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East Tennessee · County seat Jonesborough

Fishing in Washington County, Tennessee

Boone Lake, Watauga River (below Wilbur Dam, lower reach into Boone Lake), Nolichucky River. Where to launch, where to fish from the bank, and where to buy what you forgot.

Find fishing spots7 public access pointsFind gear & baitBait shops, tackle, rentals, licences

Every public access point

Fishing access in Washington County

7 public access points in Washington County: 4 boat launches, 1 designated fishing site and 1 marina. Each one opens its own page with written directions, coordinates and a link straight to Google Maps.

Tap a pin for the spot page and directions. Open the full Tennessee fishing map.

Boone Lake 6 in Washington County

Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAHwy 11E (New Devault Bridge)Hwy 11E/Bristol Hwy, Johnson City, TN1 ramp, 2 lanesaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.39264, -82.35672Fee not listed3.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · OtherJay’s Boat Dock1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →36.41709, -82.38088Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAPickens BridgePickens Bridge Rd, Johnson City, TN1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.41900, -82.37516Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVASugar Hollow Access2711 Devault Bridge Rd, Piney Flats TN, 376861 rampDirections and detail →36.46619, -82.35749Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesTVAKnob CreekDirections and detail →36.38400, -82.36100Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityWinged Deer ParkDirections and detail →36.39595, -82.36336

Nolichucky River 1 in Washington County

Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USFSJackson IslandJackson Bridge Rd off of SR 107canoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.17981, -82.53363

What to bring

What to bring fishing in Washington County

Three picks from the largemouth bass checklist that work for the fish here. Affiliate links: buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you.

RodUgly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rodStiff enough to set a hook in grass, tough enough to live in a truck bed.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
ReelAbu Garcia Black Max baitcasting reelAn inexpensive baitcaster that casts cleanly once the brakes are set.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
Soft plasticZoom Trick WormThe Tennessee standard on a Texas rig or weightless along docks and grass edges.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
Full largemouth bass checklist (11 items)All gear checklists

Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:

Smallmouth Bass checklistCrappie checklistBluegill and Panfish checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

Washington County at a glance

Washington County boat ramps and fishing access

Washington County has 7 public fishing access points: 4 boat ramps and 1 marina, on 2 lakes, rivers and creeks.

4boat ramps
1marina
2lakes, rivers and creeks

The big water in Washington

Main fishing waters in Washington County

What each of these is actually known for, and what you can expect to catch.

TVA impoundment on the South Fork Holston and Watauga · 4,400–4,520 ac · TVA (1952)

Boone Lake

Split between Washington and Sullivan counties, with one arm running about 16 mi up the South Fork Holston and the other about 15 mi up the Watauga; TWRA’s caution is that the shoreline is heavily developed by private landowners and little public land is available, so the public ramps matter more here than on most lakes.

largemouthsmallmouthspotted bassstriped and hybrid bass
trout tailwater · the tailwater runs about 18 mi from Wilbur Dam to Boone Lake · TVA…

Watauga River (below Wilbur Dam, lower reach into Boone Lake)

The Quality Trout Fishing Area runs from Smallings bridge downstream to the CSX railroad bridges, 14″ minimum, two-trout creel, artificial lures only, no bait. Water stays 40–65°F year round and migratory browns run up out of Boone Lake.

wild brown troutrainbow troutsmallmouth
free-flowing river across the county’s south · 115 mi total

Nolichucky River

Flows through the southern county past Embreeville and Telford toward the Greene County line; a rain-driven river with a 13–17″ smallmouth protected range.

smallmouthrock bassredhorsecatfish
river forming the Sullivan County boundary · TVA / TWRA

South Fork Holston River

TWRA stocks the Boone tailwater section with rainbows and browns in March, April, November and December, and the stocking listing is credited jointly to Sullivan and Washington.

troutsmallmouth

What it looks like

Washington County water

Photographs of the water this page covers. Every picture opens that water’s own page. Drag or swipe to see the rest.

Boone Lake, TennesseeBoone LakeOpen the Boone Lake page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domainNolichucky River, TennesseeNolichucky RiverOpen the Nolichucky River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Watauga River, Tennessee
Watauga River, TennesseeKen Thomas / Public domain
Holston River, TennesseeSouth Fork Holston RiverOpen the South Fork Holston River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Norris Lake, TennesseeNorris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Cherokee Lake, TennesseeCherokee LakeOpen the Cherokee Lake page →TVA Web Team / CC BY 2.0

No boat, or your own boat

Bank fishing and launching in Washington County

Fishing from the bank in Washington County

Winged Deer Park shoreline, Johnson City; Boone Lake public ramps and their rip-rap; Nolichucky River at Embreeville and the Hwy 81 crossing; the Watauga River at the lower access points (Blevins, Persinger Bridge / Wagner Road) before it enters Boone Lake; Boone Dam area; Cherokee National Forest road crossings in the southeast.

Getting a boat on the water in Washington County

Sonny’s Marina & Boat Sales, 109 One St, Johnson City, (423) 282-9440. Rockingham Marina, 639 Rockingham Rd, Johnson City, (877) 651-3625. Jay’s Boat Dock, 945 S Pickens Bridge Rd, Johnson City, (423) 282-3522.

Wake to Wake Watersports, Johnson City, (423) 408-3215. The Watauga tailwater is a drift-boat float; the standard ramps are Wilbur Dam (put-in), Hunter Bridge, Lover’s Lane under the 19E bridge, Blevins and Persinger Bridge / Wagner Rd (final takeout). The Nolichucky is raft and kayak water. Boone Lake has no blanket horsepower limit; no-wake near marinas and the dam.

Two different trips

Visiting Washington County versus fishing it like a local

Where visitors get pointed in Washington County

Historic Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town, and the National Storytelling Festival; Johnson City and East Tennessee State University; Winged Deer Park; Rocky Mount State Historic Site (Piney Flats, on the Sullivan line); Tweetsie Trail; Boone Lake; the Nolichucky Gorge access at Erwin, 20 min south.

Where Washington County locals actually go

The Watauga River Quality Trout Area between Smallings bridge and the CSX bridges, artificial-only, 14″ minimum, and it holds roughly 2,000 trout per mile with about 85% of them wild browns (a guide-service figure, cite it as such); the lower Watauga where it meets Boone Lake and migratory browns stage; Sinking Creek and Knob Creek arms of Boone; the Nolichucky at Embreeville on low water; Boone Dam tailwater.

Rules and record fish

Limits and records for Washington County water

Creel and length limits in Washington County

– Watauga River Quality Trout Fishing Area: 14″ minimum length limit, two-trout creel, artificial lures only, bait prohibited, from Smallings bridge downstream to the CSX railroad bridges. Stocked March–December., Boone Reservoir: black bass 5/day with 15″ minimum on largemouth and smallmouth; spotted bass 15/day no length limit; crappie 15/day at 10″; striped bass 1/day at a 36″ minimum; hybrids 2/day at 15″; trout 7/day with a 16–22″ protected length range, only one over 22″.

The South Fork Holston tailwater trout regulation extends into Boone Reservoir up to the Hwy 11E (DeVault/Bristol Hwy) bridge on the Watauga arm, so part of Boone is legally trout water., Nolichucky River and South Fork Holston River stream sections: black bass 5/day combined, smallmouth 13–17″ PLR with only one over 17″., Advisory: avoid eating catfish and carp from Boone Lake (PCBs, chlordane); children and pregnant or nursing women should avoid them entirely., TWRA stocks the Wilbur tailwater (Watauga) March–September and the Boone tailwater in March, April, November and December.

State record fish from Washington County water

No record is credited to a water wholly inside Washington County. Three Nolichucky River records exist without a county attribution: warmouth 1 lb 12 oz (Frank E. Garrett, 26 May 1984), orangespotted sunfish 5 oz (Donald Daryl Fox, 30 May 1982), silver redhorse 6 lb 14.7 oz (Elise Hyatt, 26 March 2023).

The Boone/South Fork Holston records (cutthroat, pike, redhorse) are credited to Sullivan County waters.

4 public boat launches in Washington County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

Questions people actually ask

Washington County fishing questions

Where can I fish from the bank in Washington County?

Winged Deer Park shoreline, Johnson City.

How many public boat ramps are in Washington County?

TWRA’s access database lists 4 boat launches in Washington County, plus 1 marina. Most of them are on Boone Lake. Every one is listed further up this page with its owner and lane count.

Do I need a fishing license to fish in Washington County?

Yes. Anyone 13 and over needs a Tennessee fishing license, and there is no license required for ages 12 and under. A resident annual combination hunt and fish license is $33, a resident one-day all-species license is $11, and a non-resident three-day all-species license is $40. Tennessee has no non-resident one-day license. Buy online at gooutdoorstennessee.com, from a county clerk or from a licensed agent. Licenses are digital, nothing arrives in the post.

What fish can you catch in Washington County?

The main species across Washington County water are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, rock bass, blue catfish, rainbow trout, brown trout and redhorse. Each water body on the fishing spots page lists what it is actually known for, which is not always the same thing.

Does my Tennessee license cover trout in Washington County?

Not automatically. The $33 resident combination hunt and fish license does not cover trout, and neither does the county-of-residence license or the cheaper no-trout short-term options. Those need the $21 annual trout supplemental added on. The Sportsman licenses and every non-resident all-species license already include trout. This matters in Washington County, because there is trout water here.

What are the creel limits in Washington County?

– Watauga River Quality Trout Fishing Area: 14″ minimum length limit, two-trout creel, artificial lures only, bait prohibited, from Smallings bridge downstream to the CSX railroad bridges. Stocked March–December, Boone Reservoir: black bass 5/day with 15″ minimum on largemouth and smallmouth; spotted bass 15/day no length limit; crappie 15/day at 10″; striped bass 1/day at a 36″ minimum; hybrids 2/day at 15″; trout 7/day with a 16–22″ protected length range, only one over 22″ Always check the current TWRA guide before you keep anything, because water-specific exceptions change.

Where can I buy bait and tackle in Washington County?

– Fly Shop of Tennessee, 102 Willmary Rd, Johnson City, (423) 928-2007., Mahoney’s Outfitters, 830 Sunset Dr, Johnson City, (423) 282-5413 (also listed at 378 Marketplace Blvd)., Academy Sports + Outdoors, 925 Hamilton Pl, Johnson City, (423) 434-1300., Dick’s Sporting Goods, 2011 N Roan St, Johnson City, (423) 282-4430., Sonny’s Marina & Boat Sales, Johnson City, (423) 282-9440., Jay’s Boat Dock, Johnson City, (423) 282-3522., Widener’s Reloading / Wideners Shooting Supplies, Johnson City, (423) 282-6651 / (423) 928-9311., Nearest big box: Walmart Supercenter, 3111 Browns Mill Rd, Johnson City, (423) 282-5376. Bass Pro Shops, 1 Bass Pro Dr, Bristol, (423) 990-5200, about 30 min northeast.. There is a fuller list on the Washington County gear page, including anywhere renting boats or kayaks and the nearest big-box store.

Where do locals fish in Washington County?

The Watauga River Quality Trout Area between Smallings bridge and the CSX bridges, artificial-only, 14″ minimum, and it holds roughly 2,000 trout per mile with about 85% of them wild browns (a guide-service figure, cite it as such). the lower Watauga where it meets Boone Lake and migratory browns stage. Sinking Creek and Knob Creek arms of Boone.

The water itself

Lakes and rivers in Washington County

Each of these has a page of its own covering the whole water, not just the Washington County end of it, with every public access point on it and what it holds.

LakeBoone Lake6 access points in Washington County, 13 in totalSee the spots →RiverNolichucky River1 access point in Washington County, 10 in totalSee the spots →RiverSouth Fork Holston River10 in totalSee the spots →

Washington County water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie.

Conditions

Washington County lake levels, river levels and trout stocking

Lake conditionsBoone Lake level todayTVA’s current reading and the Boone Dam generation schedule.Open →River levelsNolichucky River level todayUSGS flow, gauge height and the seven-day trend.Open →TroutTrout stocking in Washington CountyTWRA stocks Wilbur Tailwater / Watauga River, Boone TW / S. Fork Holston River. Dates are on the stocking schedule.Open →

Statewide limits: 5 black bass, 15 crappie at 10 inches, 2 stripers at 15 inches, 7 trout.

About this list

Where the Washington County access list comes from

The 7 access points above come from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s public access database, which is why each one names the agency that owns or manages it. A state or TVA ramp is usually free. A Corps of Engineers site, a state park ramp or a marina often is not.

The waters, species and local notes are researched separately, county by county, against TWRA’s own reservoir pages, TVA, the US Army Corps of Engineers and Tennessee State Parks.

Ramps close for repairs, gravel roads wash out and regulations change. Treat anything here as a starting point and call ahead if you are driving a long way for it.

By town instead

Towns near Washington County

These pages measure from the middle of town rather than the county line, which is usually the number you actually care about.

24 access points within 30 milesFishing near Johnson CityBoone Lake, Watauga RiverSee the spots →

Tennessee sells no non-resident one-day fishing license. The three-day is the shortest option.

Keep looking

Counties next to Washington

Fish do not respect county lines. These are the nearest counties to Washington with public water of their own. Each one opens its own page.

Next county overSullivan CountySouth Fork Holston River, Boone LakeSee the spots →Next county overCarter CountyWatauga River, Doe RiverSee the spots →Next county overUnicoi CountyNolichucky River, Rocky Fork CreekSee the spots →Next county overJohnson CountyBeaver Dam Creek, Doe CreekSee the spots →Next county overHawkins CountyHolston River, Cherokee LakeSee the spots →

Keep going

More Washington County water, and who fishes it

Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits

Weather alerts, power outages and road closures in Washington County right now: Washington County conditions.