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Elizabethton · Carter County

Fishing Near Elizabethton, Tennessee

Watauga River, Watauga Lake, Boone Lake. Every public launch and pier within about 30 minutes of Elizabethton, and where to buy what you forgot on the way.

Find fishing spots59 public access points within 35 milesFind gear & bait6 bait and tackle shops within 40 miles

Closest first

Every public access within reach of Elizabethton

From TWRA’s own access database, with a directions link on each one. Distances are straight-line from Elizabethton, so the drive is always a bit longer.

Tap a pin for the spot page and directions. Open the full Tennessee fishing map.

Watauga River

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · CityCherokee City Park0 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.restroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.35500, -82.20650Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityLovers Lane Access1 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.335 Lovers Ln, Elizabethton, TN1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.35651, -82.22340Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TDECSycamore Shoals State Park2 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.accessible parkingDirections and detail →36.34447, -82.25122Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAHunter Bridge3 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.1699 Broad St, Elizabethton, TN 376431 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.36789, -82.16873Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRABlevins Bend4 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.210 Blevins Rd, Johnson City, TN 376011 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.33402, -82.27062Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAWilbur Dam Access5 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.34104, -82.12702Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAWagner Rd5 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.100 Wagner Rd, Watauga, TN 376941 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.36967, -82.29790

Watauga Lake

Fee not listed1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TDECWatauga Bluffs5 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.canoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.36500, -82.29800Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAWatauga Dam Access6 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.32104, -82.11715Launch fee5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USFSRat Branch (Bay View)6 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.1 ramp, 2 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.30486, -82.11890Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaWatauga Lakeshores Marina7 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.31250, -82.09850Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaFish Springs Marina8 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.Directions and detail →36.32061, -82.06500Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAButler Ramp10 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.35499, -82.02841Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USFSSink Mountain Access.13 mi from Elizabethton · Johnson Co.1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.35875, -81.97006

Wilbur Reservoir

Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAWilbur Reservoir Boat Ramp5 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.33747, -82.12155

Doe River

Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · CountyGreen River Landing5 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.Directions and detail →36.27769, -82.17816Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · CountyHappy Trails Access11 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.Directions and detail →36.20663, -82.10493Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TDECRoan Mountain State Park14 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.I-26 to US 321 to US 19E to Hwy. 143restroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.17768, -82.07934

South Fork Holston River

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAJ. Forrest Thomas Access Area8 mi from Elizabethton · Sullivan Co.1315 Dry Branch Rd, Bluff City, TN 376181 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.46362, -82.22448Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityBluff City Park9 mi from Elizabethton · Sullivan Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.47616, -82.26406Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRABig Springs Access11 mi from Elizabethton · Sullivan Co.Big Springs Rd, Bluff City, TN1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.49750, -82.16165Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVATVA Walk-in Access12 mi from Elizabethton · Sullivan Co.US 421 to Hwy. 44 to River Bend RoadDirections and detail →36.51067, -82.11471Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVAOsceola Island13 mi from Elizabethton · Sullivan Co.US 421 to Emmett Road to Holston View Dam Roadrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.52371, -82.10981Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAEmmett Bridge Access13 mi from Elizabethton · Sullivan Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.52734, -82.11313Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVASouth Holston Dam14 mi from Elizabethton · Sullivan Co.US 421 to Emmett Road to Holston View Dam RoadDirections and detail →36.52211, -82.09774

Boone Lake

Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAHwy 11E (New Devault Bridge)9 mi from Elizabethton · Washington Co.Hwy 11E/Bristol Hwy, Johnson City, TN1 ramp, 2 lanesaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.39264, -82.35672Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesTVAKnob Creek9 mi from Elizabethton · Washington Co.Directions and detail →36.38400, -82.36100Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityWinged Deer Park9 mi from Elizabethton · Washington Co.Directions and detail →36.39595, -82.36336Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAPickens Bridge10 mi from Elizabethton · Washington Co.Pickens Bridge Rd, Johnson City, TN1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.41900, -82.37516Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVARainbow Bridge10 mi from Elizabethton · Sullivan Co.Enterprise Rd, Piney Flats, TNDirections and detail →36.47405, -82.31667Fee not listed3.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · OtherJay’s Boat Dock11 mi from Elizabethton · Washington Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →36.41709, -82.38088Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaBoone Lake Marina11 mi from Elizabethton · Sullivan Co.From State HWY 11E in Piney Flats, right onto Allison Rd, straight to Warren Rd, left on Sportsman Dog Road1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.46294, -82.35190Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaDavis Marina12 mi from Elizabethton · Sullivan Co.From Johnson City, take Blountville exit, right on Thomas Bridge Rd, right on Buffalo Rd, marina on left1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsDirections and detail →36.49010, -82.32040Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVASugar Hollow Access12 mi from Elizabethton · Washington Co.2711 Devault Bridge Rd, Piney Flats TN, 376861 rampDirections and detail →36.46619, -82.35749Fee not listed2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVADevault Bridge12 mi from Elizabethton · Sullivan Co.2653 Devault Bridge Rd, Piney Flats, TN1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.46371, -82.36062Fee not listed2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAAirport Ramp13 mi from Elizabethton · Sullivan Co.Hamilton Rd, Piney Flats, TN1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.47070, -82.39623Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaLakeview Marina13 mi from Elizabethton · Sullivan Co.Directions and detail →36.45335, -82.41424Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVABoone Dam14 mi from Elizabethton · Sullivan Co.3 ramps, 3 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →36.44746, -82.42803

Watagua

Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USFSLittle Milligan12 mi from Elizabethton · Carter Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.32490, -82.00211

Doe Creek

Free1 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TWRADoe Creek Access14 mi from Elizabethton · Johnson Co.Hwy 67 to Hwy 167Directions and detail →36.38279, -81.95721

What to bring

What to bring fishing near Elizabethton

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 checklistWalleye and Sauger checklistTrout checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

Measured from town

Where to fish near Elizabethton

The water within reach of Elizabethton is Boone Lake, Watauga River, Watauga Lake and 5 more.

Everything on this page is sorted by straight-line distance from Elizabethton, not by which county it sits in. Several of the closest spots to Elizabethton are across a county line, which is exactly the kind of thing a county-by-county list hides.

What it looks like

The water around Elizabethton

Photographs of the lakes and rivers on this page. Drag or swipe for more. Every picture opens that water’s own page.

Boone Lake, TennesseeBoone LakeOpen the Boone Lake page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domainWatauga River, TennesseeWatauga RiverOpen the Watauga River page →Ken Thomas / Public domainWatauga Lake, TennesseeWatauga LakeOpen the Watauga Lake page →Mark Larson from Atlanta, GA / CC BY-SA 2.0Holston River, TennesseeSouth Fork Holston RiverOpen the South Fork Holston River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Boone Lake, TennesseeBoone LakeOpen the Boone Lake page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domainWatauga River, TennesseeWatauga RiverOpen the Watauga River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

No boat

Bank fishing near Elizabethton

2 public fishing piers within reach of Elizabethton. No boat needed for any of them.

Launch fee5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USFSRat Branch (Bay View)Watauga Lake · 6 mi from Elizabethton1 ramp, 2 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.30486, -82.11890Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaBoone Lake MarinaBoone Lake · 11 mi from ElizabethtonFrom State HWY 11E in Piney Flats, right onto Allison Rd, straight to Warren Rd, left on Sportsman Dog Road1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.46294, -82.35190

Shoreline access in Carter County

Blevins Bend on Blevins Rd, a concrete wheelchair-accessible fishing ramp, the first of its kind on the Watauga; Rat Branch’s handicapped-accessible fishing pier on Watauga Lake; Cherokee City Park in Elizabethton (restrooms, ADA); Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area on the Watauga; Roan Mountain State Park along the upper Doe; Green River Landing and Happy Trails on the Doe (county-owned); Watauga Bluffs; Wilbur Lake’s two picnic areas, the upper one with a covered shelter and restrooms; the many stocked roadside bridges on Stoney Creek and Laurel Fork.

What is in there

Fish and limits around Elizabethton

Water around Elizabethton holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, rainbow trout, brown trout and lake trout.

Watauga Reservoir, largemouth 12″ min; smallmouth 15″ min; walleye 5/day, 18″ min; trout 7/day with only two lake trout. A walleye-run regulation restricts anglers to one hook from January 1 through April 30 on sections of the Elk River, Doe Creek, Roan Creek and the Watauga River. Watauga River, a Quality Trout Fishing Area runs from Smallings bridge downstream to the CSX railroad bridges: 14″ minimum, two-trout creel, artificial lures only, bait prohibited; stocked March through December. Elsewhere on the tailwater the standard seven-trout creel applies. Doe River, Stoney Creek and Laurel Fork are spring-stocked under statewide trout rules with no delayed-harvest season and no daily permit required.

From TWRA’s statewide creel and length limits, last updated 4 August 2026. Water-specific exceptions change, so check the current guide before keeping a fish.

Weather

Elizabethton fishing weather and wind forecast

Thu, Oct 1 night

57°F

Mostly Clear

Wind E 5 mph

0% chance of rain

Thu, Oct 1

88°F

Sunny

Wind NW 0 to 5 mph

0% chance of rain

Thu, Oct 1 night

62°F

Mostly Clear

Wind SE 0 to 5 mph

0% chance of rain

Fri, Oct 2

88°F

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Wind SW 0 to 10 mph

27% chance of rain

Fri, Oct 2 night

65°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Wind NW 0 to 5 mph

61% chance of rain

Sat, Oct 3

79°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

Wind 0 mph

91% chance of rain

National Weather Service forecast, updated 1:06 AM, Thu, Oct 1.

Sun and moon, Fri, Oct 9

Sunrise7:31 AMEDT
Sunset7:02 PMEDT
First light7:05 AMLast light 7:28 PM
Daylight11 hr 31 minSunrise to sunset
MoonWaning crescent3% lit. New moon in 2 days

10 public boat launches in Carter County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

Questions people ask

Fishing near Elizabethton: common questions

Where is the closest place to fish to Elizabethton?

Cherokee City Park on Watauga River, right in Elizabethton, Carter County. It is a fishing site.

How many fishing spots are near Elizabethton?

There are 40 public access points within about 30 miles of Elizabethton, 23 of them boat launches, across 8 named waters.

Can I fish near Elizabethton without a boat?

Yes. Rat Branch (Bay View) on Watauga Lake has a fishing pier and is about 6 miles from Elizabethton. There are 2 piers within range in total.

Do I need a license to fish near Elizabethton?

Yes, anyone 13 and over. 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 sells no non-resident one-day license. Note the $33 combination license does not cover trout, that needs the $21 supplemental.

What is the best lake near Elizabethton?

Boone Lake carries the most public access within reach of Elizabethton, followed by Watauga River. Which one fishes best depends entirely on the season and what you are after.

Where can I buy bait near Elizabethton?

Appalachian Outpost, 1432 Broad Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643, (423) 833-1338, appalachianoutposttn.com. Full fly shop with roughly three thousand fly patterns, rods, reels, waders, licences, casting lessons and a 100-ft casting pond. The Elizabethton gear page has the rest, plus rental and licenses.

What fish can you catch near Elizabethton?

Mainly largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, rainbow trout, brown trout and lake trout.

Towns near here

Towns near Elizabethton

The nearest towns to Elizabethton with pages of their own. If nothing near Elizabethton suits, one of these usually does.

8 miles from Elizabethton · Washington CountyFishing near Johnson CityBoone Lake, Watauga RiverSee the spots →17 miles from Elizabethton · Sullivan CountyFishing near BristolBoone Lake, South Fork Holston RiverSee the spots →24 miles from Elizabethton · Sullivan CountyFishing near KingsportBoone Lake, South Fork Holston RiverSee the spots →37 miles from Elizabethton · Greene CountyFishing near GreenevilleNolichucky River, Holston RiverSee the spots →61 miles from Elizabethton · Cocke CountyFishing near NewportDouglas Lake, French Broad RiverSee the spots →

Elizabethton water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, rainbow trout.

Wider net

Carter County beyond Elizabethton

Elizabethton is one town in Carter County. The county page covers every water inside the county line, including the ones nowhere near Elizabethton.

Fishing in Carter County

Keep going

More Elizabethton 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