River · Lewis and Perry

Fishing Buffalo River, Tennessee

Q: Is Buffalo River free to fish?

The water is. Some of the ramps are not — Corps of Engineers sites, state park ramps and marinas often charge to launch or park. Each listing below shows the owner, which is the best guide to whether you will be asked for money.

3 public access points across 2 counties, with directions to every one.

Jump to the access list Licence and limits

Every access point

Public access on Buffalo River, county by county

All 3 public access points TWRA records on Buffalo River. Each card 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.

Buffalo River access in Lewis County

Free2 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · Nat’l ParkMetal FordSouth on Natchez Trace Pkwy; 3.4 miles past Hwy 20canoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingtrolling motors onlyDirections and detail →35.46329, -87.47927

Buffalo River access in Perry County

Free2 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · TDOTCanoe Launch: SR 13 at Buffalo River1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.81161, -87.77870 Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TDOTHWY 412 at Buffalo RiverApproximately 200 yards East of HWY 13 on HWY 412canoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.62100, -87.83115

What to bring

Tackle for Buffalo River

Three picks from the smallmouth 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.

RodSt. Croix Bass X 7 ft medium spinning rodLight enough for a Ned rig, with enough backbone for a 5 lb fish in current.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

ReelPflueger President 30 spinning reelSmooth drag at a fair price. Fill it with braid and a leader.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

FinesseZ-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheadsThe single most reliable smallmouth bait on Tennessee rock. Drag it slowly.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

Full smallmouth bass checklist (10 items)All gear checklists

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

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

The water

Buffalo River boat ramps and fishing access

Buffalo River has 3 public access points: 1 boat ramp and 3 kayak launches, in Lewis and Perry counties.

3public access points

1boat ramp

3kayak and canoe launches

2counties

River levels

Buffalo River level and flow today

The latest USGS gauge readings on the Buffalo River, the seven-day trend and the forecast.

Buffalo River level

What Buffalo River is actually like

Buffalo River, county by county

Buffalo River does not fish the same at both ends. This is what the research for each county on it turned up.

Perry County

From the Perry County page

The longest unimpounded river in Middle Tennessee, bisecting Perry County south to north; a Class I float stream with long flat stretches, which makes it a canoe-and-wade smallmouth river rather than a boat fishery.

Lewis County

From the Lewis County page

The longest unimpounded river in Middle Tennessee runs mostly Class I here with long flat stretches; you fish it legally from a boat, and wading private frontage needs permission.

What it looks like

Buffalo River in photographs

What Buffalo River looks like through the year. Every picture opens that water’s own page.

Buffalo RiverOpen the Buffalo River page →La Citta Vita / CC BY-SA 2.0

Buffalo RiverOpen the Buffalo River page →Peter K. / CC BY-SA 3.0

What you can catch

Fish in Buffalo River

What Buffalo River actually holds, from the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes. A licence is required for all of it.

smallmouth bass sunfish rock bass catfishfreshwater drum

Guides who fish Buffalo River

What you can keep

Fishing limits on Buffalo River

Buffalo River has no limits of its own, so the statewide limits apply. These are the ones for the fish it holds.

Fish	Daily limit	Length	Where or when
Smallmouth bass	5 black bass combined	No minimum	Statewide
Bluegill	No limit	No minimum	Statewide
Rock bass	20	No minimum	Statewide
Channel catfish	No limit under 34 in	Only one over 34 in	Statewide

From the 2026–27 Tennessee Fishing Guide (TWRA), in effect 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027, checked 25 September 2026. Rules change, so check the guide before you keep a fish.

Statewide limits and licenses

Eating what you catch

Buffalo River fish consumption advisory

TDEC’s fish consumption advisory for Buffalo River, from its August 2026 list of posted waters.

From Duck River to Highway 438 ( 31.6 miles)

Mercury

Precautionary advisory for smallmouth bass.*Precautionary means: Children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers should not consume the fish species named. All other persons should limit consumption of the named species to one meal per month.

Every Tennessee fish advisory

By county

Counties on Buffalo River

Buffalo River touches 2 Tennessee counties. The county page has the bait shops, the bank access and the local limits.

HohenwaldLewis County1 access point on Buffalo River, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →LindenPerry County2 access points on Buffalo River, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →

3 public access points on Buffalo River, every one with directions.

By town

Towns on Buffalo River

These pages measure from the middle of town rather than the county line, which is usually the number that matters when you are deciding where to drive.

Lawrence CountyFishing near LawrenceburgPublic water within about 30 miles of Lawrenceburg, closest first.See the spots →

Common questions

Questions about fishing Buffalo River

How many public boat ramps are there on Buffalo River?

TWRA lists 1 public boat launch on Buffalo River, with 1 ramp lanes between them, across 2 Tennessee counties. Every one of them is listed on this page with directions.

What fish can you catch in Buffalo River?

Buffalo River holds smallmouth bass, sunfish, rock bass, catfish and freshwater drum. Which of those is actually worth chasing depends on the season, and TWRA sets size and creel limits that change, so check before you keep anything.

Which counties does Buffalo River run through?

Lewis and Perry counties. Each has its own page on this site with the local bait shops, ramps and bank access.

Can you fish Buffalo River from the bank?

Yes, though no public fishing pier is recorded on Buffalo River. Bank fishing here means the shoreline and parking areas at the public ramps, plus road and bridge crossings where there is public right of way.

Do you need a licence to fish Buffalo River?

Yes. Anyone 13 or older needs a Tennessee fishing licence, and a trout supplemental on top if you plan to keep trout. Non-residents can buy a three-day or ten-day licence rather than a full year.

Is Buffalo River free to fish?

The water is. Some of the ramps are not, Corps of Engineers sites, state park ramps and marinas often charge to launch or park. Each listing below shows the owner, which is the best guide to whether you will be asked for money.

Keep going

More Buffalo River 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