With a guide
Guides and charters near Powell River Preserve State Natural Area
Captains who run Norris and the Clinch, with their own phone numbers. You call and book with them directly.
Mel’s Striper Guide Service
Striped bassCall 865-661-7806melsstriperguideservice.com
StriperFun Guide Service
Charters on 13 TN waters: Norris, Cherokee, Dale Hollow, Percy Priest, Tims Ford, Center Hill and Normandy lakes; the Cumberland, Clinch, Powell, Holston, Obey and Caney Fork riversCall 931-403-2501striperfun.com
East Tennessee Guide Service
Norris LakeCall 865-310-5521tnfishingguide.com
What to bring
Tackle for Powell River Preserve State Natural Area
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.
Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:
How to get there
Getting to Powell River Preserve State Natural Area
Powell River Preserve State Natural Area is a public access point on Powell River in Claiborne County, Tennessee, run by TDEC.
turn on Powell River Rd. From Hwy 25E, go approximately 4 miles, turn right into parking area
Powell River Preserve State Natural Area is 29 miles north-west of Morristown, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Powell River Hwy 25E/32 River Access, 2.3 miles to the west on the same water. For bait, Gilmore Boat Dock in Rutledge is about 19 miles away.
Coordinates 36.55178, -83.59207
What you can catch
Fish you can catch at Powell River Preserve State Natural Area
Powell River holds these, according to the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes.
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.
What you can keep
Fishing limits at Powell River Preserve State Natural Area
What you can keep from Powell River at Powell River Preserve State Natural Area. TWRA sets 1 rule just for Powell River. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.
| Fish | Daily limit | Length | Where or when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth bass | 5 black bass combined | 13–17 in protected slot, one over 17 in | Gap Creek upstream to the Virginia line. Below Gap Creek, Norris Lake rules apply |
| Rock bass | 20 | No minimum | Statewide |
| Muskellunge | 1 | 36 in 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.
8 public boat launches in Claiborne County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.
What it looks like
Powell River around Powell River Preserve State Natural Area
What the water at Powell River Preserve State Natural Area actually looks like. Drag or swipe through. Every picture opens that water’s own page.
Norris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Clinch RiverOpen the Clinch River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Norris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Clinch RiverOpen the Clinch River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Norris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Norris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →David Ratledge / CC BY 4.0Next one along
More Powell River access near Powell River Preserve State Natural Area
The closest other public access points on Powell River, measured straight line from Powell River Preserve State Natural Area. Each one opens its own page with directions.
Powell River Preserve State Natural Area water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, rock bass.
Other water close by
Other fishing near Powell River Preserve State Natural Area
Public access on other water within 20 miles of Powell River Preserve State Natural Area, including Norris Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on Powell River or the ramp is busy.
Bait on the way
Bait and tackle near Powell River Preserve State Natural Area
The closest shops to Powell River Preserve State Natural Area that this site has checked. Gilmore Boat Dock in Rutledge is nearest, about 19 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.
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Where to next
Around Powell River Preserve State Natural Area
Powell River Preserve State Natural Area is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.