Closest first
Every public access within reach of Athens
From TWRA’s own access database, with a directions link on each one. Distances are straight-line from Athens, so the drive is always a bit longer.
Tap a pin for the spot page and directions. Open the full Tennessee fishing map.
Hiwassee River
Free2 out of 5facilitiesN Mouse Creek14 mi from Athens · McMinn Co.1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.32780, -84.78946Launch fee3.5 out of 5facilitiesCharleston Boat Ramp14 mi from Athens · Bradley Co.1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.28660, -84.74760Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesHighway 411 Bridge Ramp14 mi from Athens · Polk Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.23973, -84.56364Free3 out of 5facilitiesGee Creek15 mi from Athens · Polk Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →35.23338, -84.54997Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesPatty Bridge15 mi from Athens · Polk Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.22464, -84.64646Launch fee5 out of 5facilitiesB&B Marina15 mi from Athens · Bradley Co.1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.32714, -84.82864Fee not listed1.5 out of 5facilitiesGray’s Ferry16 mi from Athens · Bradley Co.From I75 to Hwy 308 west 4 miles; right to Hwy 306; 1 mile to Ead’s Bluff Rd; 2 miles, ramp on rightDirections and detail →35.34429, -84.85335Launch fee2 out of 5facilitiesTwo Rivers Campground17 mi from Athens · Polk Co.1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.20567, -84.65719Free2 out of 5facilitiesOld Patty Bridge17 mi from Athens · Polk Co.1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.20368, -84.65281Free2 out of 5facilitiesBig Bend18 mi from Athens · Polk Co.restroomsDirections and detail →35.20055, -84.46686Launch fee1 out of 5facilitiesAgency Creek Campground18 mi from Athens · Meigs Co.Directions and detail →35.37393, -84.90642Free4 out of 5facilitiesTN State Park at Reliance18 mi from Athens · Polk Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.18774, -84.49712Launch fee3 out of 5facilitiesPowerhouse Boat Ramp20 mi from Athens · Polk Co.1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsDirections and detail →35.18123, -84.44487
Chickamauga Lake
Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesSewee Creek15 mi from Athens · Meigs Co.Hwy 68 east of Watts Bar Dam to Hwy 304 south approx. 4 miles to Hornsby Rd; ramp on left1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.58011, -84.79366Free3 out of 5facilitiesGoodfield Creek15 mi from Athens · Meigs Co.Hwy 30 west 2.75 miles from Decatur; turn left on Cottonport Rd, ramp is 1.5 miles on right across bridge.1 ramp, 2 lanesDirections and detail →35.49740, -84.85270Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesPinhook15 mi from Athens · Meigs Co.1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.60512, -84.77424Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesWatts Bar Dam16 mi from Athens · Meigs Co.Directions and detail →35.62062, -84.77736Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesPrice’s Creek East16 mi from Athens · Meigs Co.Hwy 58 to Lamontville Rd; approx. 4.5 miles to ramp1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.35929, -84.86027Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesPrice’s Creek West16 mi from Athens · Meigs Co.Hwy 58 to Lamontville Rd approx. 4.5 miles; before bridge on rightDirections and detail →35.36227, -84.86250Free3 out of 5facilitiesCottonport WMA / Access Area16 mi from Athens · Rhea Co.1 ramp, 2 lanesDirections and detail →35.48831, -84.88183Fee not listed1.5 out of 5facilitiesAgency Creek Campground Marina18 mi from Athens · Meigs Co.1 rampDirections and detail →35.37439, -84.90696Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesHwy 58 Bridge North18 mi from Athens · Meigs Co.Directions and detail →35.36920, -84.90939Free4 out of 5facilitiesHwy 58 Bridge19 mi from Athens · Meigs Co.South of Hwy 58 bridge in Meigs County1 ramp, 2 lanesaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.35988, -84.91281Free4 out of 5facilitiesFrazier Park21 mi from Athens · Rhea Co.1 rampfishing pieraccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.47640, -84.95840Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesBlue Water Resort and Marina22 mi from Athens · Rhea Co.From 30, take Double S Road, right onto Shaver Loop1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsDirections and detail →35.47960, -84.97590
Watts Bar Lake
Free4 out of 5facilitiesWatts Bar Dam16 mi from Athens · Meigs Co.1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.62703, -84.77839Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesLakeview17 mi from Athens · Meigs Co.Hwy 68 east to Hwy 304 north approx. 4 miles on left1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.67170, -84.72195Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesFooshee18 mi from Athens · Meigs Co.1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.66283, -84.75131Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesEuchee Marina18 mi from Athens · Meigs Co.1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.68277, -84.71234Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBig Springs18 mi from Athens · Meigs Co.Hwy 68 east to Hwy 304 north approx. 6 miles on left1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.69211, -84.69799Free4 out of 5facilitiesHornsby Hollow18 mi from Athens · Meigs Co.Hwy 68 east to Hwy 304 north approx. 5.5 miles; within Hornsby Hollow campground1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierrestroomsDirections and detail →35.69026, -84.70802Launch fee3.5 out of 5facilitiesPiney Point Resort20 mi from Athens · Rhea Co.1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →35.68060, -84.81240Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBlue Springs Marina21 mi from Athens · Roane Co.Hwy 58 South, turn right on 304, go approx. 7 miles, Marina on right2 ramps, 2 lanesrestroomsDirections and detail →35.73520, -84.66780Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesRhea Springs21 mi from Athens · Rhea Co.1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.68249, -84.82783Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesSpring City Boat Dock21 mi from Athens · Rhea Co.1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pieraccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.66738, -84.85583Fee not listed3 out of 5facilitiesBayside Marina22 mi from Athens · Roane Co.Hwy 58 South, turn right onto 304, go approx. 6miles, Marina on rightfishing pierrestroomsDirections and detail →35.75020, -84.65870
Candies Creek
Tellico River
Ocoee River
Tellico Lake
What to bring
What to bring fishing near Athens
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
Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:
What it looks like
The water around Athens
Photographs of the lakes and rivers on this page. Drag or swipe for more. Every picture opens that water’s own page.
Hiwassee RiverOpen the Hiwassee River page →ChristopherM at English Wikipedia / CC BY 2.5
Chickamauga LakeOpen the Chickamauga Lake page →George Green, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Public domain
Watts Bar LakeOpen the Watts Bar Lake page →ChristopherM / CC BY 2.5
Tellico RiverOpen the Tellico River page →ChristopherM / CC BY 2.5
Tellico LakeOpen the Tellico Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Chickamauga LakeOpen the Chickamauga Lake page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domainNo boat
Bank fishing near Athens
5 public fishing piers within reach of Athens. No boat needed for any of them.
Free4 out of 5facilitiesHornsby HollowWatts Bar Lake · 18 mi from AthensHwy 68 east to Hwy 304 north approx. 5.5 miles; within Hornsby Hollow campground1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierrestroomsDirections and detail →35.69026, -84.70802Launch fee3.5 out of 5facilitiesPiney Point ResortWatts Bar Lake · 20 mi from Athens1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →35.68060, -84.81240Free4 out of 5facilitiesFrazier ParkChickamauga Lake · 21 mi from Athens1 rampfishing pieraccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.47640, -84.95840Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesSpring City Boat DockWatts Bar Lake · 21 mi from Athens1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pieraccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.66738, -84.85583Fee not listed3 out of 5facilitiesBayside MarinaWatts Bar Lake · 22 mi from AthensHwy 58 South, turn right onto 304, go approx. 6miles, Marina on rightfishing pierrestroomsDirections and detail →35.75020, -84.65870
Shoreline access in McMinn County
Hiwassee River access points along the river-mile chain, with the lower ones nearest McMinn: US-411 bridge at river mile 42.6, Patty Bridge at 37.0, Old Patty at 34.5. Stone Bridge Park, Athens, during the winter trout stocking period. Oostanaula Creek crossings in and around Athens. Athens Regional Park and the city’s park system (confirm whether any holds a fishable pond before publishing).
1 public boat launches in McMinn County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.
Towns near here
Towns near Athens
The nearest towns to Athens with pages of their own. If nothing near Athens suits, one of these usually does.
Fishing near DaytonChickamauga Lake, Hiwassee RiverSee the spots →Fishing near ClevelandChickamauga Lake, Hiwassee RiverSee the spots →Fishing near KingstonWatts Bar Lake, Clinch RiverSee the spots →Fishing near HarrimanWatts Bar Lake, Emory RiverSee the spots →Fishing near Soddy-DaisyChickamauga Lake, North Chickamauga CreekSee the spots →
Athens water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, sunfish, rock bass.