Boat Launch · Henderson County

Red Bud Lake

1 ramp, 1 lane, fishing pier. 31 miles from Jackson.

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What to bring

Tackle for Red Bud Lake

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 checklist Bluegill and Panfish checklist Catfish checklist Fish Finders compared Trolling Motors compared Lithium Marine Batteries compared Shallow Water Anchors compared

How to get there

Getting to Red Bud Lake

Red Bud Lake is a public boat launch on Red Bud Lake in Henderson County, Tennessee, run by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Redbud Lake Lane, Lexington, TN

Red Bud Lake is 31 miles east of Jackson, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Pin Oak Lake on Pin Oak Lake, 1.4 miles to the west. For bait, Perryville Marina in Parsons is about 8 miles away.

Coordinates 35.68400, -88.25850

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

Aerial view of Red Bud Lake — Red Bud Lake from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Red Bud Lake

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 Red Bud Lake. 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.

Fishing pier

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

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 Red Bud Lake

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

largemouth bass crappie bluegill redear sunfish channel catfish

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What you can keep

Fishing limits at Red Bud Lake

What you can keep from Red Bud Lake at Red Bud Lake. Red Bud Lake has no limits of its own, so the statewide limits apply. These are the ones for the fish it holds.

Fish	Daily limit	Length	Where or when
Largemouth bass	5 black bass combined	No minimum	Statewide
Crappie	30	No minimum	Statewide (West Tennessee)
Bluegill	No limit	No minimum	Statewide
Redear sunfish	20	No 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 Henderson County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Red Bud Lake

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Red Bud Lake, including Pin Oak Lake, Dogwood Lake and Browns Creek Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on Red Bud Lake or the ramp is busy.

Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAPin Oak LakePin Oak Lake · 1.4 miles westPark Rd, Lexington, TN1 ramp, 2 lanesDirections and detail →35.67990, -88.28290 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVADogwood LakeDogwood Lake · 2.0 miles north-eastHemby Lane, Lexington, TN1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.70760, -88.23740 Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRABrowns Creek Lake RampBrowns Creek Lake · 3.5 miles north-westCorinth Rd, Lexington, TN1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.72740, -88.29100 Free5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVABeech LakeBeech Lake · 9.0 miles westHWY 412, Lexington, TN1 ramp, 2 lanesfishing pierrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.66280, -88.41750 Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVASycamore LakeSycamore Lake · 11 miles south-westSycamore Lake Rd, Lexington, TN1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierDirections and detail →35.56360, -88.37850 Free5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAPine LakePine Lake · 12 miles south-westPine Lake Rd, Lexington, TN1 ramp, 2 lanesfishing pierrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.56650, -88.41020

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Red Bud Lake

The closest shops to Red Bud Lake that this site has checked. Perryville Marina in Parsons is nearest, about 8 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Parsons · about 8 milesPerryville MarinaMarina store. Fuel, ice, terminal tackle and live bait when the lake is running.Directions and phone →Lexington · about 9 milesBeech Lake MarineTackle and bait for Henderson County water. Call ahead out of season, winter hours are short.Directions and phone →Waverly · about 28 milesBuffalo River Camping & CanoeingPaddle outfitter. Canoe and kayak rental, shuttles and life jackets.Directions and phone →

All bait and tackle in Henderson County

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Common questions

Questions about Red Bud Lake

Can you launch a boat at Red Bud Lake?

Yes. TWRA records Red Bud Lake as having a boat ramp. It has 1 lane. TWRA records it as free to launch.

Do you need a fishing licence at Red Bud Lake?

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 Red Bud Lake?

Red Bud Lake holds largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish 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 Red Bud Lake?

Perryville Marina in Parsons is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 8 miles from Red Bud Lake. Beech Lake Marine in Lexington is next, about 9 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Red Bud Lake?

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

Who runs Red Bud Lake?

Red Bud Lake is listed under the Tennessee Valley Authority 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 Red Bud Lake

Red Bud Lake is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

County guideFishing in Henderson CountyEvery public spot in Henderson County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listHenderson County spot listAll 8 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near LexingtonShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near JacksonEverything within about 30 miles of Jackson, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around Red Bud Lake, 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 Red Bud Lake rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by water Licence and limits