95 Counties · 1,002 Public Access Points · 78 Lakes and RiversTennessee state record fish

Boat Launch · DeKalb County

Long Branch, Caney Fork River

1 ramp, 1 lane, canoe / kayak landing, restrooms. 10 miles from Smithville.

With a guide

Guides and charters near Long Branch

Captains who run Center Hill and the Caney Fork, with their own phone numbers. You call and book with them directly.

Smithville

Gone Fishin’ Expeditions

Largemouth, smallmouth, crappie, bluegill, catfishCall 615-814-4832gonefishinexpeditions.com

David Knapp · Crossville

Trout Zone Anglers

Rainbow, brown and brook trout, smallmouth, muskyCall 931-261-1884troutzoneanglers.com

Capt. Jim Durham · Multi-base TN/KY

StriperFun Guide Service

Center Hill and Normandy walleye, Tims Ford stripers, Caney Fork troutCall 931-403-2501striperfun.com

What to bring

Tackle for Long Branch

Three picks from the trout 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 Elite ultralight spinning rod, 6 ftCasts a 1/16 oz spinner and protects 4 lb line.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
ReelPflueger President 20 spinning reelSmall, smooth drag for light line.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
SpinnerPanther Martin spinner, 1/8 ozThe tailwater standard. Gold blade in stained water, silver in clear.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:

How to get there

Getting to Long Branch

Long Branch is a public boat launch on Caney Fork River in DeKalb County, Tennessee, run by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

TWRA holds no written directions for Long Branch. Use the coordinates below, which come straight from the state’s access record and drop you on the access point itself rather than on the nearest town.

Long Branch is 9.7 miles north of Smithville, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Buffalo Valley Boat Ramp, a few hundred yards to the north-east on the same water. For bait, Center Hill Marina in Lancaster is about 2 miles away.

Coordinates 36.09940, -85.83104

Aerial view of Long Branch
Long Branch from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Long Branch

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 Long Branch. It is the same data the state uses, not a guess from a photograph.

Boat ramp

You can launch a trailered boat here. 1 lane.

Canoe and kayak

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

Restrooms

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

Fish cleaning station

Clean your catch on site before the drive home.

Open 24 hours

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

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

What you can catch

Fish you can catch at Long Branch

Caney Fork River holds these, according to the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes.

Runs out of DeKalb County into Smith County and meets the Cumberland at Carthage. Known as a midge factory and fished with zebra midges, dry-dropper rigs in low water and terrestrials in season.

The river can rise several feet in minutes once generation begins, which is the most important safety fact about it.

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Long Branch

What you can keep from Caney Fork River at Long Branch. TWRA sets 4 rules just for Caney Fork River. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Trout5 combinedSee species limitsTailwater: Center Hill Dam to the Cumberland River, including tributaries
Rainbow trout514–20 in protected slot, one over 20 inTailwater: Center Hill Dam to the Cumberland River. Same slot applies to brook and cutthroat trout
Brown trout124 in minimumTailwater: Center Hill Dam to the Cumberland River
Muskellunge150 in minimumAbove Center Hill Dam, including Collins, Calfkiller and Rocky rivers, Cane Creek and tributaries

Other rules on Caney Fork River

  • Walleye run rule Jan 1–Apr 30, Rock Island State Park boat ramp upstream to Great Falls Dam: one single-point hook or one lure with a single-point hook, max 3 rods or poles.

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.

13 public boat launches in DeKalb County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

Long Branch water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Long Branch

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Long Branch, including Center Hill Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on Caney Fork River or the ramp is busy.

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Common questions

Questions about Long Branch

Can you launch a boat at Long Branch?

Yes. TWRA records Long Branch as having a boat ramp. It has 1 lane. TWRA records it as free to launch.

Do you need a fishing licence at Long Branch?

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 Long Branch?

Caney Fork River holds trout. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near Long Branch?

Center Hill Marina in Lancaster is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 2 miles from Long Branch. Wildwood Resort and Marina in Granville is next, about 11 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Long Branch?

Yes, TWRA records restrooms at this access point.

Who runs Long Branch?

Long Branch 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.

Keep going

Fishing around Long Branch, 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 Caney Fork River rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.