Lake · Loudon, Meigs, Rhea and Roane

Fishing Watts Bar Lake, Tennessee

Q: Is Watts Bar 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.

52 public access points across 4 counties, with directions to every one.

Jump to the access list Licence and limits

Every access point

Public access on Watts Bar Lake, county by county

All 52 public access points TWRA records on Watts Bar 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.

Watts Bar Lake access in Loudon County

Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesFishing SiteWatts Bar Lake Fishing AccessDirections and detail →35.88675, -84.30550 Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVABussell Ferry1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.78740, -84.25410 Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVACity of Loudon1 ramp, 2 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.74060, -84.33200 Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAHighway 72Hwy 72, Loudon, TN1 ramp, 2 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.74540, -84.43460

Watts Bar Lake access in Meigs County

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRABig SpringsHwy 68 east to Hwy 304 north approx. 6 miles on left1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.69211, -84.69799 Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · MarinaEuchee Marina1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.68277, -84.71234 Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAFooshee1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.66283, -84.75131 Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · Private LandHornsby HollowHwy 68 east to Hwy 304 north approx. 5.5 miles; within Hornsby Hollow campground1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierrestroomsDirections and detail →35.69026, -84.70802 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRALakeviewHwy 68 east to Hwy 304 north approx. 4 miles on left1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.67170, -84.72195 Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAWatts Bar Dam1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.62703, -84.77839

Watts Bar Lake access in Rhea County

Watts Bar Lake access in Roane County

What to bring

Tackle for Watts Bar 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 checklist Crappie checklist Striper and Hybrid checklist Fish Finders compared Trolling Motors compared Lithium Marine Batteries compared Shallow Water Anchors compared

The water

Watts Bar Lake boat ramps and fishing access

Watts Bar Lake has 52 public access points: 47 boat ramps, 11 fishing piers and 30 kayak launches, in Loudon, Meigs, Rhea and Roane counties.

52public access points

47boat ramps

11fishing piers

30kayak and canoe launches

4counties

Lake conditions

Watts Bar Lake level today

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

Watts Bar Lake level

What Watts Bar Lake is actually like

Watts Bar Lake, county by county

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

Roane County

From the Roane County page

Most of Roane County’s river mileage is Watts Bar. Its three arms, Tennessee, Clinch and Emory, fish as three separate lakes, which is the single most useful thing to tell an angler about it. TVA rates it at or near the top of its system for crappie and black bass; Florida-strain largemouth have been stocked since 2015 and walleye since 2011.

Rhea County

From the Rhea County page

Rhea County sits on the Watts Bar side above the dam as well as the Chickamauga side below it, so the county has two major reservoirs and the dam between them; Watts Bar holds only a five to six foot winter drawdown.

Meigs County

From the Meigs County page

Meigs County sits on the lower end near Watts Bar Dam; the lake runs only a 5–6 ft winter drawdown, and its three arms (Tennessee, Clinch, Emory) fish like three different lakes.

What it looks like

Watts Bar Lake in photographs

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

Watts Bar LakeOpen the Watts Bar Lake page →ChristopherM / CC BY 2.5

Tellico LakeOpen the Tellico Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

Fort Loudoun LakeOpen the Fort Loudoun Lake page →George Green, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Public domain

Chickamauga LakeOpen the Chickamauga Lake page →George Green, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Public domain

Watts Bar LakeOpen the Watts Bar Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 4.0

Tellico LakeOpen the Tellico Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

What you can catch

Fish in Watts Bar Lake

What Watts Bar 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 bass smallmouth bass spotted bass crappie striped bass white bass walleye sauger catfish

Guides who fish Watts Bar Lake

What you can keep

Fishing limits on Watts Bar Lake

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

Fish	Daily limit	Length	Where or when
Black bass (combined)	5	15 in minimum	All black bass species
Striped bass	Apr 1–Oct 31: 2 combined with hybrids; Nov 1–Mar 31: 2 combined, only 1 striped	15 in minimum Apr–Oct; 36 in minimum Nov–Mar	Hybrids 15 in minimum year-round
Paddlefish	1	No length limit	Season May 1–15. Culling prohibited
Crappie	15	10 in minimum	Statewide
White bass	15	No minimum	Statewide
Walleye	5	16 in minimum	Statewide
Sauger	10	15 in minimum	Statewide
Channel catfish	No limit under 34 in	Only one over 34 in	Statewide

Other rules on Watts Bar Lake

US-321 bridge up to Fort Loudoun Dam closed to snagging Mar 15–Apr 30 and May 16–31. Emory River rules also apply.

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

Watts Bar Lake fish consumption advisory

TDEC’s fish consumption advisory for Watts Bar Lake, from its August 2026 list of posted waters.

From Clinch River confluence with Tennessee River (Watts Bar Reservoir) to Melton Hill Dam (1,000 acres) including Emory River Embayment.

PCBs

Striped bass should not be eaten. Precautionary advisory for catfish and saugerPrecautionary 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.

From Watts Bar Dam to Fort Loudoun Dam (Tennessee River portion, 38,000 acres).

PCBs

Catfish, striped bass and hybrid (striped-white) bass should not be eaten. Precautionary advisory for white bass, sauger, carp, smallmouth buffalo and largemouth 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

October on Watts Bar Lake

What’s biting on Watts Bar Lake in October

Largemouth bass

Largemouth bass in Tennessee

Fall largemouth push into the backs of creeks after shad.

Where: Watts Bar Lake, Dale Hollow Lake and the grass flats of Nickajack Lake.

Source: TWRA: Watts Bar · TWRA: Dale Hollow · TWRA: Nickajack

All of Tennessee in October

Tournaments

Upcoming tournaments on Watts Bar Lake

Oct222026

Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional (Region 6)

Oct 22–24, 2026 · Major League Fishing

Launch: Spring City Boat Ramp, 417 Toestring Valley Rd, Spring City

Event page

Apr32027

Phoenix Bass Fishing League Team/Solo

Apr 3, 2027 · Major League Fishing

Launch: Spring City Boat Ramp, Spring City

Event page

Watts Bar Lake schedule and results Every Tennessee tournament

By county

Counties on Watts Bar Lake

Watts Bar Lake touches 4 Tennessee counties. The county page has the bait shops, the bank access and the local limits.

LoudonLoudon County4 access points on Watts Bar Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →DecaturMeigs County6 access points on Watts Bar Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →DaytonRhea County9 access points on Watts Bar Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →KingstonRoane County33 access points on Watts Bar Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →

By town

Towns on Watts Bar 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.

Knox CountyFishing near FarragutPublic water within about 30 miles of Farragut, closest first.See the spots →Roane CountyFishing near KingstonPublic water within about 30 miles of Kingston, closest first.See the spots →McMinn CountyFishing near AthensPublic water within about 30 miles of Athens, closest first.See the spots →Rhea CountyFishing near DaytonPublic water within about 30 miles of Dayton, closest first.See the spots →Anderson CountyFishing near Oak RidgePublic water within about 30 miles of Oak Ridge, closest first.See the spots →Roane CountyFishing near HarrimanPublic water within about 30 miles of Harriman, closest first.See the spots →

52 public access points on Watts Bar Lake, every one with directions.

Common questions

Questions about fishing Watts Bar Lake

How many public boat ramps are there on Watts Bar Lake?

TWRA lists 47 public boat launches on Watts Bar Lake, with 58 ramp lanes between them, across 4 Tennessee counties. Every one of them is listed on this page with directions.

What fish can you catch in Watts Bar Lake?

Watts Bar Lake holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, striped bass, white bass, walleye, 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 Watts Bar Lake run through?

Loudon, Meigs, Rhea and Roane counties. Each has its own page on this site with the local bait shops, ramps and bank access.

Can you fish Watts Bar Lake from the bank?

Yes. 11 of the public access points on Watts Bar Lake have a built fishing pier, and most of the ramps have shoreline you can walk. A pier is the easiest option with children or without a boat.

Do you need a licence to fish Watts Bar 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 Watts Bar 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 Watts Bar 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 water Licence and limits

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

Closures and notices on Watts Bar Lake

What’s biting on Watts Bar Lake in %M%