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Boat Launch · Washington County

Pickens Bridge, Boone Lake

1 ramp, 1 lane, canoe / kayak landing, accessible parking. 7 miles from Johnson City.

Get driving directionsAll Washington County spots

What to bring

Tackle for Pickens 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.

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 checklistCatfish checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

How to get there

Getting to Pickens Bridge

Pickens Bridge is a public boat launch on Boone Lake in Washington County, Tennessee, run by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Pickens Bridge Rd, Johnson City, TN

Pickens Bridge is 7.4 miles north of Johnson City, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Jay’s Boat Dock, 0.3 miles to the south-west on the same water. For bait, Fly Shop of Tennessee in Johnson City is about 1 mile away.

Coordinates 36.41900, -82.37516

Open in Google MapsSee nearby spots on the mapFishing near Johnson City
Aerial view of Pickens Bridge
Pickens Bridge from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Pickens Bridge

Free to launch 3 out of 5 Facilities 3 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 Pickens Bridge. 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.

Accessible parking

Marked accessible parking at the access point.

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 Pickens Bridge

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

largemouth basssmallmouth bassspotted basscrappieblue catfishtrout

Split between Washington and Sullivan counties, with one arm running about 16 mi up the South Fork Holston and the other about 15 mi up the Watauga; TWRA’s caution is that the shoreline is heavily developed by private landowners and little public land is available, so the public ramps matter more here than on most lakes.

Everything on Boone LakeFind a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Pickens Bridge

What you can keep from Boone Lake at Pickens Bridge. TWRA sets 5 rules just for Boone Lake. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Largemouth bass5 combined with smallmouth15 in minimumBoone Lake rule
Smallmouth bass5 combined with largemouth15 in minimumBoone Lake rule
Spotted bass15No length limitSeparate from the largemouth/smallmouth limit
Striped bass1 (2 striped/hybrid combined)36 in minimumBoone Lake rule
Trout716–22 in protected slot, one over 22 inAll trout. Applies upstream to the Hwy 11E (DeVault/Bristol Hwy) bridge on the Watauga arm
Crappie1510 in minimumStatewide
Blue catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide

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

4 public boat launches in Washington County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Boone Lake around Pickens Bridge

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

Boone Lake, TennesseeBoone LakeOpen the Boone Lake page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domainNolichucky River, TennesseeNolichucky RiverOpen the Nolichucky River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Boone Lake, TennesseeBoone LakeOpen the Boone Lake page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domainNolichucky River, TennesseeNolichucky RiverOpen the Nolichucky River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Boone Lake, TennesseeBoone LakeOpen the Boone Lake page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domainNolichucky River, TennesseeNolichucky RiverOpen the Nolichucky River page →Mark Fickett / CC BY 3.0

Next one along

More Boone Lake access near Pickens Bridge

The closest other public access points on Boone Lake, measured straight line from Pickens Bridge. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Fee not listed3.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · OtherJay’s Boat Dock0.3 miles south-west1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →36.41709, -82.38088Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityWinged Deer Park1.7 miles southDirections and detail →36.39595, -82.36336Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAHwy 11E (New Devault Bridge)2.1 miles south-eastHwy 11E/Bristol Hwy, Johnson City, TN1 ramp, 2 lanesaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.39264, -82.35672Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesTVAKnob Creek2.5 miles southDirections and detail →36.38400, -82.36100Fee not listed2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVADevault Bridge3.2 miles north2653 Devault Bridge Rd, Piney Flats, TN1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.46371, -82.36062Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaLakeview Marina3.2 miles north-westDirections and detail →36.45335, -82.41424
All 13 access points on Boone Lake

Pickens Bridge water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Pickens Bridge

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Pickens Bridge, including Watauga River, South Fork Holston River and Watauga Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on Boone Lake or the ramp is busy.

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAWagner RdWatauga River · 5.5 miles south-east100 Wagner Rd, Watauga, TN 376941 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.36967, -82.29790Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVASmith ShoalsSouth Fork Holston River · 5.5 miles north-westBeulah Church Drive, Kingsport, TN1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.45996, -82.45968Fee not listed1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TDECWatauga BluffsWatauga Lake · 5.7 miles south-eastcanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.36500, -82.29800Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityBluff City ParkSouth Fork Holston River · 7.4 miles north-east1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.47616, -82.26406Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TDECWarriors Path State ParkFt Patrick Henry Reservoir · 7.6 miles north-westDirections and detail →36.49124, -82.47701Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRABlevins BendWatauga River · 8.3 miles south-east210 Blevins Rd, Johnson City, TN 376011 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.33402, -82.27062

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Pickens Bridge

The closest shops to Pickens Bridge that this site has checked. Fly Shop of Tennessee in Johnson City is nearest, about 1 mile away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Johnson City · in townFly Shop of TennesseeFly shop and outfitter. Flies, leader, licences and local water advice.Directions and phone →Piney Flats · about 4 milesThe South Holston River CompanyTackle and bait for Sullivan County water. Call ahead out of season, winter hours are short.Directions and phone →Kingsport · about 11 milesAcademy Sports + OutdoorsChain sporting goods. Rods, reels, line, terminal tackle and a licence counter.Directions and phone →
All bait and tackle in Washington County

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Common questions

Questions about Pickens Bridge

Can you launch a boat at Pickens Bridge?

Yes. TWRA records Pickens Bridge as having a boat ramp. It has 1 lane. TWRA records it as free to launch.

Do you need a fishing licence at Pickens Bridge?

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 Pickens Bridge?

Boone Lake holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, blue catfish and trout. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near Pickens Bridge?

Fly Shop of Tennessee in Johnson City is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 1 mile from Pickens Bridge. The South Holston River Company in Piney Flats is next, about 4 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Pickens Bridge?

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

Who runs Pickens Bridge?

Pickens Bridge 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 Pickens Bridge

Pickens Bridge is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

The whole waterFishing Boone Lake13 public access points across 2 counties.See the spots →County guideFishing in Washington CountyEvery public spot in Washington County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listWashington County spot listAll 7 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near JonesboroughShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near Johnson CityEverything within about 30 miles of Johnson City, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around Pickens Bridge, 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 Boone Lake rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits