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Middle Tennessee · County seat Manchester

Fishing in Coffee County, Tennessee

Normandy Reservoir, Duck River, Woods Reservoir. Where to launch, where to fish from the bank, and where to buy what you forgot.

Find fishing spots11 public access pointsFind gear & baitBait shops, tackle, rentals, licences

Every public access point

Fishing access in Coffee County

11 public access points in Coffee County: 7 boat launches, 3 designated fishing sites and 1 paddling access. Each one opens its own page with written directions, coordinates and a link straight to Google Maps.

Tap a pin for the spot page and directions. Open the full Tennessee fishing map.

Duck River 2 in Coffee County

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · TVANormandy Dam RampFrank Hiles Rd below Normandy Dam1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.46132, -86.24534Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVANormandy DamNormandy Road / Frank Hiles Roadcanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.46427, -86.24618

Elk River 1 in Coffee County

Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · OtherDabb’s Ford BridgePrairie Plains Road on the Coffee/Franklin Co Line1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.31843, -85.98114

Normandy Lake 7 in Coffee County

Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVABarton Springs Boat RampLyndell Bell Road1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.45405, -86.21853Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVABoat Ramp at DamNormandy Road / Frank Hiles Road1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.46665, -86.23840Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRABoyd Branch AccessTake Robert’s Ridge Rd and turn right after passing Normandy WMA sign1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.48198, -86.23603Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVACedar Point Recreation Area16th Model Road to Robert’s Ridge Road to Cedar Point Road1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.47066, -86.22527Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAWard’s Chapel Boat RampWard’s Chapel Road to River Forge Road1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.44369, -86.18408Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVABarton Springs Recreation AreaNormandy Road / Frank Hiles Roadcanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →35.45492, -86.22074Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TWRANormandy WMA fishing accessTake Robert’s Ridge Rd and turn right at the Normandy WMAcanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.48494, -86.23617

Woods Reservoir 1 in Coffee County

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAClark Hill Boat RampDrive to the end of Clark Hill Rd in Hillsboro1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.31573, -85.99482

What to bring

What to bring fishing in Coffee County

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

Coffee County at a glance

Coffee County boat ramps and fishing access

Coffee County has 11 public fishing access points: 7 boat ramps and 1 kayak launch, on 4 lakes, rivers and creeks.

7boat ramps
1kayak launches
4lakes, rivers and creeks

The big water in Coffee

Main fishing waters in Coffee County

What each of these is actually known for, and what you can expect to catch.

reservoir · 3,048 ac on the Duck River · TVA (1976)

Normandy Lake

Black bass drives about 60% of annual targeted effort here and crappie another 25%, so it fishes as a bass lake first; four fee-free ramps and two TVA campgrounds serve it.

largemouthsmallmouthcrappiebluegill
river · river miles ~265 down to ~249 in Coffee County, above and below Normandy Dam · TVA/TWRA

Duck River

The upper Duck above Normandy is small, clear smallmouth water; below the dam the tailwater holds stocked rainbows from November through June.

smallmouthrock basscatfishstocked rainbow trout below the dam
reservoir · 3,660 ac, primarily in Franklin County but extending into Coffee · US Air Force /…

Woods Reservoir

An Air Force lake with genuinely good public access, five free ramps including a dedicated Coffee County Access on Old Brick Church Road, plus four fishing piers on a paved greenway.

largemouthsmallmouthwhite and black crappiewhite bass
river · rises in Coffee County and flows toward Tims Ford · TWRA/WMA

Elk River (upper)

Dabb’s Ford Bridge on Prairie Plains Road sits right on the Coffee/Franklin line and is the county’s access to the upper Elk.

smallmouthrock basscatfish

What it looks like

Coffee County water

Photographs of the water this page covers. Every picture opens that water’s own page. Drag or swipe to see the rest.

Normandy Lake, TennesseeNormandy LakeOpen the Normandy Lake page →Chris Breeze / CC BY 2.0Duck River, TennesseeDuck RiverOpen the Duck River page →SBaker43 / CC BY-SA 3.0Elk River, TennesseeElk RiverOpen the Elk River page →dmtilley / CC BY 3.0Center Hill Lake, TennesseeCenter Hill LakeOpen the Center Hill Lake page →Tyler White / Public domainOld Hickory Lake, TennesseeOld Hickory LakeOpen the Old Hickory Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Cumberland River, TennesseeCumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not s / Public domain

The ones nobody writes about

Small and out-of-the-way water in Coffee County

County lakes, park ponds, creeks and river stretches in Coffee County that never make a best-of list. Several of them fish better than the famous water on a busy weekend.

lake shoreline/ramp

Barton Springs Recreation Area

Two fishing piers, camping onsite, restrooms and a canoe landing on the south side of Normandy Reservoir at Frank Hiles Rd, the best family water in the county.

largemouthcrappiebluegill
lake shoreline/ramp

Cedar Point Recreation Area

On the north side of Normandy, reached via 16th Model Rd to Robert’s Ridge Rd to Cedar Point Rd; two lanes, camping, restrooms, fee, ADA.

largemouthcrappie
lake embayment

Boyd Branch Access

Off Robert’s Ridge Rd just past the Normandy WMA sign; a quiet single-lane TWRA ramp.

largemouthcrappie
lake shoreline

Normandy WMA fishing access

Bank and canoe access inside the WMA off Robert’s Ridge Rd.

largemouthcrappiecatfish
tailwater · river mile 248.7

Normandy Dam tailwater, Duck River

Frank Hiles Rd, 3 miles northeast of Normandy; trout stocked November through June only.

stocked rainbow troutsmallmouth
river stretch · river mile 265.4

Powers Bridge, Duck River

Powers Bridge Road next to the stream gaging station, 2–3 miles west of Manchester, the furthest upstream Duck access in the county.

smallmouthrock bass
lake embayment

Clark Hill Boat Ramp, Woods Reservoir

At the end of Clark Hill Rd in Hillsboro; two lanes with a canoe landing.

largemouthcrappie
creek · 420-ac natural area

Bobo Creek, Short Springs Natural Area

Near Tullahoma, with Machine Falls; a pretty creek corridor rather than a fishery, but worth naming.

small stream species
river stretch

Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park waters

Where the Big Duck and Little Duck meet at Manchester; Big Falls and deep pools hold larger smallmouth.

smallmouthrock bass

No boat, or your own boat

Bank fishing and launching in Coffee County

Fishing from the bank in Coffee County

Barton Springs Recreation Area’s two fishing piers on Normandy; the bank fishing area at Normandy Dam; Normandy WMA fishing access off Robert’s Ridge Rd; Woods Reservoir’s four public fishing piers connected by a paved greenway at the Morris Ferry Boat and Bank Fishing Access Site, plus one more pier on Pumping Station Road (both in Franklin County but the nearest developed pier network to Coffee); Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park along the Duck at Manchester; Powers Bridge on the upper Duck.

Getting a boat on the water in Coffee County

Seven to nine public ramps depending on how the Woods Reservoir accesses are counted, and no marina in the county. Normandy’s four fee-free ramps are Wards Chapel, Barton Springs, Boyds Branch and Normandy Dam, with Cedar Point adding a fee site.

Woods Reservoir is Air Force property with a designated closed section, the reservoir’s full pool elevation is the boundary between reservoir and tributary for harvest restrictions, and a portion of the lake is off limits. Paddling: the Normandy Dam tailwater ramp is a dedicated paddling access, and the Duck above and below the lake floats well; Dabb’s Ford gives access to the upper Elk.

Two different trips

Visiting Coffee County versus fishing it like a local

Where visitors get pointed in Coffee County

Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park at Manchester; Normandy Lake and its two TVA campgrounds; Woods Reservoir and the AEDC greenway piers; Short Springs Natural Area and Machine Falls near Tullahoma; Rutledge Falls, about 12 minutes from I-24 with parking at Rutledge Falls Baptist Church; Tims Ford Lake just south in Franklin County.

Where Coffee County locals actually go

Boyd Branch Access off Robert’s Ridge Rd, past the Normandy WMA sign, a single-lane TWRA ramp with a canoe landing that almost nobody uses. Clark Hill Boat Ramp at the end of Clark Hill Rd in Hillsboro, a two-lane Woods Reservoir launch inside a WMA.

Dabb’s Ford Bridge on Prairie Plains Road, right on the county line. Powers Bridge on the upper Duck next to the gaging station. The Normandy tailwater in winter, when the rainbows are in and nobody is fishing.

Rules and record fish

Limits and records for Coffee County water

Creel and length limits in Coffee County

Normandy Reservoir follows statewide reservoir rules, no Coffee-specific exception appears in TWRA’s exceptions list. Rainbow trout are stocked in the Normandy tailwater November through June only, so the trout season is narrow and worth stating explicitly.

Woods Reservoir has a designated closed section shown on TWRA’s own map, and full pool elevation is the legal boundary between the reservoir and its tributary streams for harvest restrictions, an unusual rule worth spelling out. TDEC advises against eating channel catfish from Woods Reservoir due to PCB contamination. Duck River generally: bass 5/day combined with no length limits, rock bass 20/day.

State record fish from Coffee County water

None verified as a Coffee County catch. The state record spotted sucker (2024) is credited to Woods Reservoir, but Woods lies primarily in Franklin County.

The state record yellow bass, 2 lb 9 oz, John Chappell, 27 Feb 1998, is credited to the Duck River with no county given.

7 public boat launches in Coffee County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

Questions people actually ask

Coffee County fishing questions

Where can I fish from the bank in Coffee County?

Barton Springs Recreation Area’s two fishing piers on Normandy.

How many public boat ramps are in Coffee County?

TWRA’s access database lists 7 boat launches in Coffee County. Most of them are on Normandy Lake. Every one is listed further up this page with its owner and lane count.

Do I need a fishing license to fish in Coffee County?

Yes. Anyone 13 and over needs a Tennessee fishing license, and there is no license required for ages 12 and under. A resident annual combination hunt and fish license is $33, a resident one-day all-species license is $11, and a non-resident three-day all-species license is $40. Tennessee has no non-resident one-day license. Buy online at gooutdoorstennessee.com, from a county clerk or from a licensed agent. Licenses are digital, nothing arrives in the post.

What fish can you catch in Coffee County?

The main species across Coffee County water are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, rock bass, white bass, yellow bass, channel catfish and rainbow trout. Each water body on the fishing spots page lists what it is actually known for, which is not always the same thing.

Does my Tennessee license cover trout in Coffee County?

Not automatically. The $33 resident combination hunt and fish license does not cover trout, and neither does the county-of-residence license or the cheaper no-trout short-term options. Those need the $21 annual trout supplemental added on. The Sportsman licenses and every non-resident all-species license already include trout. This matters in Coffee County, because there is trout water here.

What are the creel limits in Coffee County?

Normandy Reservoir follows statewide reservoir rules, no Coffee-specific exception appears in TWRA’s exceptions list. Rainbow trout are stocked in the Normandy tailwater November through June only, so the trout season is narrow and worth stating explicitly Woods Reservoir has a designated closed section shown on TWRA’s own map, and full pool elevation is the legal boundary between the reservoir and its tributary streams for harvest restrictions, an unusual rule worth spelling out Always check the current TWRA guide before you keep anything, because water-specific exceptions change.

Where can I buy bait and tackle in Coffee County?

The Sportsman’s Corner, 1905 N Jackson St (Suite 200), Tullahoma, TN 37388, the nearest verified independent tackle and outdoor shop. There is a fuller list on the Coffee County gear page, including anywhere renting boats or kayaks and the nearest big-box store.

Where do locals fish in Coffee County?

Boyd Branch Access off Robert’s Ridge Rd, past the Normandy WMA sign, a single-lane TWRA ramp with a canoe landing that almost nobody uses. Clark Hill Boat Ramp at the end of Clark Hill Rd in Hillsboro, a two-lane Woods Reservoir launch inside a WMA. Dabb’s Ford Bridge on Prairie Plains Road, right on the county line. Powers Bridge on the upper Duck next to the gaging station. The Normandy tailwater in winter, when the rainbows are in and nobody is fishing.

The water itself

Lakes and rivers in Coffee County

Each of these has a page of its own covering the whole water, not just the Coffee County end of it, with every public access point on it and what it holds.

LakeNormandy Lake7 access points in Coffee CountySee the spots →RiverDuck River2 access points in Coffee County, 26 in totalSee the spots →RiverElk River1 access point in Coffee County, 11 in totalSee the spots →LakeWoods Reservoir1 access point in Coffee County, 5 in totalSee the spots →

Coffee County water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill.

Conditions

Coffee County lake levels, river levels and trout stocking

Lake conditionsNormandy Lake level todayTVA’s current reading and the Normandy Dam generation schedule.Open →River levelsDuck River level todayUSGS flow, gauge height and the seven-day trend.Open →TroutTrout stocking in Coffee CountyTWRA stocks Normandy TW / Duck River. Dates are on the stocking schedule.Open →

Statewide limits: 5 black bass, 15 crappie at 10 inches, 2 stripers at 15 inches, 7 trout.

About this list

Where the Coffee County access list comes from

The 11 access points above come from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s public access database, which is why each one names the agency that owns or manages it. A state or TVA ramp is usually free. A Corps of Engineers site, a state park ramp or a marina often is not.

The waters, species and local notes are researched separately, county by county, against TWRA’s own reservoir pages, TVA, the US Army Corps of Engineers and Tennessee State Parks.

Ramps close for repairs, gravel roads wash out and regulations change. Treat anything here as a starting point and call ahead if you are driving a long way for it.

By town instead

Towns near Coffee County

These pages measure from the middle of town rather than the county line, which is usually the number you actually care about.

24 access points within 30 milesFishing near TullahomaNormandy Lake, Tims Ford LakeSee the spots →

Tennessee sells no non-resident one-day fishing license. The three-day is the shortest option.

Keep looking

Counties next to Coffee

Fish do not respect county lines. These are the nearest counties to Coffee with public water of their own. Each one opens its own page.

Next county overBedford CountyDuck River, Bedford LakeSee the spots →Next county overFranklin CountyTims Ford Lake, Woods ReservoirSee the spots →Next county overMoore CountyElk River, Tims Ford LakeSee the spots →Next county overLincoln CountyElk RiverSee the spots →Next county overCannon CountyEast Fork Stones RiverSee the spots →

Keep going

More Coffee County water, and who fishes it

Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits

Weather alerts, power outages and road closures in Coffee County right now: Coffee County conditions.