Oak Ridge · Anderson County

Fishing Near Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Q: Where can I buy bait near Oak Ridge?

No fly shop verified inside the county — the Clinch is mostly served by guide services and by shops in Knoxville. TWRA records bait "in proximity" (not onsite) at the Hwy 61 Bridge, Miller Island and Peach Orchard accesses, which points to convenience stores rather than a dedicated shop. Sequoyah Lodge & Marina and Stardust Marina (both Andersonville, Norris Lake) have fuel and marina stores. The Oak Ridge gear page has the rest, plus rental and licenses.

Fort Loudoun Lake, Watts Bar Lake, Melton Hill Lake. Every public launch and pier within about 30 minutes of Oak Ridge, and where to buy what you forgot on the way.

Find fishing spots157 public access points within 35 miles Find gear & bait9 bait and tackle shops within 40 miles

Closest first

Every public access within reach of Oak Ridge

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

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

Melton Hill Lake

Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CitySolway Ramp4 mi from Oak Ridge · Anderson Co.Oak Ridge Highway to Edgemoor Road, ramp on right1 ramp, 2 lanesDirections and detail →35.99560, -84.19280 Fee not listed2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CountyMelton Hill Park4 mi from Oak Ridge · Knox Co.3230 Williams Bend Rd, Knoxville, TN 379321 rampDirections and detail →35.95207, -84.23595 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · CityOak Ridge Marina5 mi from Oak Ridge · Anderson Co.Turn onto Melton Lake Drive from Edgemoor Road (170), turn right at Rowing Club1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.03380, -84.19300 Fee not listed2 out of 5facilitiesBoat LaunchHickory Creek Access8 mi from Oak Ridge · Knox Co.2118 Everett Rd, Knoxville, TN 379321 rampDirections and detail →35.89241, -84.25137 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVADismal Bluff11 mi from Oak Ridge · Anderson Co.HWY 25 to East Wolf Valley to Mountain View Road1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.09397, -84.09287

Watts Bar Lake

Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River

Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityClinton Lakefront Park10 mi from Oak Ridge · Anderson Co.Under Hwy 25W Bridge1 ramp, 2 lanesfishing pieraccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.09564, -84.13385

Clinch River

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAGallaher10 mi from Oak Ridge · Roane Co.Take Exit 356 of I-40. Go north on Hwy 58, right on Cultom Rd. Ramp at end1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.90720, -84.39420 Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · Private LandLewellyn Island Access11 mi from Oak Ridge · Anderson Co.Public Safety Lane off Hwy 61 in Clintonaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.12759, -84.12545 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CountyHighway 61 Bridge12 mi from Oak Ridge · Anderson Co.I-75 to SR 611 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.12355, -84.11375 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAPeach Orchard15 mi from Oak Ridge · Anderson Co.I-75 to SR 61 to Hillvale Raod to Peach Orchard Road1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.19088, -84.11958 Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAMiller Island SFA17 mi from Oak Ridge · Anderson Co.River Rd1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.20367, -84.09431 Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAMiller Island Access17 mi from Oak Ridge · Anderson Co.River Rd off US 4411 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.20424, -84.08831 Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityThe Landing17 mi from Oak Ridge · Roane Co.1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.86674, -84.52187

Fort Loudoun Lake

Tellico Lake

Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVATVA Canal Access Area16 mi from Oak Ridge · Loudon Co.1 ramp, 3 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →35.77900, -84.24860

Emory River

Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAKingston Steam Plant16 mi from Oak Ridge · Roane Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.89541, -84.52318

What to bring

What to bring fishing near Oak Ridge

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 checklist Crappie checklist Bluegill and Panfish checklist Fish Finders compared Trolling Motors compared Lithium Marine Batteries compared Shallow Water Anchors compared

Measured from town

Where to fish near Oak Ridge

The water within reach of Oak Ridge is Watts Bar Lake, Fort Loudoun Lake, Clinch River and 4 more.

Everything on this page is sorted by straight-line distance from Oak Ridge, not by which county it sits in. Several of the closest spots to Oak Ridge 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 Oak Ridge

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

Watts Bar LakeOpen the Watts Bar Lake page →ChristopherM / CC BY 2.5

Fort Loudoun LakeOpen the Fort Loudoun Lake page →George Green, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Public domain

Clinch RiverOpen the Clinch River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

Melton Hill LakeOpen the Melton Hill Lake page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domain

Tellico LakeOpen the Tellico Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

Emory RiverOpen the Emory River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

No boat

Bank fishing near Oak Ridge

5 public fishing piers within reach of Oak Ridge. No boat needed for any of them.

Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityClinton Lakefront ParkMelton Hill Lake/Clinch River · 10 mi from Oak RidgeUnder Hwy 25W Bridge1 ramp, 2 lanesfishing pieraccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.09564, -84.13385 Free5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVASwan PondWatts Bar Lake · 15 mi from Oak Ridge2 ramps, 2 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.91702, -84.50411 Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CountyCarl Cowan ParkFort Loudoun Lake · 15 mi from Oak RidgeDirectly off Northshore Drive1 ramp, 1 lanefishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →35.85060, -84.09650 Free5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVALenoir City Park RampFort Loudoun Lake · 15 mi from Oak Ridge1 ramp, 3 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →35.79759, -84.23306 Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityLadd LandingWatts Bar Lake · 15 mi from Oak Ridge4 ramps, More Than 3 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →35.88570, -84.49190

Shoreline access in Anderson County

Weir Dam site on the Clinch (TVA, fishing pier, restrooms, ADA); Clear Creek access (TVA, pier, ADA); Clinton Lakefront Park pier; Llewelyn Island access off Public Safety Lane in Clinton, known locally as “the jail” for the adjacent Anderson County Detention Facility, roughly a mile of public bank; about two miles of public bank immediately below Norris Dam; River Road near the town of Norris; Songbird Canoe Access (TVA, ADA); Norris Dam State Park shoreline.

What is in there

Fish and limits around Oak Ridge

Water around Oak Ridge holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, sunfish, striped bass, walleye, saugeye, muskellunge and brown trout.

Melton Hill, largemouth 14″ min; smallmouth 18″ min; striped bass 32–42″ protected range, only one over 42″; muskellunge 1/day at 50″ min with mandatory immediate release otherwise; crappie 15/day, 10″ min. Melton Hill restrictions extend up the Clinch to the Highway 61 bridge in Clinton. Norris, smallmouth 1/day at 18″ min June 1–Oct 15, then 5/day at 15″ min Oct 16–May 31; largemouth 14″ min; striped bass 15″ min Apr 1–Oct 31 and 1/day at 36″ min Nov 1–Mar 31; musky 1/day 36″ min; paddlefish 2/day, season Apr 24–May 31. Clinch tailwater, 14–20″ protected length range on all trout, seven-trout creel, only one over 20″, no bait restrictions. Clear Creek from Hwy 441 up to the second dam is closed to all fishing Nov 1–Mar 31, and possession of bait-harvesting gear there is prohibited. TDEC advises everyone against eating catfish from Melton Hill (PCBs).

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

Oak Ridge fishing weather and wind forecast

Thu, Oct 1 night

59°F

Mostly Clear

Wind 0 mph

0% chance of rain

Thu, Oct 1

87°F

Sunny

Wind SW 0 to 5 mph

0% chance of rain

Thu, Oct 1 night

65°F

Partly Cloudy

Wind 0 mph

0% chance of rain

Fri, Oct 2

87°F

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Wind SW 0 to 10 mph

53% chance of rain

Fri, Oct 2 night

67°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Wind N 0 to 5 mph

60% chance of rain

Sat, Oct 3

79°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Wind NE 0 to 5 mph

71% chance of rain

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

Sun and moon, Fri, Oct 9

Sunrise7:39 AMEDT

Sunset7:11 PMEDT

First light7:14 AMLast light 7:36 PM

Daylight11 hr 32 minSunrise to sunset

MoonWaning crescent3% lit. New moon in 2 days

9 public boat launches in Anderson County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

Questions people ask

Fishing near Oak Ridge: common questions

Where is the closest place to fish to Oak Ridge?

Solway Ramp on Melton Hill Lake, about 4 miles from Oak Ridge in Anderson County. It is a boat launch.

How many fishing spots are near Oak Ridge?

There are 40 public access points within about 30 miles of Oak Ridge, 31 of them boat launches, across 7 named waters.

Can I fish near Oak Ridge without a boat?

Yes. Clinton Lakefront Park on Melton Hill Lake/Clinch River has a fishing pier and is about 10 miles from Oak Ridge. There are 5 piers within range in total.

Do I need a license to fish near Oak Ridge?

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 Oak Ridge?

Watts Bar Lake carries the most public access within reach of Oak Ridge, followed by Fort Loudoun Lake. Which one fishes best depends entirely on the season and what you are after.

Where can I buy bait near Oak Ridge?

No fly shop verified inside the county, the Clinch is mostly served by guide services and by shops in Knoxville. TWRA records bait “in proximity” (not onsite) at the Hwy 61 Bridge, Miller Island and Peach Orchard accesses, which points to convenience stores rather than a dedicated shop. Sequoyah Lodge & Marina and Stardust Marina (both Andersonville, Norris Lake) have fuel and marina stores. The Oak Ridge gear page has the rest, plus rental and licenses.

What fish can you catch near Oak Ridge?

Mainly largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, sunfish, striped bass, walleye, saugeye, muskellunge and brown trout.

Towns near here

Towns near Oak Ridge

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

11 miles from Oak Ridge · Knox CountyFishing near FarragutFort Loudoun Lake, Melton Hill LakeSee the spots →16 miles from Oak Ridge · Roane CountyFishing near KingstonWatts Bar Lake, Clinch RiverSee the spots →17 miles from Oak Ridge · Roane CountyFishing near HarrimanWatts Bar Lake, Emory RiverSee the spots →20 miles from Oak Ridge · Knox CountyFishing near KnoxvilleFort Loudoun Lake, French Broad RiverSee the spots →24 miles from Oak Ridge · Blount CountyFishing near MaryvilleFort Loudoun Lake, Little RiverSee the spots →

Oak Ridge water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, sunfish.

Wider net

Anderson County beyond Oak Ridge

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

Fishing in Anderson County

With a guide

Fishing near Oak Ridge with a guide

Local captains who run the water near Oak Ridge are listed on the guides page with their own phone numbers. You call and book with them directly.

Tennessee guides by water

Keep going

More Oak Ridge 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 water Licence and limits