Winchester · Franklin County

Fishing Gear and Rental Near Winchester, TN

Bait, tackle, rental and licenses in and around Winchester.

What to bring

Tackle for Winchester

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 checklist Crappie checklist Bluegill and Panfish checklist Fish Finders compared Trolling Motors compared Lithium Marine Batteries compared Shallow Water Anchors compared

Closest first

Bait and tackle shops near Winchester

The nearest bait, tackle and marina stores to Winchester, each with its own page, directions and phone number.

Manchester · about 21 milesThe Sportsman’s CornerSporting goods. Rods, reels, line and a licence counter.Directions and phone →McMinnville · about 39 milesOutdoor Shop IncSporting goods. Rods, reels, line and a licence counter.Directions and phone →McMinnville · about 40 milesWalmart SupercenterOpen late, sells licences at the counter, and carries terminal tackle and line.Directions and phone →

Buy it at the ramp

Marinas and bait near Winchester

Access points within reach of Winchester that TWRA records as carrying bait, rentals or marina services.

Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaLakeview MarinaTims Ford Lake · 8 mi from WinchesterDirections and detail →35.21113, -86.24730 Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaTims Ford MarinaTims Ford Lake · 8 mi from WinchesterDirections and detail →35.22510, -86.24330 Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaHoliday Landing MarinaTims Ford Lake · 9 mi from WinchesterDirections and detail →35.26950, -86.24390

The big stores

Chain stores in and around Winchester

The closest full tackle wall to Winchester is the Academy in Chattanooga, about 46 miles. Distances here are straight line, so the drive is longer. The rest below are the next nearest, each with a map link.

Chattanooga · about 46 milesAcademy Sports + OutdoorsChain sporting goods. Rods, reels, line, terminal tackle and a licence counter.Open in maps →Chattanooga · about 46 milesBass Pro ShopsFull outdoor superstore. Rods, reels, boats, licences and a tackle wall.Open in maps →Chattanooga · about 46 milesSportsman’s WarehouseChain sporting goods. Rods, reels, line, terminal tackle and a licence counter.Open in maps →Murfreesboro · about 48 milesSportsman’s WarehouseChain sporting goods. Rods, reels, line, terminal tackle and a licence counter.Open in maps →

Before you cast

Buying a Tennessee fishing license in Winchester

Buy online at gooutdoorstennessee.com and the license is on your phone in a minute, nothing is mailed. Over the counter, the Franklin County Clerk in Winchester sells them, and so do most Walmart stores and licensed agents around Winchester.

Anyone 13 and over needs a license to fish Franklin County water, and under 13 is free. If you live in Franklin County, the $10 county-of-residence license covers you on Franklin County water, though not for trout.

All license prices and rules

What it looks like

The water around Winchester

What you are buying gear for. Drag or swipe through. Every picture opens that water’s own page.

Tims Ford LakeOpen the Tims Ford Lake page →Geobeedude / CC BY-SA 3.0

Elk RiverOpen the Elk River page →dmtilley / CC BY 3.0

Normandy LakeOpen the Normandy Lake page →Chris Breeze / CC BY 2.0

Duck RiverOpen the Duck River page →SBaker43 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Tims Ford LakeOpen the Tims Ford Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

Elk RiverOpen the Elk River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

Gear questions

Buying and renting gear near Winchester

Where can I buy a fishing license in Winchester?

County clerks, most Walmart stores and licensed agents in and around Winchester sell them over the counter, and gooutdoorstennessee.com sells them around the clock. The license is digital.

Can I rent a boat near Winchester?

No access point within about 35 miles of Winchester is recorded by TWRA as having boat rentals. Marinas often rent without it being in the database, so it is worth a phone call.

Is there a bait shop in Winchester?

No standalone fly shop or bait-and-tackle retailer in Franklin County was verified by name. Tims Ford Marina, Winchester is the most likely on-water source of bait, tackle and rentals, confirm phone and stock before publishing. Several Elk River fly-fishing guide services operate in the area but are based outside the county. Walmart Supercenter, Winchester and Walmart Supercenter, Tullahoma (Coffee Co., Store 667) both sell tackle, bait and licences. Nearest Academy Sports: Murfreesboro or Huntsville, Alabama (both roughly an hour). Nearest Bass Pro: Nashville (~1 hr 30 min)..

Do I need a trout stamp to fish near Winchester?

Only if you are fishing for trout. The $33 resident combination hunt and fish license does not cover trout and neither do the cheap no-trout short-term options, those need the $21 annual trout supplemental. Sportsman licenses and every non-resident all-species license already include it.

8 public boat launches in Franklin County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

Where to fish it

Now find the water near Winchester

Every public launch and pier within reach of Winchester, closest first.

Fishing spots near Winchester Back to Winchester

Keep going

More Winchester 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 water Licence and limits