Boat Launch · Coffee County

Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp, Normandy Lake

1 ramp, 2 lanes, canoe / kayak landing. 6 miles from Tullahoma.

Get driving directions All Coffee County spots

What to bring

Tackle for Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp

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

How to get there

Getting to Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp

Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp is a public boat launch on Normandy Lake in Coffee County, Tennessee, run by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Ward’s Chapel Road to River Forge Road

Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp is 5.8 miles north of Tullahoma, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Barton Springs Boat Ramp, 2.1 miles to the west on the same water. For bait, The Sportsman’s Corner in Manchester is about 6 miles away.

Coordinates 35.44369, -86.18408

Open in Google Maps See nearby spots on the map Fishing near Tullahoma

Aerial view of Ward's Chapel Boat Ramp — Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp

Free to launch 3.5 out of 5 Facilities 3.5 of 5, scored from what TWRA records: ramp, docks, pier, restrooms, parking, lighting and hours.

Everything below comes from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s own public access record for Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp. It is the same data the state uses, not a guess from a photograph.

Boat ramp

You can launch a trailered boat here. 2 lanes.

Canoe and kayak

A landing shallow enough to carry a paddle craft in and out.

Courtesy dock

A dock beside the ramp to tie off while you park the trailer.

Open 24 hours

TWRA records round the clock access, so early starts are fine.

Not recorded here: fishing pier, restrooms, camping. Worth knowing before a long drive with the family.

What you can catch

Fish you can catch at Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp

Normandy Lake holds these, according to the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes.

largemouth bass smallmouth bass crappie bluegill catfish

Black bass drives about 60% of annual targeted effort here and crappie another 25%, so it fishes as a bass lake first; four fee-free ramps and two TVA campgrounds serve it.

Everything on Normandy Lake Find a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp

What you can keep from Normandy Lake at Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp. TWRA sets 2 rules just for Normandy Lake. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

Fish	Daily limit	Length	Where or when
Largemouth bass	5 black bass combined	15 in minimum	Normandy Lake rule
Smallmouth bass	5 black bass combined	18 in minimum	Normandy Lake rule
Crappie	15	10 in minimum	Statewide
Bluegill	No limit	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

7 public boat launches in Coffee County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Normandy Lake around Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp

What the water at Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp actually looks like. Drag or swipe through. Every picture opens that water’s own page.

Normandy LakeOpen the Normandy Lake page →Chris Breeze / CC BY 2.0

Duck RiverOpen the Duck River page →SBaker43 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Elk RiverOpen the Elk River page →dmtilley / CC BY 3.0

Duck RiverOpen the Duck River page →La Citta Vita / CC BY-SA 2.0

Elk RiverOpen the Elk River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

Elk RiverOpen the Elk River page →Michael Barera / CC BY-SA 4.0

Next one along

More Normandy Lake access near Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp

The closest other public access points on Normandy Lake, measured straight line from Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVABarton Springs Boat Ramp2.1 miles westLyndell Bell Road1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.45405, -86.21853 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVABarton Springs Recreation Area2.2 miles westNormandy Road / Frank Hiles Roadcanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →35.45492, -86.22074 Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVACedar Point Recreation Area3.0 miles north-west16th Model Road to Robert’s Ridge Road to Cedar Point Road1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.47066, -86.22527 Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVABoat Ramp at Dam3.4 miles north-westNormandy Road / Frank Hiles Road1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.46665, -86.23840 Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRABoyd Branch Access3.9 miles north-westTake Robert’s Ridge Rd and turn right after passing Normandy WMA sign1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.48198, -86.23603 Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TWRANormandy WMA fishing access4.1 miles north-westTake Robert’s Ridge Rd and turn right at the Normandy WMAcanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.48494, -86.23617

All 7 access points on Normandy Lake

Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp, including Duck River and Bedford Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on Normandy Lake or the ramp is busy.

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · TVANormandy Dam RampDuck River · 3.6 miles westFrank Hiles Rd below Normandy Dam1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.46132, -86.24534 Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVANormandy DamDuck River · 3.8 miles westNormandy Road / Frank Hiles Roadcanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.46427, -86.24618 Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TWRANormandy HatcheryDuck River · 4.2 miles west1st bridge north of Normandy on Hiles Rd (Huffman Rd)Directions and detail →35.45802, -86.25673 Free2 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · TWRAPollard Boat Launching AreaDuck River · 4.3 miles westIntersection at Huffman and Red Hill Rd by bridgecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.45861, -86.25832 Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRACoy Gaither Bedford LakeBedford Lake · 5.5 miles north-westTake Huffman Rd North out of Normandy, Left on Red Hill then Right on Bedford Lake Rd1 ramp, 1 lanefishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingtrolling motors onlyDirections and detail →35.50320, -86.25040 Free2 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · TVADement BridgeDuck River · 6.4 miles westBetween Normandy and Wartrace on Cortner Rdcanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.46638, -86.29418

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp

The closest shops to Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp that this site has checked. The Sportsman’s Corner in Manchester is nearest, about 6 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Manchester · about 6 milesThe Sportsman’s CornerSporting goods. Rods, reels, line and a licence counter.Directions and phone →McMinnville · about 28 milesOutdoor Shop IncSporting goods. Rods, reels, line and a licence counter.Directions and phone →McMinnville · about 28 milesWalmart SupercenterOpen late, sells licences at the counter, and carries terminal tackle and line.Directions and phone →

All bait and tackle in Coffee County

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Common questions

Questions about Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp

Can you launch a boat at Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp?

Yes. TWRA records Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp as having a boat ramp. It has 2 lanes. TWRA records it as free to launch.

Do you need a fishing licence at Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp?

Yes. Anyone 13 or older needs a Tennessee fishing licence to fish here, and a trout supplemental on top of it if you plan to keep trout. It is the same rule at every public access point in the state.

What fish are in the water at Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp?

Normandy Lake holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp?

The Sportsman’s Corner in Manchester is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 6 miles from Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp. Outdoor Shop Inc in McMinnville is next, about 28 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp?

No restroom is recorded here. Most TWRA ramps have none, so plan for that on a long day.

Who runs Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp?

Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp is listed under the Tennessee Valley Authority in TWRA’s public access database. The owner is worth knowing because it usually decides whether there is a fee, whether the gate is locked overnight, and who to ring when a ramp is closed for repair.

Where to next

Around Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp

Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

The whole waterFishing Normandy Lake7 public access points across 1 county.See the spots →County guideFishing in Coffee CountyEvery public spot in Coffee County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listCoffee County spot listAll 11 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near ManchesterShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near TullahomaEverything within about 30 miles of Tullahoma, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around Ward’s Chapel Boat Ramp, and who knows it

Guides and charters on this site are listed by the water they run, so you can ring the captain who fishes Normandy Lake rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by water Licence and limits