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Cleveland · Bradley County

Fishing Near Cleveland, Tennessee

Chickamauga Lake, Hiwassee River, Ocoee River. Every public launch and pier within about 30 minutes of Cleveland, and where to buy what you forgot on the way.

Find fishing spots85 public access points within 35 milesFind gear & bait9 bait and tackle shops within 40 miles

Closest first

Every public access within reach of Cleveland

From TWRA’s own access database, with a directions link on each one. Distances are straight-line from Cleveland, so the drive is always a bit longer.

Tap a pin for the spot page and directions. Open the full Tennessee fishing map.

Chickamauga Lake

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRASavannah Bay10 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.S HWY 58 to HWY 312, right on Snow Hill Road, ramp on left1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.15737, -85.06010Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVASkull Island Ramp12 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pieraccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.23976, -85.07121Free5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TDECWolftever Bridge13 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.1 ramp, 3 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.15020, -85.10800Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAWare Branch13 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.26256, -85.07919Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaHarrison Bay State Park Marina14 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.Directions and detail →35.16836, -85.12147Free5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TDECHarrison Bay State Park14 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.2 ramps, 2 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.16790, -85.12160Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAPrice’s Creek East14 mi from Cleveland · Meigs Co.Hwy 58 to Lamontville Rd; approx. 4.5 miles to ramp1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.35929, -84.86027Free3 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaIsland Cove Marina & Resort14 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.restroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.13660, -85.12280Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAEldridge Slough Ramp14 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.30360, -85.05020Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CountyHwy 58 Bridge14 mi from Cleveland · Meigs Co.South of Hwy 58 bridge in Meigs County1 ramp, 2 lanesaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.35988, -84.91281Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVAPrice’s Creek West14 mi from Cleveland · Meigs Co.Hwy 58 to Lamontville Rd approx. 4.5 miles; before bridge on rightDirections and detail →35.36227, -84.86250Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · Private LandHarbor Lights Marina, Inc.14 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.21030, -85.11950Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAIsland View-CLOSED14 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.HWY 58 to Gamble Road, right on HWY 312, left on Thatch Road, ramp on right1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.29211, -85.06833Free3 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaLakesite Marina14 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.21450, -85.12650Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TWRAHwy 58 Bridge North15 mi from Cleveland · Meigs Co.Directions and detail →35.36920, -84.90939Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRA/TVAHarrison15 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.12870, -85.13700Fee not listed1.5 out of 5facilitiesMarinaAgency Creek Campground Marina15 mi from Cleveland · Meigs Co.1 rampDirections and detail →35.37439, -84.90696Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRATyner Boat Ramp15 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.12120, -85.14350Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CountyChester Frost Park15 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.Hixson Pike to Gold Point Circle N2 ramps, More Than 3 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.18410, -85.14750Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAPossom Creek Recreation Area15 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.29980, -85.08860Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaChattanooga Yacht Club15 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.Directions and detail →35.12247, -85.14677Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaShady Grove Harbor15 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.Directions and detail →35.26521, -85.11919Launch fee2 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · Private LandShady Grove15 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.Directions and detail →35.26620, -85.11910Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAArmstrong16 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.27095, -85.12234Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRA/TVAVincent Road Ramp-CLOSED16 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.13300, -85.16170Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAPecan Point16 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.14060, -85.16290

Candies Creek

Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRACandies Creek10 mi from Cleveland · Bradley Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.30967, -84.84758

Ocoee River

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TDECNancy Ward Boat Ramp11 mi from Cleveland · Polk Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.16427, -84.67838Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVASugarloaf13 mi from Cleveland · Polk Co.canoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →35.09587, -84.65113

Hiwassee River

Launch fee3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityCharleston Boat Ramp11 mi from Cleveland · Bradley Co.1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.28660, -84.74760Launch fee5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaB&B Marina12 mi from Cleveland · Bradley Co.1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.32714, -84.82864Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · OtherN Mouse Creek13 mi from Cleveland · McMinn Co.1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.32780, -84.78946Launch fee2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · Private LandTwo Rivers Campground13 mi from Cleveland · Polk Co.1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.20567, -84.65719Fee not listed1.5 out of 5facilitiesTWRAGray’s Ferry13 mi from Cleveland · Bradley Co.From I75 to Hwy 308 west 4 miles; right to Hwy 306; 1 mile to Ead’s Bluff Rd; 2 miles, ramp on rightDirections and detail →35.34429, -84.85335Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAOld Patty Bridge13 mi from Cleveland · Polk Co.1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.20368, -84.65281Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAPatty Bridge14 mi from Cleveland · Polk Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.22464, -84.64646Launch fee1 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · Private LandAgency Creek Campground15 mi from Cleveland · Meigs Co.Directions and detail →35.37393, -84.90642

Chickamauga Reservoir / Wolftever Creek

Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TWRAShropshire Ford11 mi from Cleveland · Hamilton Co.Directions and detail →35.13410, -85.07715

Parksville Lake

Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USFSKings Slough14 mi from Cleveland · Polk Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →35.08272, -84.65076

Parksville Reservoir

Free4 out of 5facilitiesMarina · USFSLake Ocoee Marina14 mi from Cleveland · Polk Co.1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.10437, -84.63217

What to bring

What to bring fishing near Cleveland

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

Measured from town

Where to fish near Cleveland

The water within reach of Cleveland is Chickamauga Lake, Hiwassee River, Ocoee River and 4 more.

Everything on this page is sorted by straight-line distance from Cleveland, not by which county it sits in. Several of the closest spots to Cleveland are across a county line, which is exactly the kind of thing a county-by-county list hides.

What it looks like

The water around Cleveland

Photographs of the lakes and rivers on this page. Drag or swipe for more. Every picture opens that water’s own page.

Chickamauga Lake, TennesseeChickamauga LakeOpen the Chickamauga Lake page →George Green, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Public domainHiwassee River, TennesseeHiwassee RiverOpen the Hiwassee River page →ChristopherM at English Wikipedia / CC BY 2.5Parksville Lake, TennesseeParksville LakeOpen the Parksville Lake page →Peter K. / CC BY-SA 3.0Chickamauga Lake, TennesseeChickamauga LakeOpen the Chickamauga Lake page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domainChickamauga Lake, TennesseeChickamauga LakeOpen the Chickamauga Lake page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domain

No boat

Bank fishing near Cleveland

5 public fishing piers within reach of Cleveland. No boat needed for any of them.

Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVASkull Island RampChickamauga Lake · 12 mi from Cleveland1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pieraccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.23976, -85.07121Free5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TDECWolftever BridgeChickamauga Lake · 13 mi from Cleveland1 ramp, 3 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.15020, -85.10800Free5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TDECHarrison Bay State ParkChickamauga Lake · 14 mi from Cleveland2 ramps, 2 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.16790, -85.12160Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · Private LandHarbor Lights Marina, Inc.Chickamauga Lake · 14 mi from Cleveland1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.21030, -85.11950Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CountyChester Frost ParkChickamauga Lake · 15 mi from ClevelandHixson Pike to Gold Point Circle N2 ramps, More Than 3 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.18410, -85.14750

Shoreline access in Bradley County

Charleston Boat Ramp riverfront; Candies Creek TWRA access; Hiwassee Refuge shoreline outside the Nov 15–Feb closure; the Cleveland/Bradley County Greenway along Mouse Creek.

What is in there

Fish and limits around Cleveland

Water around Cleveland holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, bluegill, striped bass, white bass, walleye and sauger.

Chickamauga, largemouth 5/day, 15″ min; crappie 15/day, 10″ min; walleye 5/day, 16″ min; catfish unlimited under 34″ with one over. Hiwassee River in Bradley is below the managed trout section, so the Reliance delayed-harvest rule (catch-and-release Oct 1–Feb 28, and only two browns in the seven-trout creel Mar 1–Sep 30) does not apply here, that regulation governs the Polk County water. Hiwassee Refuge is closed Nov 15 through the last day of February, with fishing and main-channel passage still allowed; some hunting seasons close boat access entirely. No Bradley-specific creel exceptions found in TWRA’s statewide exceptions list.

From TWRA’s statewide creel and length limits, last updated 4 August 2026. Water-specific exceptions change, so check the current guide before keeping a fish.

Weather

Cleveland fishing weather and wind forecast

Thu, Oct 1 night

60°F

Mostly Clear

Wind 0 mph

0% chance of rain

Thu, Oct 1

89°F

Sunny

Wind S 0 to 5 mph

0% chance of rain

Thu, Oct 1 night

66°F

Mostly Clear

Wind S 0 to 5 mph

0% chance of rain

Fri, Oct 2

90°F

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Wind SW 5 mph

39% chance of rain

Fri, Oct 2 night

68°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Wind N 0 to 5 mph

44% chance of rain

Sat, Oct 3

83°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Wind NE 0 to 5 mph

72% chance of rain

National Weather Service forecast, updated 1:06 AM, Thu, Oct 1.

Sun and moon, Fri, Oct 9

Sunrise7:41 AMEDT
Sunset7:14 PMEDT
First light7:16 AMLast light 7:39 PM
Daylight11 hr 33 minSunrise to sunset
MoonWaning crescent3% lit. New moon in 2 days

2 public boat launches in Bradley County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

Questions people ask

Fishing near Cleveland: common questions

Where is the closest place to fish to Cleveland?

Savannah Bay on Chickamauga Lake, about 10 miles from Cleveland in Hamilton County. It is a boat launch.

How many fishing spots are near Cleveland?

There are 40 public access points within about 30 miles of Cleveland, 25 of them boat launches, across 7 named waters.

Can I fish near Cleveland without a boat?

Yes. Skull Island Ramp on Chickamauga Lake has a fishing pier and is about 12 miles from Cleveland. There are 5 piers within range in total.

Do I need a license to fish near Cleveland?

Yes, anyone 13 and over. A resident annual combination hunt and fish license is $33, a resident one-day all-species license is $11, and a non-resident three-day all-species license is $40. Tennessee sells no non-resident one-day license. Note the $33 combination license does not cover trout, that needs the $21 supplemental.

What is the best lake near Cleveland?

Chickamauga Lake carries the most public access within reach of Cleveland, followed by Hiwassee River. Which one fishes best depends entirely on the season and what you are after.

Where can I buy bait near Cleveland?

FishTales Bait and Tackle, 5008 Georgetown Rd NW, Cleveland, 423-479-5881, fishtalesbaitandtackle.com. The Cleveland gear page has the rest, plus rental and licenses.

What fish can you catch near Cleveland?

Mainly largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, bluegill, striped bass, white bass, walleye and sauger.

Towns near here

Towns near Cleveland

The nearest towns to Cleveland with pages of their own. If nothing near Cleveland suits, one of these usually does.

18 miles from Cleveland · Hamilton CountyFishing near Soddy-DaisyChickamauga Lake, North Chickamauga CreekSee the spots →24 miles from Cleveland · Rhea CountyFishing near DaytonChickamauga Lake, Hiwassee RiverSee the spots →25 miles from Cleveland · McMinn CountyFishing near AthensHiwassee River, Chickamauga LakeSee the spots →25 miles from Cleveland · Hamilton CountyFishing near ChattanoogaNickajack Lake, Chickamauga LakeSee the spots →54 miles from Cleveland · Roane CountyFishing near KingstonWatts Bar Lake, Clinch RiverSee the spots →

Cleveland water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie.

Wider net

Bradley County beyond Cleveland

Cleveland is one town in Bradley County. The county page covers every water inside the county line, including the ones nowhere near Cleveland.

Fishing in Bradley County

With a guide

Fishing near Cleveland with a guide

Local captains who run the water near Cleveland are listed on the guides page with their own phone numbers. You call and book with them directly.

Tennessee guides by water

Keep going

More Cleveland water, and who fishes it

Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits