Boat Launch · Decatur County

Cherokee Heights, Kentucky Lake

1 ramp, 1 lane, canoe / kayak landing, restrooms. 37 miles from Savannah.

Get driving directions All Decatur County spots

With a guide

Guides and charters near Cherokee Heights

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

Steve McCadams · Paris Landing

Steve McCadams Professional Guide Service

Crappie, bass, bluegill, catfish, white bassCall 731-642-0360 stevemccadams.com

Terry Elliott · Greenfield

Elliott’s Guide Service

Crappie, bassCall 731-234-8817 elliottsguideservice.com

Multiple guides · Springville

KY Lake Crappie Fishing

Crappiekylakecrappiefishing.com

All 4 guides on Kentucky Lake

What to bring

Tackle for Cherokee Heights

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

How to get there

Getting to Cherokee Heights

Cherokee Heights is a public boat launch on Kentucky Lake in Decatur County, Tennessee, run by TWRA (MOU).

From Parsons, take 641 / 69N to Cherokee Heights Rd

Cherokee Heights is 37 miles north of Savannah, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Woodland Shores, 0.8 miles to the north-east on the same water. For bait, Perryville Marina in Parsons is about 8 miles away.

Coordinates 35.73049, -88.03138

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

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

What is there

What you will find at Cherokee Heights

Free to launch 3.5 out of 5 Facilities 3.5 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 Heights. 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.

Restrooms

Toilets on site, which is rarer than you would think.

Open 24 hours

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

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

What you can catch

Fish you can catch at Cherokee Heights

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

largemouth bass smallmouth bass spotted bass crappie bluegill white bass sauger channel catfish

Bassmaster has called Kentucky Lake the crappie capital of America, and the Henry County reach, Paris Landing, the Big Sandy arm, Blood River and West Sandy, is the heart of that fishery. Ledge fishing over submerged ditches, creeks, islands and roadbeds in 6-14 ft is the defining technique.

Everything on Kentucky Lake Find a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Cherokee Heights

What you can keep from Kentucky Lake at Cherokee Heights. TWRA sets 3 rules just for Kentucky Lake. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

Fish	Daily limit	Length	Where or when
Largemouth bass	5 black bass combined	15 in minimum	Same for smallmouth; spotted bass no length limit
Smallmouth bass	5 black bass combined	15 in minimum	Kentucky Lake rule
Crappie	20	10 in minimum	Includes the dewatering areas
Spotted bass	5 black bass combined	No minimum	Statewide
Bluegill	No limit	No minimum	Statewide
White bass	15	No minimum	Statewide
Sauger	10	15 in minimum	Statewide
Channel catfish	No limit under 34 in	Only one over 34 in	Statewide

Other rules on Kentucky Lake

Dewatering areas (West Sandy, Big Sandy, Gin Creek, Camden Bottoms, Duck River Bottoms, Busseltown, Perryville, Gumdale) closed 5 days before and during late waterfowl season.

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

7 public boat launches in Decatur County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Kentucky Lake around Cherokee Heights

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

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

Kentucky LakeOpen the Kentucky Lake page →Thomas R Machnitzki / CC BY-SA 3.0

Next one along

More Kentucky Lake access near Cherokee Heights

The closest other public access points on Kentucky Lake, measured straight line from Cherokee Heights. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRA (MOU)Woodland Shores0.8 miles north-eastFrom Parsons, take HWY 641 / 69 N to Cherokee Heights Rd, area downstream from Cherokee Heights access, about 1 mile1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.73970, -88.02160 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRABrodies Landing1.1 miles southFrom Parsons, take 69N approximately 4 miles, then Right on Brodies Landing Rd.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.71530, -88.03700 Free4 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaPerryville Marina7.0 miles south412 E from Parsons, TN, Right to Perryville Marina, 0.5 miles before crossing bridge1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →35.62897, -88.03980 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRABeech River, Perryville7.9 miles southPerryville at HWY 100 bridge across Beech River1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.61720, -88.04511 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USFWSMorgan’s Creek Access Area7.9 miles north-east1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.83572, -87.97727 Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVABeech Bend Park7.9 miles southFrom Perryville, take Hwy 100 W2 ramps, 2 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →35.61621, -88.03850

All 86 access points on Kentucky Lake

Cherokee Heights water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Cherokee Heights

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Cherokee Heights, including Dogwood Lake, Red Bud Lake and Buffalo River. Handy when the wind is wrong on Kentucky Lake or the ramp is busy.

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVADogwood LakeDogwood Lake · 12 miles westHemby Lane, Lexington, TN1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.70760, -88.23740 Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVARed Bud LakeRed Bud Lake · 13 miles westRedbud Lake Lane, Lexington, TN1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierDirections and detail →35.68400, -88.25850 Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TDOTHWY 412 at Buffalo RiverBuffalo River · 14 miles south-eastApproximately 200 yards East of HWY 13 on HWY 412canoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.62100, -87.83115 Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAPin Oak LakePin Oak Lake · 15 miles westPark Rd, Lexington, TN1 ramp, 2 lanesDirections and detail →35.67990, -88.28290 Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRABrowns Creek Lake RampBrowns Creek Lake · 15 miles westCorinth Rd, Lexington, TN1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.72740, -88.29100 Free2 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · TDOTCanoe Launch: SR 13 at Buffalo RiverBuffalo River · 15 miles east1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.81161, -87.77870

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Cherokee Heights

The closest shops to Cherokee Heights that this site has checked. Perryville Marina in Parsons is nearest, about 8 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Parsons · about 8 milesPerryville MarinaMarina store. Fuel, ice, terminal tackle and live bait when the lake is running.Directions and phone →Waverly · about 15 milesBuffalo River Camping & CanoeingPaddle outfitter. Canoe and kayak rental, shuttles and life jackets.Directions and phone →New Johnsonville · about 20 milesPebble Isle MarinaMarina store. Fuel, ice, terminal tackle and live bait when the lake is running.Directions and phone →

All bait and tackle in Decatur County

Your turn

Rate and review Cherokee Heights

1. Tap your stars

2. Add a few words if you like

What visitors say

Loading visitor ratings

Common questions

Questions about Cherokee Heights

Can you launch a boat at Cherokee Heights?

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

Do you need a fishing licence at Cherokee Heights?

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 Heights?

Kentucky Lake holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, bluegill, white bass, sauger and channel 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 Heights?

Perryville Marina in Parsons is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 8 miles from Cherokee Heights. Buffalo River Camping & Canoeing in Waverly is next, about 15 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Cherokee Heights?

Yes, TWRA records restrooms at this access point.

Who runs Cherokee Heights?

Cherokee Heights is listed under TWRA (MOU) 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 Heights

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

The whole waterFishing Kentucky Lake86 public access points across 7 counties.See the spots →County guideFishing in Decatur CountyEvery public spot in Decatur County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listDecatur County spot listAll 10 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near DecaturvilleShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near SavannahEverything within about 30 miles of Savannah, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around Cherokee Heights, 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 Kentucky Lake rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by water Licence and limits