Is Fishtrap Lake safe to swim?

As of July 20, 2026, Fishtrap Lake in Pike County, Kentucky is clear to swim. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 18, 2026. Rainfall over the past week totaled 0.0 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Fishtrap Lake is a lake in Pike County, Kentucky covering about 1.6 sq mi, the 9th-largest of the 11 lakes SwimZone monitors in Kentucky. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 18, 2026.

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms are most common from midsummer into early fall, when the water is warm, calm, and rich in nutrients from runoff. They can produce toxins that make people sick and can be rapidly fatal to dogs, so skip water that looks green, scummy, or like spilled paint, and keep children and pets out of it.

Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Fishtrap Lake has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 4 of them, most recently in September 2024. Its highest recorded reading was 316,828 cells/mL in September 2021.

Is it safe to swim in Fishtrap Lake right now?

Fishtrap Lake is clear to swim today. Satellite imagery detected no blue-green algae bloom as of July 18, 2026. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.

Does Fishtrap Lake have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?

No blue-green algae bloom is detectable at Fishtrap Lake as of July 18, 2026 (below the satellite's roughly 10,000 cells/mL detection limit). Cyanobacteria can still appear within hours in warm, calm, nutrient-rich water, so look before you swim.

Can dogs swim in Fishtrap Lake?

No bloom is detected at Fishtrap Lake today, but dogs are much more vulnerable to blue-green algae than people, and blooms can form within hours. Always keep dogs away from water that looks green, scummy, or discolored, and rinse them off after swimming.

How often does Fishtrap Lake have blue-green algae blooms?

Over 7 summers of satellite monitoring since 2020, Fishtrap Lake has reached blue-green algae advisory levels in 4 of them, most recently in September 2024. Its highest recorded reading was 316,828 cells/mL in September 2021.

How many Kentucky lakes and beaches are unsafe for swimming today?

Today, 3 Kentucky waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 0 more warrant caution, out of 12 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.

How is Fishtrap Lake's water quality measured?

SwimZone builds this read from EPA CyAN satellite imagery for blue-green algae, official beach and fecal-bacteria advisories where a program monitors Fishtrap Lake, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 20, 2026.