What to bring
Tackle for Rutherford 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
Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:
Closest first
Bait and tackle shops in and near Rutherford County
The nearest bait, tackle and marina stores to Rutherford County’s water, each with its own page, directions and phone number.
Walmart SupercenterOpen late, sells licences at the counter, and carries terminal tackle and line.Directions and phone →Starkey’s Bait & TackleLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →Finn’s Tackle ShopLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →Academy Sports + OutdoorsChain sporting goods. Rods, reels, line, terminal tackle and a licence counter.Directions and phone →Fly SouthFly shop and outfitter. Flies, leader, licences and local water advice.Directions and phone →Cumberland TransitTackle and bait for Davidson County water. Call ahead out of season, winter hours are short.Directions and phone →Poindexter Bait ShopLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →Walmart SupercenterOpen late, sells licences at the counter, and carries terminal tackle and line.Directions and phone →Center Hill MarinaMarina store. Fuel, ice, terminal tackle and live bait when the lake is running.Directions and phone →
Buy it at the ramp
Marinas and bait at the water in Rutherford County
Access points in Rutherford County that TWRA records as carrying bait, rentals or marina services. Buying where you launch is the cheapest way to avoid a wasted trip.
What it looks like
What Rutherford County water looks like
The lakes and rivers you are buying gear for.
J. Percy Priest LakeOpen the J. Percy Priest Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
West Fork Stones RiverOpen the West Fork Stones River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
East Fork Stones RiverOpen the East Fork Stones River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Center Hill LakeOpen the Center Hill Lake page →Tyler White / Public domain
Old Hickory LakeOpen the Old Hickory Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Cumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not s / Public domain11 public boat launches in Rutherford County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.