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Boat Launch · Davidson County

Cook Recreation Area, J. Percy Priest Lake

1 ramp, 2 lanes, fishing pier, accessible parking. 6 miles from Mount Juliet.

Get driving directionsAll Davidson County spots

With a guide

Guides and charters near Cook Recreation Area

Captains who run J. Percy Priest 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 Cook Recreation Area

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 checklistCrappie checklistBluegill and Panfish checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

How to get there

Getting to Cook Recreation Area

Cook Recreation Area is a public boat launch on J. Percy Priest Lake in Davidson County, Tennessee, run by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

I-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Bell Rd, Bell Rd to South New Hope Rd

Cook Recreation Area is 6.4 miles south-west of Mount Juliet, the nearest town with its own page here. The county seat, Nashville, is 11 miles to the west. The closest other public access is Seven Points Rec. Area Campground, 1.2 miles to the east on the same water. For bait, Finn’s Tackle Shop in Nashville is about 2 miles away.

Coordinates 36.13189, -86.59539

Open in Google MapsSee nearby spots on the mapFishing near Mount Juliet
Aerial view of Cook Recreation Area
Cook Recreation Area from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Cook Recreation Area

Free to launch 4 out of 5 Facilities 4 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 Cook Recreation Area. 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.

Fishing pier

A built pier, so you can fish deep water without a boat.

Accessible parking

Marked accessible parking at the access point.

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: canoe and kayak, restrooms, camping. Worth knowing before a long drive with the family.

What you can catch

Fish you can catch at Cook Recreation Area

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

largemouth basssmallmouth basscrappiebluegillhybrid striped basswhite bassyellow basschannel catfish

Rutherford County holds the upper, shallower, more riverine end of the lake, where the spring crappie and white bass runs push up the tributaries; the summer hybrid striper fishing is concentrated at the lower Davidson County end around 18–19 feet.

Everything on J. Percy Priest LakeFind a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Cook Recreation Area

What you can keep from J. Percy Priest Lake at Cook Recreation Area. TWRA sets 3 rules just for J. Percy Priest Lake. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Largemouth bass5 black bass combined15 in minimumJ. Percy Priest Lake rule
Smallmouth bass5 black bass combined18 in minimumJ. Percy Priest Lake rule
Crappie3010 in minimumJ. Percy Priest Lake rule
BluegillNo limitNo minimumStatewide
Hybrid striped bass2 striped and hybrid combined15 in minimumStatewide
White bass15No minimumStatewide
Channel catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide

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

J. Percy Priest Lake around Cook Recreation Area

What the water at Cook Recreation Area 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 J. Percy Priest Lake access near Cook Recreation Area

The closest other public access points on J. Percy Priest Lake, measured straight line from Cook Recreation Area. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACESeven Points Rec. Area Campground1.2 miles eastI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Bell Rd to South New Hope Road1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsDirections and detail →36.13080, -86.57460Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEElm Hill Park Access1.4 miles west1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.13030, -86.62080Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesMarina · USACEHamilton Creek Marina1.5 miles west1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.12750, -86.62140Launch fee5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaElm Hill Marina1.5 miles westI-40 to Stewarts Ferry, proceed to marina2 ramps, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.13370, -86.62230Launch fee2 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACEElm Hill Recreation Area1.7 miles westI-40 to Stewart’s Ferry Rd, Stewart’s Ferry to Elm Hill Rec ArearestroomsDirections and detail →36.12636, -86.62458Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACESeven Points Boat Ramp1.7 miles east1 ramp, 2 lanesaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.13170, -86.56510
All 32 access points on J. Percy Priest Lake

Cook Recreation Area water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Cook Recreation Area

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Cook Recreation Area, including Stones River and Cheatham Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on J. Percy Priest Lake or the ramp is busy.

Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACEBelow Percy Priest East SideStones River · 2.3 miles north-westI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Bell Rd, right to Dodson ChapelDirections and detail →36.15854, -86.61891Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACEMetro Park side below Percy Priest DamStones River · 2.3 miles north-westI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Bell Rd, right to damrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.15760, -86.62084Fee not listed1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing SiteStones River Greenway, HermitageStones River · 4.3 miles north-westDirections and detail →36.18533, -86.63434Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityHeartland RampStones River · 5.4 miles north-westFrom I40, take exit 215B for TN 155 N/Briley Pkwy. Take exit 10 for Two Rivers Pkwy. Turn right at Two Rivers Pkwy. Turn left at McGavock Pike. Take 2nd right onto Fernbrook…1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.18539, -86.66500Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACENeely’s Bend Boat RampCheatham Lake · 5.7 miles north-westI-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 RampCheatham Lake · 7.8 miles west1 ramp, 2 lanesDirections and detail →36.16517, -86.72782

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Cook Recreation Area

The closest shops to Cook Recreation Area that this site has checked. Finn’s Tackle Shop in Nashville is nearest, about 2 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Nashville · about 2 milesFinn’s Tackle ShopLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →Nashville · about 2 milesStarkey’s Bait & TackleLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →Mount Juliet · about 6 milesWalmart SupercenterOpen late, sells licences at the counter, and carries terminal tackle and line.Directions and phone →
All bait and tackle in Davidson County

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Common questions

Questions about Cook Recreation Area

Can you launch a boat at Cook Recreation Area?

Yes. TWRA records Cook Recreation Area as having a boat ramp. It has 2 lanes. TWRA records it as free to launch.

Do you need a fishing licence at Cook Recreation Area?

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 Cook Recreation Area?

J. Percy Priest Lake holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, hybrid striped bass, white bass, yellow bass and channel catfish. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near Cook Recreation Area?

Finn’s Tackle Shop in Nashville is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 2 miles from Cook Recreation Area. Starkey’s Bait & Tackle in Nashville is next, about 2 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Cook Recreation Area?

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

Who runs Cook Recreation Area?

Cook Recreation Area 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 Cook Recreation Area

Cook Recreation Area is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

The whole waterFishing J. Percy Priest Lake32 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 Mount JulietEverything within about 30 miles of Mount Juliet, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around Cook Recreation Area, 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 J. Percy Priest Lake rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits