What to bring
Tackle for Union 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 Union County
The nearest bait, tackle and marina stores to Union County’s water, each with its own page, directions and phone number.
Beach Island Resort & MarinaMarina store. Fuel, ice, terminal tackle and live bait when the lake is running.Directions and phone →Buffalo Creek Outdoor EtcSporting goods. Rods, reels, line and a licence counter.Directions and phone →Gilmore Boat DockLakeside operation with a dock store, bait and often boat rental.Directions and phone →Greenlee Campground & MarineTackle and bait for Grainger County water. Call ahead out of season, winter hours are short.Directions and phone →Greenlee of May SpringsTackle and bait for Grainger County water. Call ahead out of season, winter hours are short.Directions and phone →Wa-Ni Village ResortLakeside operation with a dock store, bait and often boat rental.Directions and phone →Walmart SupercenterOpen late, sells licences at the counter, and carries terminal tackle and line.Directions and phone →Cherokee Bait & TackleLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →Mobile Bait StoreLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →
Buy it at the ramp
Marinas and bait at the water in Union County
Access points in Union 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 5facilitiesBeach Island MarinaNorris Lake1/2 mile South of HWY 33 Bridge1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.32880, -83.75290Launch fee3.5 out of 5facilitiesBlue Springs DockNorris LakeHWY 63 to Speedwell, take Straight Branch Rd to Blue Springs Rd1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.40367, -83.87920Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesHickory Star MarinaNorris LakeHWY 33 to Hickory Star Rd in Maynardville1 ramp, 3 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.26430, -83.88280Free3 out of 5facilitiesLakeview DockNorris LakeHWY 33 to Sharpes Chapel Road to Lakeview Roadrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.33870, -83.78250Launch fee3.5 out of 5facilitiesUnion County DockNorris LakeHWY 63 to Speedwell, Turn on Straight Branch Rd1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.40560, -83.84370
What it looks like
What Union County water looks like
The lakes and rivers you are buying gear for.
Norris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Cherokee LakeOpen the Cherokee Lake page →TVA Web Team / CC BY 2.0
Watauga LakeOpen the Watauga Lake page →Mark Larson from Atlanta, GA / CC BY-SA 2.0
French Broad RiverOpen the French Broad River page →Pollinator at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Hiwassee RiverOpen the Hiwassee River page →ChristopherM at English Wikipedia / CC BY 2.57 public boat launches in Union County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.