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DeKalb County, Tennessee

Where to Buy or Rent Fishing Gear in DeKalb County

Bait, tackle, rental boats and licenses in and around DeKalb County.

What to bring

Tackle for DeKalb County water

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

Closest first

Bait and tackle shops in and near DeKalb County

The nearest bait, tackle and marina stores to DeKalb County’s water, each with its own page, directions and phone number.

Lancaster · about 9 milesCenter Hill MarinaMarina store. Fuel, ice, terminal tackle and live bait when the lake is running.Directions and phone →Granville · about 16 milesWildwood Resort and MarinaMarina store. Fuel, ice, terminal tackle and live bait when the lake is running.Directions and phone →Sparta · about 17 milesZorro Bait CoLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →McMinnville · about 22 milesWalmart SupercenterOpen late, sells licences at the counter, and carries terminal tackle and line.Directions and phone →Gainesboro · about 24 milesGranville MarinaMarina store. Fuel, ice, terminal tackle and live bait when the lake is running.Directions and phone →McMinnville · about 24 milesOutdoor Shop IncSporting goods. Rods, reels, line and a licence counter.Directions and phone →Hartsville · about 34 milesWalmart SupercenterOpen late, sells licences at the counter, and carries terminal tackle and line.Directions and phone →Crossville · about 38 milesMeadow Park Lake park officeLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →Manchester · about 42 milesThe Sportsman’s CornerSporting goods. Rods, reels, line and a licence counter.Directions and phone →

Buy it at the ramp

Marinas and bait at the water in DeKalb County

Access points in DeKalb County that TWRA records as carrying bait, rentals or marina services. Buying where you launch is the cheapest way to avoid a wasted trip.

Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · USACECenter Hill MarinaCenter Hill LakeFrom I-40, exit 269 S-go approx. 3 miles-turn right-go approx 2.5 miles-marina on left2 ramps, 2 lanesrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.07690, -85.86000Free4 out of 5facilitiesMarina · USACEEdgar Evins MarinaCenter Hill LakeFrom I-40, exit 269S, go about 3 miles to 4-way stop, continue 2 miles straight ahead1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.08360, -85.82620Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · USACEHidden Harbor MarinaCenter Hill Lake1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.00180, -85.82660Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · USACEHurricane MarinaCenter Hill Lake1 ramp, 3 lanesrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.03930, -85.75950Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesMarina · USACEPates Ford MarinaCenter Hill Lake1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →35.88300, -85.67310Launch fee3.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · USACESligo MarinaCenter Hill Lakerestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.96700, -85.71720Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaUnnamed marinaCenter Hill LakeDirections and detail →35.94111, -85.70153Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACECookeville DockCenter Hill LakeFrom I-40, exit 280s-go approx. 5mi to Cookeville boat Dock Rd-turn right, follow to dock1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.00080, -85.65220

The big stores

Chain stores near DeKalb County

The closest full tackle wall to DeKalb County is the Academy in Cookeville, about 17 miles from Smithville. Distances here are straight line, so the drive is longer. The rest below are the next nearest, each with a map link.

Cookeville · about 17 milesAcademy Sports + OutdoorsChain sporting goods. Rods, reels, line, terminal tackle and a licence counter.Open in maps →Murfreesboro · about 37 milesSportsman’s WarehouseChain sporting goods. Rods, reels, line, terminal tackle and a licence counter.Open in maps →Smyrna · about 43 milesAcademy Sports + OutdoorsChain sporting goods. Rods, reels, line, terminal tackle and a licence counter.Open in maps →Mt Juliet · about 44 milesAcademy Sports + OutdoorsChain sporting goods. Rods, reels, line, terminal tackle and a licence counter.Open in maps →

Before you cast

Buying a Tennessee fishing license in DeKalb County

Buy online at gooutdoorstennessee.com and the license is on your phone in a minute, nothing is mailed. Over the counter, the DeKalb County Clerk in Smithville sells them, along with most Walmart stores and licensed agents in the county.

Anyone 13 and over needs a license to fish DeKalb County water, and under 13 is free. If you live in DeKalb County, the $10 county-of-residence license covers you on DeKalb County water, though not for trout.

All license prices and rules

Gear questions

Buying and renting gear in DeKalb County

Do I need a fishing license to fish in DeKalb 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.

Does my Tennessee license cover trout in DeKalb 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. There is no designated trout water in DeKalb County, but it is worth knowing before you drive to a tailwater elsewhere in the state.

Where can I buy bait and tackle in DeKalb County?

Center Hill Marina, Lancaster, 615-548-4115. Hurricane Marina, Silver Point, 931-858-2275. Edgar Evins Marina, Silver Point, 931-858-2424. Pates Ford Marina, Smithville, 615-597-4807. Sligo Marina, Smithville, 615-597-5245. Cookeville Boat Dock, Baxter. Four Seasons Marina, Hidden Harbor Marina and Horseshoe Bend Marina (towns not confirmed). Most Center Hill marinas carry basic tackle, live bait and licences and rent pontoons. There is a fuller list on the DeKalb County gear page, including anywhere renting boats or kayaks and the nearest big-box store.

Can I buy a fishing license in DeKalb County?

Yes. County clerks, most Walmart stores and licensed agents in DeKalb County sell them over the counter, and gooutdoorstennessee.com sells them 24 hours a day. The license is digital or printable, nothing is mailed.

Do I need a boat to fish DeKalb County?

No. DeKalb County has 4 public fishing piers and bank access at several of its parks and river crossings.

What it looks like

What DeKalb County water looks like

The lakes and rivers you are buying gear for.

Center Hill Lake, TennesseeCenter Hill LakeOpen the Center Hill Lake page →Tyler White / Public domainCaney Fork River, TennesseeCaney Fork RiverOpen the Caney Fork River page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not s / Public domain
Falling Water River, Tennessee
Falling Water River, TennesseeBrian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Old 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 domainDuck River, TennesseeDuck RiverOpen the Duck River page →SBaker43 / CC BY-SA 3.0

13 public boat launches in DeKalb County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

Where to fish it

Now find the water in DeKalb County

Got what you need? The DeKalb County fishing spots page has every ramp, pier, creek and lake in the county, with directions to each one and the limits that apply on it.

DeKalb County fishing spotsBack to the county page

Keep going

More DeKalb 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