95 Counties · 1,002 Public Access Points · 78 Lakes and RiversTennessee state record fish
Tennessee Fishing SpotsEvery County, Every Town
Spot SearchGear SearchLakes & RiversFishAll Fishing SpotsCountiesTownsGuides & ChartersTournamentsState RecordsLicence & LimitsEmail Updates

River · Claiborne and Hancock

Fishing Powell River, Tennessee

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

Jump to the access listLicence and limits

Every access point

Public access on Powell River, county by county

All 3 public access points TWRA records on Powell 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.

Powell River access in Claiborne County

Free1 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · TDOTPowell River Hwy 25E/32 River AccessTurn off Hwy 25E onto Powell River Rd., then take an immediate rightDirections and detail →36.54114, -83.63182Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · TDECPowell River Preserve State Natural Areaturn on Powell River Rd. From Hwy 25E, go approximately 4 miles, turn right into parking areacanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.55178, -83.59207

Powell River access in Hancock County

Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAMulberry Creek AccessIntersection of Hwy 63 and Alanthus Hill Rd1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.55607, -83.37998

What to bring

Tackle for Powell 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 checklistMusky checklistCatfish checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

The water

Powell River boat ramps and fishing access

Powell River has 3 public access points: 1 boat ramp and 2 kayak launches, in Claiborne and Hancock counties.

3public access points
1boat ramp
2kayak and canoe launches
2counties

River levels

Powell River level and flow today

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

Powell River level

What Powell River is actually like

Powell River, county by county

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

Claiborne County

From the Claiborne County page

Above the reservoir the Powell is a free-flowing smallmouth river and one of the most biologically significant rivers in the Southeast for mussels and darters; two formal paddling accesses exist.

Hancock County

From the Hancock County page

One public ramp at the Hwy 63 / Alanthus Hill Rd intersection; everything else is private bank.

What it looks like

Powell River in photographs

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

Norris Lake, TennesseeNorris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Clinch River, TennesseeClinch RiverOpen the Clinch River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Norris Lake, TennesseeNorris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Clinch River, TennesseeClinch RiverOpen the Clinch River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Norris Lake, TennesseeNorris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Norris Lake, TennesseeNorris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →David Ratledge / CC BY 4.0

What you can catch

Fish in Powell River

What Powell 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 bassrock bassmuskellungecatfishredhorse
Guides who fish Powell River

What you can keep

Fishing limits on Powell River

TWRA sets 1 rule just for Powell River. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Smallmouth bass5 black bass combined13–17 in protected slot, one over 17 inGap Creek upstream to the Virginia line. Below Gap Creek, Norris Lake rules apply
Rock bass20No minimumStatewide
Muskellunge136 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 Powell River

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

TazewellClaiborne County2 access points on Powell River, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →SneedvilleHancock County1 access point on Powell River, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →

Common questions

Questions about fishing Powell River

How many public boat ramps are there on Powell River?

TWRA lists 1 public boat launch on Powell 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 Powell River?

Powell River holds smallmouth bass, rock bass, muskellunge, catfish and redhorse. 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 Powell River run through?

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

Can you fish Powell River from the bank?

Yes, though no public fishing pier is recorded on Powell 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 Powell 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 Powell 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 Powell 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 waterLicence and limits