East Tennessee · County seat Dandridge

Fishing in Jefferson County, Tennessee

Douglas Lake, Cherokee Lake, French Broad River. Where to launch, where to fish from the bank, and where to buy what you forgot.

Find fishing spots23 public access points Find gear & baitBait shops, tackle, rentals, licences

Every public access point

Fishing access in Jefferson County

23 public access points in Jefferson County: 11 boat launches, 1 fishing pier, 5 designated fishing sites and 7 marinas. 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.

Douglas Lake 17 in Jefferson County

What to bring

What to bring fishing in Jefferson 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 checklist Crappie checklist Bluegill and Panfish checklist Fish Finders compared Trolling Motors compared Lithium Marine Batteries compared Shallow Water Anchors compared

Jefferson County at a glance

Jefferson County boat ramps and fishing access

Jefferson County has 23 public fishing access points: 11 boat ramps, 1 fishing pier and 7 marinas, on 4 lakes, rivers and creeks.

11boat ramps

1fishing pier

7marinas

4lakes, rivers and creeks

The big water in Jefferson

Main fishing waters in Jefferson County

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

reservoir · 30,600 acres, 555 miles of shoreline, on the French Broad River; effectively the…

Douglas Lake

TWRA calls it flatly the best crappie reservoir in East Tennessee, drawing thousands of anglers a year, and also one of the best largemouth fisheries in the region. The defining feature is the drawdown, elevation swings 60 feet between a 1,000 ft summer pool and a 940 ft winter pool, and the lake can rise 15 to 20 feet in a day or two after heavy rain. Write the seasons honestly: spring and fall, not summer, when stratification and low dissolved oxygen make it hard.

crappielargemouthsmallmouthwhite bass

reservoir · 30,300 acres, 393 miles of shoreline; the dam and the lower lake are in Jefferson…

Cherokee Lake

High fertility means fish densities greater than most Tennessee reservoirs. Stripers, hybrids and crappie are all stocked rather than self-sustaining.

largemouthsmallmouthstriped bassCherokee (hybrid) bass

river · feeds Douglas; Leadvale access at river mile 67.8 · TVA/TWRA

French Broad River

The upper river above the lake is a float fishery for smallmouth.

smallmouthlargemouthrock basscatfish

tailwater · below Cherokee Dam · TVA/TWRA

Holston River (Cherokee Dam tailwater)

Trout are stocked November through April only, a notably narrow window, because the river warms in summer. Access is very limited, so this is primarily a float river: dam to Tampico, Tampico to Indian Cave, Indian Cave to Nances Ferry. Prolific caddis hatches late March to May and sulphurs May to June.

stocked rainbow and brown troutsmallmouth bass

What it looks like

Jefferson County water

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

Douglas LakeOpen the Douglas Lake page →Dwight Burdette / CC BY 3.0

Cherokee LakeOpen the Cherokee Lake page →TVA Web Team / CC BY 2.0

French Broad RiverOpen the French Broad River page →Pollinator at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0

Holston RiverOpen the Holston River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

Norris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

Watauga LakeOpen the Watauga Lake page →Mark Larson from Atlanta, GA / CC BY-SA 2.0

The ones nobody writes about

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

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

creek · runs through Jefferson City’s historic district

Mossy Creek

TWRA named Mossy Creek (Jefferson County) explicitly in its winter trout stocking program. A stocked trout creek running through a town of under 9,000 is the best small-water story in the county. TVA’s access is north on Russell Ave, left on Cherokee Dr to the dead end, with canoe access.

winter-stocked rainbow troutsunfish

creek/embayment · Cherokee Reservoir, river mile 52.5, 2133 N Sizer Ave, Jefferson City

Byrd Spring Branch

One-lane ramp on the Cherokee side.

crappielargemouthcatfish

embayments · Douglas Lake arms

Nina Creek, Muddy Creek, Flat Creek, Indian Creek, Spring Creek

These are the named Douglas embayments; Point 18 to Rankin Bridge is the classic spring spawning run.

crappielargemouthbluegill

No boat, or your own boat

Bank fishing and launching in Jefferson County

Fishing from the bank in Jefferson County

Dandridge Access fishing pier (TVA/TWRA), the main free pier on Douglas; Shady Grove Access and Shady Grove Parcel 1, both TWRA-managed fishing sites; Twin Cove Access Area near White Pine; Swans Bridge on Roundhouse Rd (river mile 54.4); Mossy Creek in downtown Jefferson City, the county’s walk-up trout water in winter; Cherokee Dam Tailwaters below the dam; Moon Hill Bridge.

Getting a boat on the water in Jefferson County

Jefferson County has more marina capacity than almost any county in East Tennessee, Swann’s, The Point, Oasis Cove, Black Oak, Inspiration Point, Fanchers, Mountain Harbor Inn and Gator Point, most with fuel, bait and rentals on site. TVA’s Cherokee Dam access has three ramps and a campground.

The critical operational fact on Douglas is water level: a 60-foot annual swing means a ramp that is fine in June can be a hundred yards from water in January. Check TVA lake levels before towing a boat here, this matters more on Douglas than on any other lake in the state.

Two different trips

Visiting Jefferson County versus fishing it like a local

Where visitors get pointed in Jefferson County

Dandridge, the historic town on Douglas Lake and the second-oldest town in Tennessee; Douglas Dam Headwater and Tailwater TVA campgrounds; Cherokee Dam; the Cherokee Dam tailwater trout float; the county markets itself as Lakeside of the Smokies and sits 30 minutes from Sevierville and Gatlinburg; Douglas is a Bill Dance Signature Lake.

Where Jefferson County locals actually go

Mossy Creek in Jefferson City, a stocked trout creek in the middle of a small town, and the most underused fishing resource in the county; Leadvale Access on the French Broad above the lake; Nina and Spring Creek ramps on the upper Douglas arm; Byrd Spring Branch on the Cherokee side; Swans Bridge and Twin Cove as bank spots; Swanns Chapel ramp.

Rules and record fish

Limits and records for Jefferson County water

Creel and length limits in Jefferson County

Douglas Lake, from 1 June through 30 September only ONE black bass over 16 in may be kept. That seasonal rule is specific to Douglas and is exactly the kind of thing competing pages omit.

Cherokee Lake, smallmouth 1 per day at an 18 in minimum from 1 June to 15 October; paddlefish snagging permitted 1 through 15 April only, 1 per day; boat fishing closed near Cherokee Dam from 1 July to 15 September. Cherokee Dam tailwater (Holston River), stocked November through April.

State record fish from Jefferson County water

Paddlefish, 149 lb, Cherokee Reservoir, Henry Dyer, 13 April 2023, Cherokee spans four counties. Goldfish, 3 lb 5 oz, Douglas Reservoir, Chase Rich, 10 March 2016, Douglas sits essentially wholly in Jefferson County so this one is fairly attributable. Smallmouth redhorse, 1 lb 10 oz, French Broad River, Larry Hamilton, 27 July 2013.

11 public boat launches in Jefferson County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

Questions people actually ask

Jefferson County fishing questions

Where can I fish from the bank in Jefferson County?

Dandridge Access fishing pier (TVA/TWRA), the main free pier on Douglas. Also shady grove access and shady grove parcel 1, both twra-managed fishing sites, and twin cove access area near white pine. Jefferson County has 1 public fishing pier listed in TWRA’s access database.

How many public boat ramps are in Jefferson County?

TWRA’s access database lists 11 boat launches in Jefferson County, plus 7 marinas. Most of them are on Douglas Lake. Every one is listed further up this page with its owner and lane count.

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

The main species across Jefferson County water are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, rock bass, striped bass, white bass, walleye and sauger. 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, but it is worth knowing before you drive to a tailwater elsewhere in the state.

What are the creel limits in Jefferson County?

Douglas Lake, from 1 June through 30 September only ONE black bass over 16 in may be kept. That seasonal rule is specific to Douglas and is exactly the kind of thing competing pages omit Cherokee Lake, smallmouth 1 per day at an 18 in minimum from 1 June to 15 October; paddlefish snagging permitted 1 through 15 April only, 1 per day; boat fishing closed near Cherokee Dam from 1 July to 15 September Always check the current TWRA guide before you keep anything, because water-specific exceptions change.

Where can I buy bait and tackle in Jefferson County?

Cherokee Bait & Tackle, Jefferson City. There is a fuller list on the Jefferson County gear page, including anywhere renting boats or kayaks and the nearest big-box store.

Where do locals fish in Jefferson County?

Mossy Creek in Jefferson City, a stocked trout creek in the middle of a small town, and the most underused fishing resource in the county. Leadvale Access on the French Broad above the lake. Nina and Spring Creek ramps on the upper Douglas arm.

The water itself

Lakes and rivers in Jefferson County

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

LakeDouglas Lake17 access points in Jefferson County, 21 in totalSee the spots →LakeCherokee Lake4 access points in Jefferson County, 47 in totalSee the spots →RiverFrench Broad River1 access point in Jefferson County, 13 in totalSee the spots →RiverHolston River1 access point in Jefferson County, 12 in totalSee the spots →

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

Conditions

Jefferson County lake levels and trout stocking

Lake conditionsCherokee Lake level todayTVA’s current reading and the Cherokee Dam generation schedule.Open →Lake conditionsDouglas Lake level todayTVA’s current reading and the Douglas Dam generation schedule.Open →TroutTrout stocking in Jefferson CountyTWRA stocks Mossy Creek (NEW), Cherokee TW / Holston 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 Jefferson County access list comes from

The 23 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson CityCherokee Lake, Douglas LakeSee the spots →24 access points within 30 milesFishing near DandridgeDouglas Lake, French Broad RiverSee the spots →

1 public fishing pier in Jefferson County, no boat needed.

Keep looking

Counties next to Jefferson

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

Next county overSevier CountyDouglas Lake, French Broad RiverSee the spots →Next county overHamblen CountyCherokee LakeSee the spots →Next county overCocke CountyFrench Broad River, Pigeon RiverSee the spots →Next county overGrainger CountyCherokee Lake, Norris LakeSee the spots →Next county overGreene CountyNolichucky RiverSee the spots →

Keep going

More Jefferson 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 water Licence and limits

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