Boat Launch · Lincoln County

Chenault Ford, Elk River

1 ramp, 1 lane, canoe / kayak landing. 22 miles from Tullahoma.

Get driving directions All Lincoln County spots

What to bring

Tackle for Chenault Ford

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

How to get there

Getting to Chenault Ford

Chenault Ford is a public boat launch on Elk River in Lincoln County, Tennessee, run by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

1/2 mile south of US Hwy 64 east of Fayetteville at Frito Lay plant

Chenault Ford is 22 miles south-west of Tullahoma, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Stump Shoals, 2.1 miles to the east on the same water. For bait, The Sportsman’s Corner in Manchester is about 33 miles away.

Coordinates 35.14980, -86.51127

Open in Google Maps See nearby spots on the map Fishing near Tullahoma

Aerial view of Chenault Ford — Chenault Ford from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Chenault Ford

Free to launch 2 out of 5 Facilities 2 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 Chenault Ford. 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 Chenault Ford

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

largemouth bass smallmouth bass sunfish rock bass catfishfreshwater drum

By the time the Elk reaches Giles County it is well below the Tims Ford trout water and has become a warmwater smallmouth and catfish river

Everything on Elk River Find a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Chenault Ford

What you can keep from Elk River at Chenault Ford. TWRA sets 1 rule just for Elk River. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

Fish	Daily limit	Length	Where or when
Brown trout	1	20 in minimum	Tailwater: Tims Ford Dam to I-65 bridge, including tributaries. Total trout limit stays 7
Largemouth bass	5 black bass combined	No minimum	Statewide
Smallmouth bass	5 black bass combined	No minimum	Statewide
Bluegill	No limit	No minimum	Statewide
Rock bass	20	No minimum	Statewide
Channel catfish	No limit under 34 in	Only one over 34 in	Statewide

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

3 public boat launches in Lincoln County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Elk River around Chenault Ford

What the water at Chenault Ford actually looks like. Drag or swipe through. Every picture opens that water’s own page.

Elk RiverOpen the Elk River page →dmtilley / CC BY 3.0

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

Elk RiverOpen the Elk River page →Michael Barera / CC BY-SA 4.0

Next one along

More Elk River access near Chenault Ford

The closest other public access points on Elk River, measured straight line from Chenault Ford. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAStump Shoals2.1 miles east1/2 mile north of US Hwy 64 east of Fayetteville1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.14005, -86.47564 Free2 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · CityStone Bridge Park Paddle Craft Launch3.2 miles westcanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.14482, -86.56824 Free2 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · CityFayetteville Old Stone Bridge3.5 miles westWest side of intersection of US Hwy 64 bypass and Hwy 231/431 in Fayettevillecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.14074, -86.57203 Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CountyDickey Bridge3.6 miles eastEast of Fayettville on 64, turn on Champ Road1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.13928, -86.44828 Free2 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVAShiloh Bridge7.2 miles eastFrom US 64, turn on Old US 64 in Flintville, left on Fish Hatchery Road the go about 3 and 1/4 miles then bear right on Champ Road. Bridge is about 1.5 miles.canoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.13846, -86.38341 Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAOld Dam Ford10 miles eastFrom Lois take Wet prong Farris Crk Rd towards Franklin Co. go 5 mi turn rt. On Eddie Bnd, 3 mi rt1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.12415, -86.33230

All 11 access points on Elk River

Chenault Ford water holds smallmouth bass, sunfish, rock bass, catfish.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Chenault Ford

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Chenault Ford, including Tims Ford Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on Elk River or the ramp is busy.

Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVALost CreekTims Ford Lake · 14 miles north-eastFrom Lynchburg take Tanyard Hill Rd approximately 6 miles, then left on Lost Creek Rd1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsDirections and detail →35.25800, -86.30370 Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TDECNeal’s BridgeTims Ford Lake · 15 miles north-eastFrom Hwy 55, Cobb Hollow Rd approx. 1 mi, rt on Pleasant Hill Rd 4 mi, left on Ridgeville Rd1 ramp, 2 lanesDirections and detail →35.28082, -86.29258 Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaLakeview MarinaTims Ford Lake · 15 miles eastDirections and detail →35.21113, -86.24730 Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaTims Ford MarinaTims Ford Lake · 16 miles eastDirections and detail →35.22510, -86.24330 Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaHoliday Landing MarinaTims Ford Lake · 17 miles north-eastDirections and detail →35.26950, -86.24390 Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TDECPleasant Grove Boat RampTims Ford Lake · 19 miles north-eastTake HWY 130 NW from Winchester to Pleasant Grove Rd on Left, take Pleasant Grove Lane on Left to ramp1 ramp, 1 lanefishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →35.26630, -86.20010

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Chenault Ford

The closest shops to Chenault Ford that this site has checked. The Sportsman’s Corner in Manchester is nearest, about 33 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Manchester · about 33 milesThe Sportsman’s CornerSporting goods. Rods, reels, line and a licence counter.Directions and phone →Columbia · about 43 milesAcademy SportsChain sporting goods. Rods, reels, line, terminal tackle and a licence counter.Directions and phone →

All bait and tackle in Lincoln County

Your turn

Rate and review Chenault Ford

1. Tap your stars

2. Add a few words if you like

What visitors say

Loading visitor ratings

Common questions

Questions about Chenault Ford

Can you launch a boat at Chenault Ford?

Yes. TWRA records Chenault Ford as having a boat ramp. It has 1 lane. TWRA records it as free to launch.

Do you need a fishing licence at Chenault Ford?

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 Chenault Ford?

Elk River holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, sunfish, rock bass, catfish and freshwater drum. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near Chenault Ford?

The Sportsman’s Corner in Manchester is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 33 miles from Chenault Ford. Academy Sports in Columbia is next, about 43 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Chenault Ford?

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

Who runs Chenault Ford?

Chenault Ford is listed under the Tennessee Valley Authority 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 Chenault Ford

Chenault Ford is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

The whole waterFishing Elk River11 public access points across 4 counties.See the spots →County guideFishing in Lincoln CountyEvery public spot in Lincoln County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listLincoln County spot listAll 6 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near FayettevilleShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near TullahomaEverything within about 30 miles of Tullahoma, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around Chenault Ford, 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 Elk River rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by water Licence and limits