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Fishing Site · Davidson County

Old Hickory Dam, Cheatham Lake

Restrooms, accessible parking. 2 miles from Hendersonville.

Get driving directionsAll Davidson County spots

With a guide

Guides and charters near Old Hickory Dam

Captains who run Cheatham Lake, with their own phone numbers. You call and book with them directly.

Billy Flatt · Nashville

Nashville Fishing Charters

Stripers, hybrids, crappie, largemouth, smallmouthCall 615-812-2091nashvillefishingcharters.com

Capt. Brian and two guides · Nashville

Fish Nashville

Striper, hybrid, catfish, crappie, bass, troutCall 615-200-0618fishnashville.com

Mark Travis · Nashville area

Crappie Guide Service

White and black crappieCall 615-542-9800crappieguideservice.com

All 6 guides on Nashville lakes and the Cumberland

What to bring

Tackle for Old Hickory Dam

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:

Crappie checklistStriper and Hybrid checklistWalleye and Sauger checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

How to get there

Getting to Old Hickory Dam

Old Hickory Dam is a public access point on Cheatham Lake in Davidson County, Tennessee, run by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

I-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to OH Dam

Old Hickory Dam is 2.3 miles west of Hendersonville, the nearest town with its own page here. The county seat, Nashville, is 11 miles to the south-west. The closest other public access is Old Hickory Dam Boat Ramp, a few hundred yards to the north-west on the same water. For bait, Finn’s Tackle Shop in Nashville is about 10 miles away.

Coordinates 36.29657, -86.65942

Open in Google MapsSee nearby spots on the mapFishing near Hendersonville
Aerial view of Old Hickory Dam
Old Hickory Dam from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Old Hickory Dam

Free to launch 2.5 out of 5 Facilities 2.5 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 Old Hickory Dam. It is the same data the state uses, not a guess from a photograph.

Restrooms

Toilets on site, which is rarer than you would think.

Accessible parking

Marked accessible parking at the access point.

Not recorded here: boat ramp, fishing pier, canoe and kayak, camping. Worth knowing before a long drive with the family.

What you can catch

Fish you can catch at Old Hickory Dam

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

largemouth basscrappiewhite basswalleyesaugercatfishrainbow trout

This is the Cumberland River as it runs through downtown Nashville and on to Ashland City, 16 free ramps, two marinas, and the winter sauger bite below Old Hickory and Percy Priest dams is the standout.

Everything on Cheatham LakeFind a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Old Hickory Dam

What you can keep from Cheatham Lake at Old Hickory Dam. TWRA sets 3 rules just for Cheatham Lake. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Largemouth bass5 black bass combined14 in minimumIncludes the Stones River up to J. Percy Priest Dam
Smallmouth bass5 black bass combined18 in minimumCheatham Lake rule
Crappie3010 in minimumCheatham Lake rule
White bass15No minimumStatewide
Walleye516 in minimumStatewide
Sauger1015 in minimumStatewide
Channel catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide
Rainbow trout7 trout combinedNo minimumStatewide

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

21 public boat launches in Davidson County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Cheatham Lake around Old Hickory Dam

What the water at Old Hickory Dam actually looks like. Drag or swipe through. Every picture opens that water’s own page.

J. Percy Priest Lake, TennesseeJ. Percy Priest LakeOpen the J. Percy Priest Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Cumberland River, TennesseeCumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not s / Public domainJ. Percy Priest Lake, TennesseeJ. Percy Priest LakeOpen the J. Percy Priest Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Cumberland River, TennesseeCumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0J. Percy Priest Lake, TennesseeJ. Percy Priest LakeOpen the J. Percy Priest Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Cumberland River, TennesseeCumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →Pub. by Southern Latex Co., Nashville, Tenn. “Ti / Public domain

Next one along

More Cheatham Lake access near Old Hickory Dam

The closest other public access points on Cheatham Lake, measured straight line from Old Hickory Dam. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEOld Hickory Dam Boat Rampa few hundred yards north-westI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to OH Dam1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.29828, -86.66279Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACELock Two Park Boat Ramp4.4 miles south-westI-40 to Briley Pkwy North, to McGavock pike exit, then to Pennington Bend River1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.24392, -86.70346Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACENeely’s Bend Boat Ramp7.0 miles southI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Neely’s Bend Rd1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.19458, -86.66078Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEShelby Park Boat Ramp9.8 miles south-west1 ramp, 2 lanesDirections and detail →36.16517, -86.72782Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesBoat LaunchCheatham Lake Boat Launch17 miles south-westDirections and detail →36.14327, -86.89092Free3 out of 5facilitiesMarina · Private LandHarpeth Shoals Marina23 miles west1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsDirections and detail →36.27707, -87.07307
All 14 access points on Cheatham Lake

Old Hickory Dam water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Old Hickory Dam

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Old Hickory Dam, including Old Hickory Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on Cheatham Lake or the ramp is busy.

Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACERockland ParkOld Hickory Lake · 0.5 miles east1 ramp, 3 lanesDirections and detail →36.29730, -86.65060Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEMetro Beach Boat RampOld Hickory Lake · 0.6 miles south3 ramps, More Than 3 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.28767, -86.65732Launch fee1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACEMetro Beach Swim AreaOld Hickory Lake · 0.6 miles southI-40 to exit 221. OH Blvd to OH damaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.28747, -86.66070Free2 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaAnchor High MarinaOld Hickory Lake · 0.7 miles eastrestroomsDirections and detail →36.29760, -86.64650Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACELock 3 AccessOld Hickory Lake · 2.1 miles south-east1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.27680, -86.63160Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEDrakes Creek Boat RampOld Hickory Lake · 2.6 miles east1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.29680, -86.61340

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Old Hickory Dam

The closest shops to Old Hickory Dam that this site has checked. Finn’s Tackle Shop in Nashville is nearest, about 10 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Nashville · about 10 milesFinn’s Tackle ShopLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →Nashville · about 10 milesStarkey’s Bait & TackleLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →Mount Juliet · about 10 milesAcademy Sports + OutdoorsChain sporting goods. Rods, reels, line, terminal tackle and a licence counter.Directions and phone →
All bait and tackle in Davidson County

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Common questions

Questions about Old Hickory Dam

Can you launch a boat at Old Hickory Dam?

No trailered ramp is recorded at Old Hickory Dam. It is listed as bank or pier access rather than a launch.

Do you need a fishing licence at Old Hickory Dam?

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 Old Hickory Dam?

Cheatham Lake holds largemouth bass, crappie, white bass, walleye, sauger, catfish and rainbow trout. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near Old Hickory Dam?

Finn’s Tackle Shop in Nashville is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 10 miles from Old Hickory Dam. Starkey’s Bait & Tackle in Nashville is next, about 10 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Old Hickory Dam?

Yes, TWRA records restrooms at this access point.

Who runs Old Hickory Dam?

Old Hickory Dam is listed under the US Army Corps of Engineers 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 Old Hickory Dam

Old Hickory Dam is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

The whole waterFishing Cheatham Lake14 public access points across 3 counties.See the spots →County guideFishing in Davidson CountyEvery public spot in Davidson County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listDavidson County spot listAll 43 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near NashvilleShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near HendersonvilleEverything within about 30 miles of Hendersonville, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around Old Hickory Dam, 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 Cheatham Lake rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits