15–20 slot, 5, one over 20 (statewide 8, no size). Brook 15 in / 1 (statewide release). Trout permit, dam to the state line.
What the schedule does on this reach
KDFWR, December 2019: "the Bakerton and Crocus Creek sections" are less affected by releases than the water upstream; river temperature that month "56°F (Dec. 5) to 54.5°F (Dec. 11)." The only discharge series on the Kentucky river is here — USGS 03414100, Burkesville, parameter 00060, since November 2013. KDFWR 2026 forecast: striped bass "Best below Burkesville using live bait or trolling shad or trout-colored crankbaits or swimbaits during summer. Fish 20 pounds plus available." Reasoning, not measurement: a wall at the dam is a rise here; how much depends on hours the Corps does not forecast for anglers.
One of the three ramps is private. Bakerton (Fish Tales), KDFWR: "Private ramp for patron use only." Operator and hours: status pending. The Hwy 61 bridge ramp is a fee ramp; the gravel lot across the bridge is free bank access. Burkesville services: status pending. Trout permit, no culling, no chumming — same as at the dam.
LIMESTONE DRIFT
CUMBERLAND RIVER TAILWATER · KY 61 Access and limits
Five sites, north and south of Burkesville
SiteFeeKDFWR record, in the agency's words
Crocus Creek (bank)No"From Burkesville, take KY-61 north 2.6 miles. Turn right onto KY-704 and go 2.3 miles. Turn right onto KY-912 and go 0.6 miles. Turn left to stay on KY-912 and go 1.5 miles to site on right just past Crocus Creek Bridge at county road pulloff." No facilities.
Bakerton (Fish Tales) · privateYes"KY 61 N of Burkesville; right on KY 704; right on Bakerton Road." Light boats, paved single lane, no dock, no restrooms. "Private ramp for patron use only."
Burkesville RampNo"Right on Upper River Road from Burkesville Square." Light boats, paved single lane, paved parking, no dock, no restrooms.
Hwy 61 bridge accessYes"KY 61 S of Burkesville to bridge." Light boats, paved single lane, unpaved parking, no dock, no restrooms.
Highway 61 bank access (bank)No"Take KY 61 S of Burkesville and across bridge. Gravel parking lot is on the right." No facilities.
Limits — all four trout rules differ from statewide
SpeciesSizeDaily creel
Brown trout20 in minimum1
Rainbow trout15–20 in slot — release all between5, only one over 20 in
Brook trout15 in minimum1
Cutthroat trout20 in minimum1 (statewide is the same)
Trout permit required for every licensed angler from the dam to the Tennessee line, tributaries to the first riffle, and all of Hatchery Creek (KDFWR guide 2026–27). No culling: "Once an angler holds a trout in their possession on this section of the Cumberland River, it counts toward the daily trout creel limit." No chumming "with bait, corn or other attractants." Striped bass: statewide. Hatchery Creek (own record, wid 397): upper section "5 Trout aggregate daily limit", no size limit; lower section "Catch and Release only and only artificial baits may be used." Verify against the current Fishing & Boating Guide before keeping anything.
Releases: USACE Nashville District Project Hydropower Schedule, lrn-wc.usace.army.mil/preschedule.shtml · KDFWR: "45 means one turbine of generation and 90 means two turbines" · (606) 678-8697 · USGS 03414100 Burkesville — discharge 00060 and stage 00065 · Corps Resource Manager (606) 679-6337.
Sources: USACE Nashville District Wolf Creek Dam page and Project Hydropower Schedule (release disclaimer verbatim); LRD release NR 23-33 and Recreation.gov for Kendall; KDFWR waterbody records 186 and 397, the 16 access-site records, 2026–2027 Fishing & Boating Guide, 2026 Fishing Forecast and trout-stream classification; USFWS Wolf Creek NFH pages; USGS 03414000, 03414002, 03414100.
Conditions change. Verify the release schedule, access and regulations before you travel. Revised September 2026.
QR code: https://limestonedrift.com/waterways/cumberland-river-tailwater/#ld-alertslimestonedrift.comAlerts and the water page
Water alerts. We email when something on this river actually changes — access, rules, the schedule's home. limestonedrift.com/alerts/?w=cumberland-river-tailwater