Boat Launch · Franklin County

Devil’s Step Boat Ramp, Tims Ford Lake

1 ramp, 2 lanes, canoe / kayak landing, restrooms. 3 miles from Winchester.

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What to bring

Tackle for Devil’s Step Boat Ramp

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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

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How to get there

Getting to Devil’s Step Boat Ramp

Devil’s Step Boat Ramp is a public boat launch on Tims Ford Lake in Franklin County, Tennessee, run by TDEC.

HWY 41 to HWY 50 W to Fairview Rd, dead ends at ramp

Devil’s Step Boat Ramp is 3.1 miles west of Winchester, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Rock Creek Boat Ramp, 3.7 miles to the north on the same water. For bait, The Sportsman’s Corner in Manchester is about 20 miles away.

Coordinates 35.20200, -86.16430

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

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

What is there

What you will find at Devil’s Step Boat Ramp

Free to launch 4.5 out of 5 Facilities 4.5 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 Devil’s Step 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.

Restrooms

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

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: fishing pier, camping. Worth knowing before a long drive with the family.

What you can catch

Fish you can catch at Devil’s Step Boat Ramp

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

largemouth bass smallmouth bass crappie bluegill striped bass hybrid striped bass walleye catfish

TWRA states plainly that it is considered the best reservoir smallmouth fishery in Middle Tennessee; late winter and early spring are the smallmouth windows, and hybrids and stripers hold at 16–19 ft in summer. It is a Bill Dance Signature Lake. Most of the lake, the state park, the marina and 14 free ramps are on the Franklin County side, Moore County holds the northern arms.

Everything on Tims Ford Lake Find a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Devil’s Step Boat Ramp

What you can keep from Tims Ford Lake at Devil’s Step Boat Ramp. TWRA sets 2 rules just for Tims Ford 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	Tims Ford Lake rule
Smallmouth bass	5 black bass combined	18 in minimum	Tims Ford Lake rule
Crappie	15	10 in minimum	Statewide
Bluegill	No limit	No minimum	Statewide
Striped bass	2 striped and hybrid combined	15 in minimum	Statewide
Hybrid striped bass	2 striped and hybrid combined	15 in minimum	Statewide
Walleye	5	16 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.

Statewide limits and licenses

8 public boat launches in Franklin County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Tims Ford Lake around Devil’s Step Boat Ramp

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

Tims Ford LakeOpen the Tims Ford Lake page →Geobeedude / CC BY-SA 3.0

Tims Ford LakeOpen the Tims Ford Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

Next one along

More Tims Ford Lake access near Devil’s Step Boat Ramp

The closest other public access points on Tims Ford Lake, measured straight line from Devil’s Step Boat Ramp. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TDECRock Creek Boat Ramp3.7 miles northHWY 41A to East Brook Rd on Left past Rock Creek Bridge1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsDirections and detail →35.25220, -86.14220 Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaLakeview Marina4.7 miles westDirections and detail →35.21113, -86.24730 Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaTims Ford Marina4.7 miles westDirections and detail →35.22510, -86.24330 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TDECEstill Springs Park4.8 miles north-eastHWY 41A through Estill Springs1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.26120, -86.11980 Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TDECPleasant Grove Boat Ramp4.9 miles north-westTake HWY 130 NW from Winchester to Pleasant Grove Rd on Left, take Pleasant Grove Lane on Left to ramp1 ramp, 1 lanefishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →35.26630, -86.20010 Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaHoliday Landing Marina6.4 miles north-westDirections and detail →35.26950, -86.24390

All 9 access points on Tims Ford Lake

Devil’s Step Boat Ramp water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Devil’s Step Boat Ramp

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Devil’s Step Boat Ramp, including Woods Reservoir and Elk River. Handy when the wind is wrong on Tims Ford Lake or the ramp is busy.

Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · OtherMorris Ferry Boat RampWoods Reservoir · 8.8 miles north-east1 ramp, 2 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.29650, -86.05789 Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · OtherFranklin County Boat RampWoods Reservoir · 8.9 miles north-east1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.30913, -86.07544 Free2 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · CountyFarris Creek BridgeElk River · 9.0 miles westHWY 50 to Winchester, take HWY 121, left at Lexie Crossroad on Ferris Creek Bridgecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.16352, -86.31858 Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · OtherSouth Hap Arnold Boat RampWoods Reservoir · 11 miles north-east1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.33096, -86.06057 Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · OtherCheck-In Station Road Boat RampWoods Reservoir · 11 miles north-east1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.33012, -86.05372 Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAOld Dam FordElk River · 11 miles south-westFrom Lois take Wet prong Farris Crk Rd towards Franklin Co. go 5 mi turn rt. On Eddie Bnd, 3 mi rt1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.12415, -86.33230

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Devil’s Step Boat Ramp

The closest shops to Devil’s Step Boat Ramp that this site has checked. The Sportsman’s Corner in Manchester is nearest, about 20 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Manchester · about 20 milesThe Sportsman’s CornerSporting goods. Rods, reels, line and a licence counter.Directions and phone →McMinnville · about 40 milesOutdoor Shop IncSporting goods. Rods, reels, line and a licence counter.Directions and phone →McMinnville · about 40 milesWalmart SupercenterOpen late, sells licences at the counter, and carries terminal tackle and line.Directions and phone →

All bait and tackle in Franklin County

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Common questions

Questions about Devil’s Step Boat Ramp

Can you launch a boat at Devil’s Step Boat Ramp?

Yes. TWRA records Devil’s Step 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 Devil’s Step 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 Devil’s Step Boat Ramp?

Tims Ford Lake holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, walleye 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 Devil’s Step Boat Ramp?

The Sportsman’s Corner in Manchester is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 20 miles from Devil’s Step Boat Ramp. Outdoor Shop Inc in McMinnville is next, about 40 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Devil’s Step Boat Ramp?

Yes, TWRA records restrooms at this access point.

Who runs Devil’s Step Boat Ramp?

Devil’s Step Boat Ramp is listed under TDEC 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 Devil’s Step Boat Ramp

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

The whole waterFishing Tims Ford Lake9 public access points across 2 counties.See the spots →County guideFishing in Franklin CountyEvery public spot in Franklin County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listFranklin County spot listAll 11 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near WinchesterShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near WinchesterEverything within about 30 miles of Winchester, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around Devil’s Step 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 Tims Ford Lake rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by water Licence and limits