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West Tennessee · County seat Memphis

Fishing in Shelby County, Tennessee

Mississippi River, Wolf River, McKellar Lake. Where to launch, where to fish from the bank, and where to buy what you forgot.

Find fishing spots5 public access pointsFind gear & baitBait shops, tackle, rentals, licences

Every public access point

Fishing access in Shelby County

5 public access points in Shelby County: 2 boat launches, 1 paddling access and 2 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.

Mississippi River 4 in Shelby County

Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRA/State ParkMeeman ShelbyHWY 51 N to N. Watkins Rd to Benyrstown, Left on Benyrstown, Right at Central Store, follow signs to River1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.32650, -90.09400Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityMemphis Yacht ClubI-240 North to Auction St, West on Auction St to River, South to Yacht Club2 ramps, >3 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.15000, -90.05720Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaMud Island MarinaI-240 North to Auction St, West to River then North to boat ramp1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.14860, -90.05760Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · City / MarinaRiverside Park MarinaI-55 North to Mallory Exit, enter Martin Luther King Park and follow signs1 ramp, >3 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →35.09670, -90.08280

Wolf River 1 in Shelby County

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · City / CountyShelby FarmsExit Walnut Grove Rd East Bound, go under bridge at Wolf River1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.13295, -89.85435

What to bring

What to bring fishing in Shelby 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:

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

Shelby County at a glance

Shelby County boat ramps and fishing access

Shelby County has 5 public fishing access points: 2 boat ramps, 2 marinas and 1 kayak launch, on 2 lakes, rivers and creeks.

2boat ramps
2marinas
1kayak launches
2lakes, rivers and creeks

The big water in Shelby

Main fishing waters in Shelby County

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

free-flowing river · forms the entire western county boundary · US Army Corps of Engineers…

Mississippi River

The lowest point in Tennessee is on this river in Shelby County. It is a big, dangerous, commercially-trafficked river fished mainly for catfish, with blue cats over 100 pounds documented; the productive water is in the sloughs, chutes and dike fields rather than the main channel.

blue catfishflathead and channel catfishcrappielargemouth bass
free-flowing river · 105 mi · TWRA; Wolf River Conservancy stewardship

Wolf River

Runs from Baker’s Pond in Mississippi through the eastern suburbs to the Mississippi River at downtown Memphis. Designated an American Heritage River in 1997. The suburban reach above Germantown fishes far better than the channelised urban section near the mouth.

largemouth basscrappiecatfishbream
Mississippi River slough · not verified · City of Memphis / Port of Memphis

McKellar Lake

A natural Mississippi River slough at Presidents Island, minutes from downtown, reached from the Martin Luther King Jr. Riverside Park boat ramp. It sits inside an industrial port area and carries a water quality history, so catch-and-release is commonly advised.

catfishcrappielargemouthbream
urban park lakes · 20+ lakes and ponds · Shelby Farms Park Conservancy

Shelby Farms Park lakes

One of the largest urban parks in the United States, with more fishable still water inside a city than anywhere else in Tennessee.

largemouth basscrappiebreamcatfish

What it looks like

Shelby County water

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

Mississippi River, TennesseeMississippi RiverOpen the Mississippi River page →Ceptember / CC BY-SA 4.0Wolf River, TennesseeWolf RiverOpen the Wolf River page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Public domainReelfoot Lake, TennesseeReelfoot LakeOpen the Reelfoot Lake page →User:JeremyA / CC BY-SA 2.5Pickwick Lake, TennesseePickwick LakeOpen the Pickwick Lake page →Kbh3rd / CC BY-SA 3.0Obion River, TennesseeObion RiverOpen the Obion River page →David.k.hochreiter / CC BY-SA 3.0Forked Deer River, TennesseeForked Deer RiverOpen the Forked Deer River page →Malepheasant at en.wikipedia / Public domain

No boat, or your own boat

Bank fishing and launching in Shelby County

Fishing from the bank in Shelby County

Shelby Farms is the answer for most people, designated shore fishing areas on the southern side of Hyde Lake, plus fishing piers at Beaver Lake and Pine Lake, and paved path access at Patriot Lake. Poplar Tree Lake’s fishing dock at Meeman-Shelby. Cameron Brown Park in Germantown. Martin Luther King Jr. Riverside Park on McKellar Lake.

Tom Lee Park and the downtown riverfront on the Mississippi. Mud Island at the Wolf River mouth. Edmund Orgill Park.

Getting a boat on the water in Shelby County

Shelby Farms permits non-motorised boats, canoes and kayaks on all its lakes, with easiest launching at Hyde, Pine, Beaver and Chickasaw in that order; every boat including canoes and kayaks must carry one wearable PFD per person, and anyone 12 or under must wear one. Meeman-Shelby rents boats at Poplar Tree Lake.

The McKellar Lake ramp at MLK Riverside Park has historically charged a launch fee. The Mississippi River is navigable big water demanding real river experience, barge traffic, wing dams and strong current.

The Wolf River is the county’s paddling asset, with a canoe and kayak launch at Houston Levee Road and a run down to Walnut Grove; the Ghost River section is a marked paddling trail and should not be attempted without the markers.

Two different trips

Visiting Shelby County versus fishing it like a local

Where visitors get pointed in Shelby County

Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid on the downtown riverfront, which is a destination in its own right; Mud Island River Park; Tom Lee Park and Big River Crossing; Shelby Farms Park; Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park; T. O. Fuller State Park and the Chucalissa Indian Village National Historic Landmark; the Wolf River Greenway; Lichterman Nature Center; Memphis Zoo and Botanic Garden.

Where Shelby County locals actually go

Catch ‘Em Lake at Shelby Farms, a stocked bluegill pond set up for novices that most adults walk straight past. Jones Pond at Shelby Farms for stocked trout in December and January, which is genuinely unexpected in Memphis.

The southern Shelby Farms lakes nearest the Wolf River, which Bill Dance has pointed to specifically. Casper Lake, which has a real bass regulation attached to it and therefore real bass.

The Ghost River section of the Wolf at the Fayette line. The Loosahatchie’s few remaining unchannelised segments. Edmund Orgill Park at Millington for winter trout. Presidents Island WMA.

Rules and record fish

Limits and records for Shelby County water

Creel and length limits in Shelby County

Mississippi River, including adjacent sloughs, bayous, river runs and chutes accessible by boat, black bass 10 per day with no length limit; sunfish and bream 50 per day; catfish no creel limit with only one fish over 34 inches per day; crappie 50 per day with no length limit; striped and hybrid striped bass 6 per day; sauger 6 per day; white bass 30 per day. These are dramatically more liberal than statewide limits and are worth a dedicated section on a Memphis page.

Wolf and Loosahatchie rivers, including tributaries, grouped in regulation with the Forked Deer, Hatchie and Obion, crappie 30 per day with no length limit. Casper Lake (Shelby County), largemouth bass 2 per day with a 16-inch minimum.

Cameron Brown Park Pond, Germantown, on the Community Fishing Program, catfish 5 per day no size limit; bluegill and redear 20 per day combined; black bass 1 per day no size limit; crappie 30 per day no size limit; trout 5 per day no size limit. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, Poplar Tree Lake, largemouth bass 10 per day with an 18-inch MAXIMUM size limit, only one fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested; bluegill and redear 20 per day combined.

Shelby Farms Park, Tennessee fishing rules and regulations apply on all lakes and TWRA enforces licence regulations; a valid Tennessee licence is required for anglers 13 and older. McKellar Lake carries a water quality history and catch-and-release is commonly advised rather than formally required.

State record fish from Shelby County water

Class B black buffalo, 80 lb, taken on a trotline, Robco Lake, Shelby County, Hiluard J. DeLoach, 1 April 1980, the only record I found credited explicitly to a Shelby County water.

The state record white bass (5 lb 10 oz, Mississippi River, Bill Nelson, 29 September 2003) and the Class B flathead catfish (92 lb, commercial gear, Mississippi River, 30 November 2000) are credited to the Mississippi River without a county, so do not claim either for Shelby.

2 public boat launches in Shelby County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

Questions people actually ask

Shelby County fishing questions

Where can I fish from the bank in Shelby County?

Shelby Farms is the answer for most people, designated shore fishing areas on the southern side of Hyde Lake, plus fishing piers at Beaver Lake and Pine Lake, and paved path access at Patriot Lake. Poplar Tree Lake’s fishing dock at Meeman-Shelby. Cameron Brown Park in Germantown. Martin Luther King Jr. Riverside Park on McKellar Lake. Tom Lee Park and the downtown riverfront on the Mississippi. Mud Island at the Wolf River mouth. Edmund Orgill Park.

How many public boat ramps are in Shelby County?

TWRA’s access database lists 2 boat launches in Shelby County, plus 2 marinas. Most of them are on Mississippi River. Every one is listed further up this page with its owner and lane count.

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

The main species across Shelby County water are largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, white bass, sauger, blue catfish, trout, bowfin and buffalo. 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 Shelby 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 Shelby County, because there is trout water here.

What are the creel limits in Shelby County?

Mississippi River, including adjacent sloughs, bayous, river runs and chutes accessible by boat, black bass 10 per day with no length limit; sunfish and bream 50 per day; catfish no creel limit with only one fish over 34 inches per day; crappie 50 per day with no length limit; striped and hybrid striped bass 6 per day; sauger 6 per day; white bass 30 per day. These are dramatically more liberal than statewide limits and are worth a dedicated section on a Memphis page Wolf and Loosahatchie rivers, including tributaries, grouped in regulation with the Forked Deer, Hatchie and Obion, crappie 30 per day with no le Always check the current TWRA guide before you keep anything, because water-specific exceptions change.

Where can I buy bait and tackle in Shelby County?

Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid, 1 Bass Pro Drive, Memphis, a full-scale outdoor retailer inside the converted Memphis Pyramid on the riverfront, and the single most useful gear reference for this county and for much of West Tennessee. Academy Sports and Outdoors operates multiple Memphis-area locations. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park rents boats and canoes at Poplar Tree Lake. Shelby Farms Park offers paddlecraft rental on Hyde Lake.. There is a fuller list on the Shelby County gear page, including anywhere renting boats or kayaks and the nearest big-box store.

Where do locals fish in Shelby County?

Catch ‘Em Lake at Shelby Farms, a stocked bluegill pond set up for novices that most adults walk straight past. Jones Pond at Shelby Farms for stocked trout in December and January, which is genuinely unexpected in Memphis. The southern Shelby Farms lakes nearest the Wolf River, which Bill Dance has pointed to specifically. Casper Lake, which has a real bass regulation attached to it and therefore real bass. The Ghost River section of the Wolf at the Fayette line. The Loosahatchie’s few remaining unchannelised segments. Edmund Orgill Park at Millington for winter trout. Presidents Island WMA.

The water itself

Lakes and rivers in Shelby County

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

RiverMississippi River4 access points in Shelby County, 6 in totalSee the spots →RiverWolf River1 access point in Shelby County, 4 in totalSee the spots →

Shelby County water holds largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, white bass.

Conditions

Shelby County river levels and trout stocking

River levelsWolf River level todayUSGS flow, gauge height and the seven-day trend.Open →River levelsMississippi River level todayUSGS flow, gauge height and the seven-day trend.Open →TroutTrout stocking in Shelby CountyTWRA stocks Cameron Brown Lake, Edmund-Orgill Park, Johnson Park Lake and 2 more. 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 Shelby County access list comes from

The 5 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 Shelby County

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

8 access points within 30 milesFishing near MemphisMississippi River, Wolf RiverSee the spots →9 access points within 30 milesFishing near ColliervilleWolf River, Mississippi RiverSee the spots →10 access points within 30 milesFishing near BartlettMississippi River, Wolf RiverSee the spots →10 access points within 30 milesFishing near GermantownWolf River, Mississippi RiverSee the spots →10 access points within 30 milesFishing near MillingtonMississippi River, Wolf RiverSee the spots →

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

Keep looking

Counties next to Shelby

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

Next county overTipton CountyGlen Springs Lake, Hatchie RiverSee the spots →Next county overFayette CountyWolf River, Herb Parsons LakeSee the spots →Next county overLauderdale CountyCold CreekSee the spots →Next county overHaywood CountyHatchie River, South Fork Forked Deer RiverSee the spots →Next county overHardeman CountyHatchie River, Whiteville LakeSee the spots →

Keep going

More Shelby 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 Shelby County right now: Shelby County conditions.