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Boat Launch · Jefferson County

Cherokee Dam Tailwaters, Holston River

1 ramp, 1 lane, canoe / kayak landing. 3 miles from Jefferson City.

Get driving directionsAll Jefferson County spots

With a guide

Guides and charters near Cherokee Dam Tailwaters

Captains who run Cherokee and Douglas, with their own phone numbers. You call and book with them directly.

Capt. Skylar Hamilton · Dandridge

Skylar Hamilton Guide Service

Bassskylarhamiltonfishing.com

Capt. Nathan Mountain · Dandridge / Gatlinburg

Nathan Mountain Outdoors

Largemouth, smallmouth, crappie, bluegill, troutCall 423-726-0240nathanmountainoutdoors.com

Capt. Jim Durham · Multi-base TN/KY

StriperFun Guide Service

Cherokee Lake stripersCall 931-403-2501striperfun.com

Every Tennessee guide by water

What to bring

Tackle for Cherokee Dam Tailwaters

Three picks from the smallmouth 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.

RodSt. Croix Bass X 7 ft medium spinning rodLight enough for a Ned rig, with enough backbone for a 5 lb fish in current.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
ReelPflueger President 30 spinning reelSmooth drag at a fair price. Fill it with braid and a leader.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
FinesseZ-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheadsThe single most reliable smallmouth bait on Tennessee rock. Drag it slowly.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
Full smallmouth bass checklist (10 items)All gear checklists

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

Bluegill and Panfish checklistWalleye and Sauger checklistCatfish checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

How to get there

Getting to Cherokee Dam Tailwaters

Cherokee Dam Tailwaters is a public boat launch on Holston River in Jefferson County, Tennessee, run by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

US 11E or US 11W to Cherokee Dam

Cherokee Dam Tailwaters is 3.2 miles north of Jefferson City, the nearest town with its own page here. The county seat, Dandridge, is 12 miles to the south-east. The closest other public access is TVA Cherokee Dam on Cherokee Lake, 1.0 miles to the south-west. For bait, Cherokee Bait & Tackle in Jefferson City is about 3 miles away.

Coordinates 36.16746, -83.50401

Open in Google MapsSee nearby spots on the mapFishing near Jefferson City
Aerial view of Cherokee Dam Tailwaters
Cherokee Dam Tailwaters from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Cherokee Dam Tailwaters

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 Cherokee Dam Tailwaters. 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 Cherokee Dam Tailwaters

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

smallmouth basssunfishrock basswalleyesaugercatfish

This is the warm-water Holston above the lake, not the Cherokee Dam trout tailwater downstream in Jefferson County, a distinction almost every competing page gets wrong.

Everything on Holston RiverFind a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Cherokee Dam Tailwaters

What you can keep from Holston River at Cherokee Dam Tailwaters. TWRA sets 1 rule just for Holston River. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Smallmouth bass5 black bass combined13–17 in protected slot, one over 17 inI-40 bridge upstream to Cherokee Dam, and John Sevier Dam upstream to the North Fork
BluegillNo limitNo minimumStatewide
Rock bass20No minimumStatewide
Walleye516 in minimumStatewide
Sauger1015 in minimumStatewide
Channel catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide

Other rules on Holston River

  • Hwy 344 (Malinda Ferry Rd) bridge up to John Sevier Dam closed to snagging Mar 1–31 and Apr 16–May 31.

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

11 public boat launches in Jefferson County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Holston River around Cherokee Dam Tailwaters

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

Holston River, TennesseeHolston RiverOpen the Holston River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Douglas Lake, TennesseeDouglas LakeOpen the Douglas Lake page →Dwight Burdette / CC BY 3.0Cherokee Lake, TennesseeCherokee LakeOpen the Cherokee Lake page →TVA Web Team / CC BY 2.0French Broad River, TennesseeFrench Broad RiverOpen the French Broad River page →Pollinator at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0Holston River, TennesseeHolston RiverOpen the Holston River page →Dacoshi / CC BY-SA 3.0Douglas Lake, TennesseeDouglas LakeOpen the Douglas Lake page →Pi.1415926535 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Next one along

More Holston River access near Cherokee Dam Tailwaters

The closest other public access points on Holston River, measured straight line from Cherokee Dam Tailwaters. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · Private LandIndian Cave Park5.4 miles westTurn onto Indian Cave Rd off Indian Ridge, follow about 1 mile to end.canoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →36.15928, -83.60077Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRANance’s Ferry8.0 miles west1491 Nance Ferry Rd, Blaine, TN 377091 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.12776, -83.63887Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TDOTAsheville Hwy Access Area21 miles south-west6045 Asheville Hwy, Knoxville, TN 379241 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.01541, -83.82987Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityBoyd Island Access24 miles south-west1 ramp, 1 lanefishing piercanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.97493, -83.85987Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAJohn Sevier Steamplant32 miles north-eastSR 66 to SR 70 to Steamplant Rd (TVA Rd)1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.37130, -82.98220Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVABeech Creek #136 miles north-eastTunnell Hill Rd, Rogersville, TN1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.39759, -82.92907
All 12 access points on Holston River

Cherokee Dam Tailwaters water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Cherokee Dam Tailwaters

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Cherokee Dam Tailwaters, including Cherokee Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on Holston River or the ramp is busy.

Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVATVA Cherokee DamCherokee Lake · 1.0 miles south-westI-40, exit 417, North on TN 92 for 6.7 mi, left on W Broadway Blvd, 1.3 mi, right on TN 92N for 1 mi, left on TN 92N for 3.6 mi, ramp on right3 ramps, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.15580, -83.51350Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAOakland Hollow Access AreaCherokee Lake · 1.1 miles north-east15061 Lakeshore Dr, Rutledge, TN 378611 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.17720, -83.48830Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · Private LandBlack Oak DockCherokee Lake · 1.4 miles south-eastI-40, exit 417, North on HWY 92 for 6.6 mil, right on Russell Ave for 1.2 mi, right on E Rhoten St, 1 mi, right on Black Oak Rd, marina is 1.3 mi on left1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.15400, -83.48630Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAByrd Spring BranchCherokee Lake · 2.2 miles south2133 N Sizer Ave, Jefferson City, TN 377601 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.13670, -83.49520Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVAMossy CreekCherokee Lake · 2.5 miles southNorth on Russell Ave in Jefferson City. Left on Cherokee dr-dead endcanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.13170, -83.50660Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAGrainger County ParkCherokee Lake · 3.8 miles north-east12586 Lakeshore Dr, Rutledge, TN 378611 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →36.21340, -83.46780

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Cherokee Dam Tailwaters

The closest shops to Cherokee Dam Tailwaters that this site has checked. Cherokee Bait & Tackle in Jefferson City is nearest, about 3 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Jefferson City · about 3 milesCherokee Bait & TackleLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →Jefferson City · about 3 milesMobile Bait StoreLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →Rutledge · about 8 milesGilmore Boat DockLakeside operation with a dock store, bait and often boat rental.Directions and phone →
All bait and tackle in Jefferson County

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Common questions

Questions about Cherokee Dam Tailwaters

Can you launch a boat at Cherokee Dam Tailwaters?

Yes. TWRA records Cherokee Dam Tailwaters as having a boat ramp. It has 1 lane. TWRA records it as free to launch.

Do you need a fishing licence at Cherokee Dam Tailwaters?

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 Cherokee Dam Tailwaters?

Holston River holds smallmouth bass, sunfish, rock bass, walleye, sauger and catfish. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near Cherokee Dam Tailwaters?

Cherokee Bait & Tackle in Jefferson City is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 3 miles from Cherokee Dam Tailwaters. Mobile Bait Store in Jefferson City is next, about 3 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Cherokee Dam Tailwaters?

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

Who runs Cherokee Dam Tailwaters?

Cherokee Dam Tailwaters 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 Cherokee Dam Tailwaters

Cherokee Dam Tailwaters is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

The whole waterFishing Holston River12 public access points across 4 counties.See the spots →County guideFishing in Jefferson CountyEvery public spot in Jefferson County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listJefferson County spot listAll 23 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near DandridgeShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near Jefferson CityEverything within about 30 miles of Jefferson City, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around Cherokee Dam Tailwaters, 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 Holston River rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits