Hello, I am an avid bass fisherman in Florida looking at a possible move to the Louisville area. I have been doing some online searching for various waters up there and am turning to this form for some advice. I know KY has some great fishing down south (KY lake, etc), but I am more concerned about the fishing around the central part. So far I have this list of short drives from Louisville. Does anyone have any insight on these fisheries or advice for transitioning from Florida lakes to Kentucky lakes? I've never thrown a crank bait in my life...

Ohio River

Lake Jericho

Guest Creek

Lake Shelby

Taylorsville Lake

Sympson Lake

Freeman Lake

Nolin Lake

Barren River Lake

If you happen to fish out of a kayak, don't sleep on Elkhorn Creek over near Frankfort / Lexington, an hour from Louisville. It has both smallmouth & largemouth. It doesn't get all of the fishing pressure that the typical lake impoundments do. Mainly because can't be accessed by bass boats. Throw bait resembling small crawfish; Nedrig works well. Good place to launch is near Midway, KY at the LG&E/KU Energy substation on US421. There is a gravel parking lot adjacent at coordinates 38.140707, -84.644753 that they typically allow kayakers to utilize.

Ohio River at the mouth of the Blue River at the Leavenworth, IN ramp in early-to-mid November is where smallmouth stack up; throw a jig.

I second the Elkhorn Creek. Been there twice, waded once and kayaked the last time. Many SM. I launched @ canoe kentucky.

I wouldn't bother with anything on your list....

Cedar Creek Lake is where I'd go hands down. It's roughly 1½ hours from Louisville and only 600+/- acres, so it's manageable. I used to fish it a ton from like 2010-2015 and it's loaded with 3lb-6lb with the occasional 7lb+. KY built it back in 2002-2003 as a "trophy" bass lake. I'm sure there's probably a couple of DD northern strains in there by now. It has lots of timber and grass.

Also, Green River Lake has been on an upward swing the last few years and there's nice largemouth and smallies in there.

Shoot me a PM and I'll get you pointed in the right direction on both....