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Boat Launch · Warren County

Pepper Branch Park, Barren Fork River

1 ramp, 1 lane, canoe / kayak landing. In McMinnville.

Get driving directionsAll Warren County spots

With a guide

Guides and charters near Pepper Branch Park

Captains who run Center Hill and the Caney Fork, with their own phone numbers. You call and book with them directly.

Smithville

Gone Fishin’ Expeditions

Largemouth, smallmouth, crappie, bluegill, catfishCall 615-814-4832gonefishinexpeditions.com

David Knapp · Crossville

Trout Zone Anglers

Rainbow, brown and brook trout, smallmouth, muskyCall 931-261-1884troutzoneanglers.com

Capt. Jim Durham · Multi-base TN/KY

StriperFun Guide Service

Center Hill and Normandy walleye, Tims Ford stripers, Caney Fork troutCall 931-403-2501striperfun.com

Every Tennessee guide by water

What to bring

Tackle for Pepper Branch Park

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.

RodSt. Croix Bass X 7 ft medium spinning rodLight enough for a Ned rig, with enough backbone for a 5 lb fish in current.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
ReelPflueger President 30 spinning reelSmooth drag at a fair price. Fill it with braid and a leader.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
FinesseZ-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheadsThe single most reliable smallmouth bait on Tennessee rock. Drag it slowly.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
Full smallmouth bass checklist (10 items)All gear checklists

Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:

Bluegill and Panfish checklistTrout checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

How to get there

Getting to Pepper Branch Park

Pepper Branch Park is a public boat launch on Barren Fork River in Warren County, Tennessee, run by the city.

TWRA holds no written directions for Pepper Branch Park. 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.

Pepper Branch Park is in McMinnville. The closest other public access is Riverfront Park, 0.6 miles to the north-west on the same water. For bait, Outdoor Shop Inc in McMinnville is about 1 mile away.

Coordinates 35.67396, -85.77691

Open in Google MapsSee nearby spots on the mapFishing near McMinnville
Aerial view of Pepper Branch Park
Pepper Branch Park from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Pepper Branch Park

Free to launch 2.5 out of 5 Facilities 2.5 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 Pepper Branch Park. 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.

Canoe and kayak

A landing shallow enough to carry a paddle craft in and out.

Open 24 hours

TWRA records round the clock access, so early starts are fine.

Not recorded here: fishing pier, restrooms, camping. Worth knowing before a long drive with the family.

What you can catch

Fish you can catch at Pepper Branch Park

Barren Fork River holds these, according to the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes.

smallmouth bassrock bassrainbow trout

Stocked with rainbows on TWRA’s seasonal schedule and running right through the county seat, which makes it the most accessible trout water on the western plateau.

Everything on Barren Fork RiverFind a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Pepper Branch Park

What you can keep from Barren Fork River at Pepper Branch Park. Barren Fork River has no limits of its own, so the statewide limits apply. These are the ones for the fish it holds.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Smallmouth bass5 black bass combinedNo minimumStatewide
Rock bass20No minimumStatewide
Rainbow trout7 trout combinedNo minimumStatewide

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 Warren County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Barren Fork River around Pepper Branch Park

What the water at Pepper Branch Park actually looks like. Drag or swipe through. Every picture opens that water’s own page.

Barren Fork River, TennesseeBarren Fork RiverOpen the Barren Fork River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Collins River, TennesseeCollins RiverOpen the Collins River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Center Hill Lake, TennesseeCenter Hill LakeOpen the Center Hill Lake page →Tyler White / Public domainBarren Fork River, TennesseeBarren Fork RiverOpen the Barren Fork River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Collins River, TennesseeCollins RiverOpen the Collins River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Center Hill Lake, TennesseeCenter Hill LakeOpen the Center Hill Lake page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not s / Public domain

Next one along

More Barren Fork River access near Pepper Branch Park

The closest other public access points on Barren Fork River, measured straight line from Pepper Branch Park. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityRiverfront Park0.6 miles north-west1 ramp, 1 lanefishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.68143, -85.78200Fee not listed3.5 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · Private LandSmooth Rapids Outfitters0.9 miles north-eastcanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.68138, -85.76426Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityRocket Park1.0 miles north-east1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.67995, -85.76139Free1 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · OtherWest Warren Utility5.9 miles westDirections and detail →35.66252, -85.88096
All 5 access points on Barren Fork River

Pepper Branch Park water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Pepper Branch Park

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Pepper Branch Park, including Barren Fork and Collins River. Handy when the wind is wrong on Barren Fork River or the ramp is busy.

Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesCitySally’s AlleyBarren Fork · 0.8 miles eastDirections and detail →35.67504, -85.76303Launch fee2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · Private LandOld VFW AccessCollins River · 3.5 miles north-east1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.70930, -85.73100Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TWRAShellsford AccessCollins River · 3.8 miles eastcanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.67579, -85.70852Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAMyers CoveCollins River · 6.4 miles south-east1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.61858, -85.68460Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesTWRALocke BendCollins River · 6.6 miles north-eastDirections and detail →35.74630, -85.69876Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · TWRAWanamaker AccessCollins River · 11 miles south-eastDirections and detail →35.52853, -85.69451

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Pepper Branch Park

The closest shops to Pepper Branch Park that this site has checked. Outdoor Shop Inc in McMinnville is nearest, about 1 mile away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

McMinnville · in townOutdoor Shop IncSporting goods. Rods, reels, line and a licence counter.Directions and phone →McMinnville · about 2 milesWalmart SupercenterOpen late, sells licences at the counter, and carries terminal tackle and line.Directions and phone →Manchester · about 22 milesThe Sportsman’s CornerSporting goods. Rods, reels, line and a licence counter.Directions and phone →
All bait and tackle in Warren County

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Common questions

Questions about Pepper Branch Park

Can you launch a boat at Pepper Branch Park?

Yes. TWRA records Pepper Branch Park as having a boat ramp. It has 1 lane. TWRA records it as free to launch.

Do you need a fishing licence at Pepper Branch Park?

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 Pepper Branch Park?

Barren Fork River holds smallmouth bass, rock bass and rainbow trout. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near Pepper Branch Park?

Outdoor Shop Inc in McMinnville is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 1 mile from Pepper Branch Park. Walmart Supercenter in McMinnville is next, about 2 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Pepper Branch Park?

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

Who runs Pepper Branch Park?

Pepper Branch Park is listed under the city 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 Pepper Branch Park

Pepper Branch Park is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

The whole waterFishing Barren Fork River5 public access points across 1 county.See the spots →County guideFishing in Warren CountyEvery public spot in Warren County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listWarren County spot listAll 14 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near McMinnvilleShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near McMinnvilleEverything within about 30 miles of McMinnville, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around Pepper Branch Park, 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 Barren Fork River rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits