River · Jackson

Fishing Roaring River, Tennessee

Q: Is Roaring 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.

2 public access points across 1 county, with directions to every one.

Jump to the access list Licence and limits

Every access point

Public access on Roaring River, county by county

All 2 public access points TWRA records on Roaring 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.

Roaring River access in Jackson County

Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesTWRAFish DamDirections and detail →36.35265, -85.59912 Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAThe BoilsFrom Gainesboro take HWY 53 N to HWY 135. Turn right and travel 2.4 miles then turn left on Roaring River Rd., cross bridge, turn right and go 4.2 miles. Access area is on right.canoe / kayak landingtrolling motors onlyDirections and detail →36.34946, -85.56340

What to bring

Tackle for Roaring River

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

The water

Roaring River boat ramps and fishing access

Roaring River has 2 public access points: 0 boat ramps and 1 kayak launch, in Jackson County.

2public access points

0boat ramps

1kayak and canoe launches

1county

River levels

Roaring River level and flow today

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

Roaring River level

What Roaring River is actually like

Roaring River, county by county

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

Jackson County

From the Jackson County page

The Boils WMA at 2036 Roaring River Rd is a floodplain habitat with gravel bar access, TWRA restricts it to trolling motors, which keeps it quiet. Fish Dam is a second TWRA-managed site on the same river.

What you can catch

Fish in Roaring River

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

largemouth bass smallmouth bass sunfish rock bass catfish

Guides who fish Roaring River

What you can keep

Fishing limits on Roaring River

Roaring 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
Largemouth bass	5 black bass combined	No minimum	Statewide
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

By county

Counties on Roaring River

Roaring River touches 1 Tennessee county. The county page has the bait shops, the bank access and the local limits.

GainesboroJackson County2 access points on Roaring River, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →

By town

Towns on Roaring 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.

Putnam CountyFishing near CookevillePublic water within about 30 miles of Cookeville, closest first.See the spots →

2 public access points on Roaring River, every one with directions.

Common questions

Questions about fishing Roaring River

How many public boat ramps are there on Roaring River?

TWRA lists 0 public boat launches on Roaring River, across 1 Tennessee county. Every one of them is listed on this page with directions.

What fish can you catch in Roaring River?

Roaring River holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, sunfish, rock bass 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 Roaring River run through?

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

Can you fish Roaring River from the bank?

Yes, though no public fishing pier is recorded on Roaring 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 Roaring 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 Roaring 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 Roaring 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