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Lake · Jackson and Smith

Fishing Cordell Hull Lake, Tennessee

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

Jump to the access listLicence and limits

Every access point

Public access on Cordell Hull Lake, county by county

All 15 public access points TWRA records on Cordell Hull Lake. 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.

Cordell Hull Lake access in Jackson County

Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaGranville Marina1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.25540, -85.80080Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEHigh School Ramp1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.37990, -85.66570Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEHollemans Bend Boat Ramp1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.31660, -85.79270Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEMartins Creek Boat Ramp1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.25086, -85.78100Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACERoaring River Park1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →36.37430, -85.64140Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACESalt Lick Park1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.32270, -85.78520Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACESmith’s Bend Boat Ramp1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.32368, -85.78267Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEWartrace Park1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.36020, -85.77240Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEWhites Bend Boat Ramp1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.34990, -85.73466

Cordell Hull Lake access in Smith County

Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEBuffalo Ramp1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.31060, -85.87510Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaDefeated Creek Marina1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.30060, -85.90710Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEHorseshoe Bend Ramp1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.29630, -85.94330Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEIndian Creek Campground1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.24160, -85.79760Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACESullivans Bend Boat Ramp1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.29560, -85.86880Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACESullivans Bend Ramp 21 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.29870, -85.87150

What to bring

Tackle for Cordell Hull Lake

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

The water

Cordell Hull Lake boat ramps and fishing access

Cordell Hull Lake has 15 public access points: 15 boat ramps and 13 kayak launches, in Jackson and Smith counties.

15public access points
15boat ramps
13kayak and canoe launches
2counties

Lake conditions

Cordell Hull Lake level today

TVA’s current Cordell Hull Lake level, the 24-hour change, the Cordell Hull Dam generation schedule and the level forecast, on one page.

Cordell Hull Lake level

What Cordell Hull Lake is actually like

Cordell Hull Lake, county by county

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

Smith County

From the Smith County page

One of the younger reservoirs in Tennessee and one of the few in the state with a self-sustaining, naturally reproducing sauger population. Winter drawdown is only about five feet, so the shoreline cover stays usable year-round, and spring electrofishing surveys consistently turn up largemouth over five pounds.

Jackson County

From the Jackson County page

TWRA notes Cordell Hull is one of the few reservoirs in Tennessee with a self-sustaining, naturally reproducing sauger population, and spring electrofishing surveys consistently turn up largemouth over 5 lb. Winter drawdown is only about 5 ft, so access stays usable year round.

What it looks like

Cordell Hull Lake in photographs

What Cordell Hull Lake looks like through the year. Every picture opens that water’s own page.

Cordell Hull Lake, TennesseeCordell Hull LakeOpen the Cordell Hull Lake page →United States Army Corps of Engineers image / Public domainCaney Fork River, TennesseeCaney Fork RiverOpen the Caney Fork River page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not s / Public domainCaney Fork River, TennesseeCaney Fork RiverOpen the Caney Fork River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Caney Fork River, TennesseeCaney Fork RiverOpen the Caney Fork River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Caney Fork River, TennesseeCaney Fork RiverOpen the Caney Fork River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

What you can catch

Fish in Cordell Hull Lake

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

largemouth basssmallmouth bassspotted basscrappiebluegillstriped basssaugercatfish
Guides who fish Cordell Hull Lake

What you can keep

Fishing limits on Cordell Hull Lake

TWRA sets 3 rules just for Cordell Hull Lake. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Largemouth bass5 black bass combined15 in minimumCordell Hull Lake rule
Smallmouth bass5 black bass combined18 in minimumCordell Hull Lake rule
Striped bass2 striped/hybrid combined32–42 in protected slot, one over 42 inCordell Hull Lake rule
Spotted bass5 black bass combinedNo minimumStatewide
Crappie1510 in minimumStatewide
BluegillNo limitNo minimumStatewide
Sauger1015 in minimumStatewide
Channel catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide

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

By county

Counties on Cordell Hull Lake

Cordell Hull Lake touches 2 Tennessee counties. The county page has the bait shops, the bank access and the local limits.

GainesboroJackson County9 access points on Cordell Hull Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →CarthageSmith County6 access points on Cordell Hull Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →

By town

Towns on Cordell Hull Lake

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.

Smith CountyFishing near CarthagePublic water within about 30 miles of Carthage, closest first.See the spots →Clay CountyFishing near CelinaPublic water within about 30 miles of Celina, closest first.See the spots →

15 public access points on Cordell Hull Lake, every one with directions.

Common questions

Questions about fishing Cordell Hull Lake

How many public boat ramps are there on Cordell Hull Lake?

TWRA lists 15 public boat launches on Cordell Hull Lake, with 17 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 Cordell Hull Lake?

Cordell Hull Lake holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, bluegill, striped bass, sauger and catfish. 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 Cordell Hull Lake run through?

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

Can you fish Cordell Hull Lake from the bank?

Yes, though no public fishing pier is recorded on Cordell Hull Lake. 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 Cordell Hull Lake?

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 Cordell Hull Lake 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 Cordell Hull Lake 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

Before you launch, check today's level, dam release schedule and any weather alerts for Cordell Hull Lake: Cordell Hull Lake conditions.