What to bring
Tackle for River Road Access
Three picks from the smallmouth 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 River Road Access
River Road Access is a public boat launch on New River in Scott County, Tennessee, run by the county.
TWRA holds no written directions for River Road Access. 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.
River Road Access is 18 miles west of LaFollette, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Towns Spring Road, 3.4 miles to the north-west on the same water. For bait, Walmart Supercenter in Jacksboro is about 15 miles away.
Coordinates 36.37444, -84.45059
What you can catch
Fish you can catch at River Road Access
New River holds these, according to the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes.
Rises at Frozen Head in Morgan County and enters Scott County from the south-east, crossing US-27 at the community of New River just above the park boundary. Its upper watershed drains heavily coal-mined country and has a documented pollution history, which improves markedly by the time it reaches the Big South Fork confluence.
What you can keep
Fishing limits at River Road Access
What you can keep from New River at River Road Access. New River 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth bass | 5 black bass combined | No minimum | Statewide |
| Rock bass | 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.
5 public boat launches in Scott County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.
Next one along
More New River access near River Road Access
The closest other public access points on New River, measured straight line from River Road Access. Each one opens its own page with directions.
Other water close by
Other fishing near River Road Access
Public access on other water within 20 miles of River Road Access, including Huntsville Lake, Oneida City Park Pond and Norris Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on New River or the ramp is busy.
River Road Access water holds smallmouth bass, sunfish, rock bass, walleye.
Bait on the way
Bait and tackle near River Road Access
The closest shops to River Road Access that this site has checked. Walmart Supercenter in Jacksboro is nearest, about 15 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.
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Where to next
Around River Road Access
River Road Access is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.