What to bring
Tackle for Neal’s Bridge
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.
Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:
How to get there
Getting to Neal’s Bridge
Neal’s Bridge is a public boat launch on Tims Ford Lake in Moore County, Tennessee, run by TDEC.
From Hwy 55, Cobb Hollow Rd approx. 1 mi, rt on Pleasant Hill Rd 4 mi, left on Ridgeville Rd
Neal’s Bridge is 7.3 miles south-west of Tullahoma, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Lost Creek, 1.7 miles to the south on the same water. For bait, The Sportsman’s Corner in Manchester is about 18 miles away.
Coordinates 35.28082, -86.29258
What you can catch
Fish you can catch at Neal’s Bridge
Tims Ford Lake holds these, according to the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes.
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.
What you can keep
Fishing limits at Neal’s Bridge
What you can keep from Tims Ford Lake at Neal’s Bridge. 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.
3 public boat launches in Moore County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.
What it looks like
Tims Ford Lake around Neal’s Bridge
What the water at Neal’s Bridge 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
Elk RiverOpen the Elk River page →dmtilley / CC BY 3.0
Tims Ford LakeOpen the Tims Ford Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Elk RiverOpen the Elk River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Tims Ford LakeOpen the Tims Ford Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Elk RiverOpen the Elk River page →Michael Barera / CC BY-SA 4.0Next one along
More Tims Ford Lake access near Neal’s Bridge
The closest other public access points on Tims Ford Lake, measured straight line from Neal’s Bridge. Each one opens its own page with directions.
Neal’s Bridge water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, rock bass.
Other water close by
Other fishing near Neal’s Bridge
Public access on other water within 20 miles of Neal’s Bridge, including Elk River, Woods Reservoir and Duck River. Handy when the wind is wrong on Tims Ford Lake or the ramp is busy.
Bait on the way
Bait and tackle near Neal’s Bridge
The closest shops to Neal’s Bridge that this site has checked. The Sportsman’s Corner in Manchester is nearest, about 18 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.
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Where to next
Around Neal’s Bridge
Neal’s Bridge is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.