95 Counties · 1,002 Public Access Points · 78 Lakes and RiversTennessee state record fish

Elizabethton · Carter County

Fishing Gear and Rental Near Elizabethton, TN

Bait, tackle, rental and licenses in and around Elizabethton.

What to bring

Tackle for 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

Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:

Buy it at the ramp

Marinas and bait near Elizabethton

Access points within reach of Elizabethton that TWRA records as carrying bait, rentals or marina services.

Before you cast

Buying a Tennessee fishing license in Elizabethton

Buy online at gooutdoorstennessee.com and the license is on your phone in a minute, nothing is mailed. Over the counter, the Carter County Clerk in Elizabethton sells them, and so do most Walmart stores and licensed agents around Elizabethton.

Carter County has trout water, and no base license covers trout. The $21 annual trout supplemental is the add-on, and the Sportsman licenses and every non-resident all-species license already include it.

Gear questions

Buying and renting gear near Elizabethton

Where can I buy a fishing license in Elizabethton?

County clerks, most Walmart stores and licensed agents in and around Elizabethton sell them over the counter, and gooutdoorstennessee.com sells them around the clock. The license is digital.

Can I rent a boat near Elizabethton?

Yes. Watauga Lakeshores Marina on Watauga Lake, about 7 miles from Elizabethton, is listed by TWRA as having rentals.

Is there a bait shop in 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.

Do I need a trout stamp to fish near Elizabethton?

Only if you are fishing for trout. The $33 resident combination hunt and fish license does not cover trout and neither do the cheap no-trout short-term options, those need the $21 annual trout supplemental. Sportsman licenses and every non-resident all-species license already include it.

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

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.