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Fishing Site · Washington County

Jackson Island, Nolichucky River

Canoe / kayak landing. 14 miles from Johnson City.

Get driving directionsAll Washington County spots

What to bring

Tackle for Jackson Island

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 checklistWalleye and Sauger checklistMusky checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

How to get there

Getting to Jackson Island

Jackson Island is a public access point on Nolichucky River in Washington County, Tennessee, run by USFS.

Jackson Bridge Rd off of SR 107

Jackson Island is 14 miles south-west of Johnson City, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Unicoi County Boat Launch, 6.9 miles to the east. For bait, Fly Shop of Tennessee in Johnson City is about 18 miles away.

Coordinates 36.17981, -82.53363

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

What is there

What you will find at Jackson Island

Free to launch 1.5 out of 5 Facilities 1.5 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 Jackson Island. It is the same data the state uses, not a guess from a photograph.

Canoe and kayak

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

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

What you can catch

Fish you can catch at Jackson Island

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

smallmouth basssunfishrock basswalleyemuskellungecatfishtroutredhorse

The Nolichucky Gorge between Poplar, NC and Unaka Springs is one of the most technical whitewater runs in the Southeast and drops the river into Tennessee at Erwin; the county’s fishing is the smallmouth and rock bass water from Unaka Springs downstream, and it rises and falls hard with rain because nothing upstream regulates it.

Everything on Nolichucky RiverFind a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Jackson Island

What you can keep from Nolichucky River at Jackson Island. TWRA sets 1 rule just for Nolichucky River. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Smallmouth bass5 black bass combined13–17 in protected slot, one over 17 inENKA Dam upstream to the NC line, including Davy Crockett Lake. Below ENKA Dam, Douglas Lake rules apply
BluegillNo limitNo minimumStatewide
Rock bass20No minimumStatewide
Walleye516 in minimumStatewide
Muskellunge136 in minimumStatewide
Channel catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide
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

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

What it looks like

Nolichucky River around Jackson Island

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

Nolichucky 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 3.0Boone Lake, TennesseeBoone LakeOpen the Boone Lake page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domain

Next one along

More Nolichucky River access near Jackson Island

The closest other public access points on Nolichucky River, measured straight line from Jackson Island. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Free3 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USFSChestoa Access Area7.2 miles south-eastJones Branch RD off of Chestoa Rd in Chestoacanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.10320, -82.44752Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CountyKinser Bridge11 miles westHwy 11E to Greenville to Hwy. 1071 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.15461, -82.72568Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAJones Bridge Rd15 miles westDirections and detail →36.11612, -82.78513Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAJoe Johnson Access18 miles westHwy 70 to E. Allens Bridge Road to Birds Bridge Rd1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.08666, -82.82507Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityKinser Park19 miles west1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.08790, -82.85240Free2 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVADavy Crockett Dam Canoe Access20 miles south-westcanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.06542, -82.86858
All 10 access points on Nolichucky River

Jackson Island water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Jackson Island

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Jackson Island, including Rocky Fork Creek, Boone Lake and Watauga River. Handy when the wind is wrong on Nolichucky River or the ramp is busy.

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityUnicoi County Boat Launch6.9 miles east1 ramp, 1 lanefishing piercanoe / kayak landingtrolling motors onlyDirections and detail →36.15098, -82.41629Fee not listed2 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TDECRocky Fork State ParkRocky Fork Creek · 9.6 miles southrestroomsDirections and detail →36.04181, -82.55255Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesTVAKnob CreekBoone Lake · 17 miles north-eastDirections and detail →36.38400, -82.36100Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityWinged Deer ParkBoone Lake · 18 miles north-eastDirections and detail →36.39595, -82.36336Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAHwy 11E (New Devault Bridge)Boone Lake · 18 miles north-eastHwy 11E/Bristol Hwy, Johnson City, TN1 ramp, 2 lanesaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.39264, -82.35672Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRABlevins BendWatauga River · 18 miles north-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 Jackson Island

The closest shops to Jackson Island that this site has checked. Fly Shop of Tennessee in Johnson City is nearest, about 18 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Johnson City · about 18 milesFly Shop of TennesseeFly shop and outfitter. Flies, leader, licences and local water advice.Directions and phone →Piney Flats · about 21 milesThe South Holston River CompanyTackle and bait for Sullivan County water. Call ahead out of season, winter hours are short.Directions and phone →Elizabethton · about 23 milesAppalachian OutpostFly shop and outfitter. Flies, leader, licences and local water advice.Directions and phone →
All bait and tackle in Washington County

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Common questions

Questions about Jackson Island

Can you launch a boat at Jackson Island?

No trailered ramp is recorded at Jackson Island. It is listed as a canoe and kayak landing, so a paddle craft you can carry is fine.

Do you need a fishing licence at Jackson Island?

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 Jackson Island?

Nolichucky River holds smallmouth bass, sunfish, rock bass, walleye, muskellunge, catfish, trout and redhorse. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near Jackson Island?

Fly Shop of Tennessee in Johnson City is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 18 miles from Jackson Island. The South Holston River Company in Piney Flats is next, about 21 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Jackson Island?

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

Who runs Jackson Island?

Jackson Island is listed under USFS 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 Jackson Island

Jackson Island is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

The whole waterFishing Nolichucky River10 public access points across 3 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 Jackson Island, 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 Nolichucky River rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits