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Boat Launch · Smith County

Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp, Caney Fork River

1 ramp, 1 lane, canoe / kayak landing. 2 miles from Carthage.

Get driving directionsAll Smith County spots

With a guide

Guides and charters near Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp

Captains who run Nashville lakes and the Cumberland, with their own phone numbers. You call and book with them directly.

Billy Flatt · Nashville

Nashville Fishing Charters

Stripers, hybrids, crappie, largemouth, smallmouthCall 615-812-2091nashvillefishingcharters.com

Capt. Brian and two guides · Nashville

Fish Nashville

Striper, hybrid, catfish, crappie, bass, troutCall 615-200-0618fishnashville.com

Mark Travis · Nashville area

Crappie Guide Service

White and black crappieCall 615-542-9800crappieguideservice.com

All 6 guides on Nashville lakes and the Cumberland

What to bring

Tackle for Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp

Three picks from the trout 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 Elite ultralight spinning rod, 6 ftCasts a 1/16 oz spinner and protects 4 lb line.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
ReelPflueger President 20 spinning reelSmall, smooth drag for light line.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
SpinnerPanther Martin spinner, 1/8 ozThe tailwater standard. Gold blade in stained water, silver in clear.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
Full trout checklist (11 items)All gear checklists

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

Trout Waders comparedHard Coolers compared

How to get there

Getting to Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp

Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp is a public boat launch on Caney Fork River in Smith County, Tennessee, run by the county.

located on Hwy 53 at Smith Co. Agricultural Complex in South Carthage, TN

Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp is 2.1 miles south of Carthage, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is South Carthage Boat Ramp on Cumberland River, 1.3 miles to the north. For bait, Center Hill Marina in Lancaster is about 8 miles away.

Coordinates 36.22419, -85.94280

Open in Google MapsSee nearby spots on the mapFishing near Carthage
Aerial view of Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp
Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp

Free to launch 2.5 out of 5 Facilities 2.5 of 5, scored from what TWRA records: ramp, docks, pier, restrooms, parking, lighting and hours.

Everything below comes from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s own public access record for Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp. It is the same data the state uses, not a guess from a photograph.

Boat ramp

You can launch a trailered boat here. 1 lane.

Canoe and kayak

A landing shallow enough to carry a paddle craft in and out.

Open 24 hours

TWRA records round the clock access, so early starts are fine.

Not recorded here: fishing pier, restrooms, camping. Worth knowing before a long drive with the family.

What you can catch

Fish you can catch at Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp

Caney Fork River holds these, according to the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes.

trout

Runs out of DeKalb County into Smith County and meets the Cumberland at Carthage. Known as a midge factory and fished with zebra midges, dry-dropper rigs in low water and terrestrials in season.

The river can rise several feet in minutes once generation begins, which is the most important safety fact about it.

Everything on Caney Fork RiverFind a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp

What you can keep from Caney Fork River at Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp. TWRA sets 4 rules just for Caney Fork River. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Trout5 combinedSee species limitsTailwater: Center Hill Dam to the Cumberland River, including tributaries
Rainbow trout514–20 in protected slot, one over 20 inTailwater: Center Hill Dam to the Cumberland River. Same slot applies to brook and cutthroat trout
Brown trout124 in minimumTailwater: Center Hill Dam to the Cumberland River
Muskellunge150 in minimumAbove Center Hill Dam, including Collins, Calfkiller and Rocky rivers, Cane Creek and tributaries

Other rules on Caney Fork River

  • Walleye run rule Jan 1–Apr 30, Rock Island State Park boat ramp upstream to Great Falls Dam: one single-point hook or one lure with a single-point hook, max 3 rods or poles.

From the 2026–27 Tennessee Fishing Guide (TWRA), in effect 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027, checked 25 September 2026. Rules change, so check the guide before you keep a fish.

Statewide limits and licenses

12 public boat launches in Smith County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Caney Fork River around Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp

What the water at Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp actually looks like. Drag or swipe through. Every picture opens that water’s own page.

Caney Fork River, TennesseeCaney Fork RiverOpen the Caney Fork River page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not s / Public domainCordell Hull Lake, TennesseeCordell Hull LakeOpen the Cordell Hull Lake page →United States Army Corps of Engineers image / Public domainCumberland River, TennesseeCumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not s / Public domainCaney Fork River, TennesseeCaney Fork RiverOpen the Caney Fork River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Cumberland River, TennesseeCumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Caney Fork River, TennesseeCaney Fork RiverOpen the Caney Fork River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

Next one along

More Caney Fork River access near Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp

The closest other public access points on Caney Fork River, measured straight line from Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAStonewall Boat Ramp3.4 miles south-eastExit I-40 at HWY 53 through Gordonsville to HWY 2641 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.18504, -85.90655Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · OtherKirby Lane Access7.0 miles south-eastDirections and detail →36.14673, -85.86317Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRABetty’s Island Boat Ramp7.8 miles south-east1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.14760, -85.83970Free2 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TDOTI-40 Welcome Center Access9.5 miles south-eastWelcome Center at mile 267 on I-40restroomsDirections and detail →36.14179, -85.80638Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAHappy Hollow9.9 miles south-east1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.13150, -85.80710Free3 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACECenter Hill Tailwater Fishing Pier10 miles south-eastfishing pierrestroomsDirections and detail →36.10337, -85.83583
All 10 access points on Caney Fork River

Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp water holds largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, striped bass.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp, including Cumberland River, Old Hickory Lake and Cordell Hull Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on Caney Fork River or the ramp is busy.

Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACESouth Carthage Boat RampCumberland River · 1.3 miles north1/4 mile west of bridge on Hwy 25 W (Carthage bypass)1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →36.24317, -85.94558Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACECordell Hull Dam Lock Side River Boat RampCumberland River · 3.8 miles northLocated at the end of Horseshoe Bend Rd. off Hwy 70 at lock side of Cordell Hull Dam.1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsDirections and detail →36.27948, -85.93917Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACECordell Hull Dam Generator Side Boat RampCumberland River · 4.0 miles northTurn off Dixon Springs Hwy onto Hwy 263 Turkey Creek Hwy. Then turn onto Corps Lane, ramp is located behind playground on the right.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →36.28236, -85.93692Fee not listed3 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACECordell Hull Dam Access AreaCumberland River · 4.4 miles northfishing pierrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.28789, -85.94260Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesFishing SiteOld Hickory Lake Fishing AccessOld Hickory Lake · 4.5 miles northDirections and detail →36.28966, -85.94077Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEHorseshoe Bend RampCordell Hull Lake · 5.0 miles north1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.29630, -85.94330

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp

The closest shops to Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp that this site has checked. Center Hill Marina in Lancaster is nearest, about 8 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Lancaster · about 8 milesCenter Hill MarinaMarina store. Fuel, ice, terminal tackle and live bait when the lake is running.Directions and phone →Granville · about 8 milesWildwood Resort and MarinaMarina store. Fuel, ice, terminal tackle and live bait when the lake is running.Directions and phone →Hartsville · about 17 milesWalmart SupercenterOpen late, sells licences at the counter, and carries terminal tackle and line.Directions and phone →
All bait and tackle in Smith County

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Common questions

Questions about Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp

Can you launch a boat at Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp?

Yes. TWRA records Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp as having a boat ramp. It has 1 lane. TWRA records it as free to launch.

Do you need a fishing licence at Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp?

Yes. Anyone 13 or older needs a Tennessee fishing licence to fish here, and a trout supplemental on top of it if you plan to keep trout. It is the same rule at every public access point in the state.

What fish are in the water at Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp?

Caney Fork River holds trout. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp?

Center Hill Marina in Lancaster is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 8 miles from Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp. Wildwood Resort and Marina in Granville is next, about 8 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp?

No restroom is recorded here. Most TWRA ramps have none, so plan for that on a long day.

Who runs Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp?

Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp is listed under the county in TWRA’s public access database. The owner is worth knowing because it usually decides whether there is a fee, whether the gate is locked overnight, and who to ring when a ramp is closed for repair.

Where to next

Around Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp

Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

The whole waterFishing Caney Fork River10 public access points across 4 counties.See the spots →County guideFishing in Smith CountyEvery public spot in Smith County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listSmith County spot listAll 17 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near CarthageShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near CarthageEverything within about 30 miles of Carthage, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around Bob Lowery Sr. Boat Ramp, and who knows it

Guides and charters on this site are listed by the water they run, so you can ring the captain who fishes Caney Fork River rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits