Boat Launch · White County

City of Sparta, Calf Killer River

1 ramp, 1 lane, canoe / kayak landing. In Sparta.

Get driving directions All White County spots

With a guide

Guides and charters near City of Sparta

Captains who run Center Hill and the Caney Fork, with their own phone numbers. You call and book with them directly.

Smithville

Gone Fishin’ Expeditions

Largemouth, smallmouth, crappie, bluegill, catfishCall 615-814-4832 gonefishinexpeditions.com

David Knapp · Crossville

Trout Zone Anglers

Rainbow, brown and brook trout, smallmouth, muskyCall 931-261-1884 troutzoneanglers.com

Capt. Jim Durham · Multi-base TN/KY

StriperFun Guide Service

Center Hill and Normandy walleye, Tims Ford stripers, Caney Fork troutCall 931-403-2501 striperfun.com

Every Tennessee guide by water

What to bring

Tackle for City of Sparta

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 City of Sparta

City of Sparta is a public boat launch on Calf Killer River in White County, Tennessee, run by the city.

TWRA holds no written directions for City of Sparta. Use the coordinates below, which come straight from the state’s access record and drop you on the access point itself rather than on the nearest town.

City of Sparta is in Sparta. The closest other public access is City of Sparta #2, 1.7 miles to the south-west on the same water. For bait, Zorro Bait Co in Sparta is about 2 miles away.

Coordinates 35.94370, -85.45050

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

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

What is there

What you will find at City of Sparta

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 City of Sparta. 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 City of Sparta

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

largemouth bass smallmouth bass spotted bass crappie bluegill rock bass walleye muskellunge catfish

Everything on Calf Killer River Find a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at City of Sparta

What you can keep from Calf Killer River at City of Sparta. Calf Killer River has no limits of its own, so the statewide limits apply. These are the ones for the fish it holds.

Fish	Daily limit	Length	Where or when
Largemouth bass	5 black bass combined	No minimum	Statewide
Smallmouth bass	5 black bass combined	No minimum	Statewide
Spotted bass	5 black bass combined	No minimum	Statewide
Crappie	15	10 in minimum	Statewide
Bluegill	No limit	No minimum	Statewide
Rock bass	20	No minimum	Statewide
Walleye	5	16 in minimum	Statewide
Muskellunge	1	36 in 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

4 public boat launches in White County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Calf Killer River around City of Sparta

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

Center Hill LakeOpen the Center Hill Lake page →Tyler White / Public domain

Center Hill LakeOpen the Center Hill Lake page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not s / Public domain

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

Center Hill LakeOpen the Center Hill Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

Next one along

More Calf Killer River access near City of Sparta

The closest other public access points on Calf Killer River, measured straight line from City of Sparta. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityCity of Sparta #21.7 miles south-west1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.92246, -85.46660

All 2 access points on Calf Killer River

City of Sparta water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie.

Other water close by

Other fishing near City of Sparta

Public access on other water within 20 miles of City of Sparta, including Great Falls Lake and Center Hill Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on Calf Killer River or the ramp is busy.

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRATosh Reno Boat RampGreat Falls Lake · 11 miles south-west1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.79730, -85.53960 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACECane HollowCenter Hill Lake · 11 miles north-west1 ramp, More Than 3 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.03283, -85.62161 Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACECookeville DockCenter Hill Lake · 12 miles westFrom I-40, exit 280s-go approx. 5mi to Cookeville boat Dock Rd-turn right, follow to dock1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.00080, -85.65220 Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaCookeville Boat DockCenter Hill Lake · 12 miles westDirections and detail →36.00098, -85.65218 Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesBoat LaunchUnnamed boat launchCenter Hill Lake · 12 miles westDirections and detail →36.00129, -85.65328 Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEJohnson ChapelCenter Hill Lake · 13 miles west1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.00420, -85.66790

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near City of Sparta

The closest shops to City of Sparta that this site has checked. Zorro Bait Co in Sparta is nearest, about 2 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Sparta · about 2 milesZorro Bait CoLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →Crossville · about 20 milesMeadow Park Lake park officeLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →McMinnville · about 25 milesWalmart SupercenterOpen late, sells licences at the counter, and carries terminal tackle and line.Directions and phone →

All bait and tackle in White County

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Common questions

Questions about City of Sparta

Can you launch a boat at City of Sparta?

Yes. TWRA records City of Sparta as having a boat ramp. It has 1 lane. TWRA records it as free to launch.

Do you need a fishing licence at City of Sparta?

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 City of Sparta?

Calf Killer River holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, bluegill, rock bass, walleye, muskellunge 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 City of Sparta?

Zorro Bait Co in Sparta is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 2 miles from City of Sparta. Meadow Park Lake park office in Crossville is next, about 20 miles away.

Is there a restroom at City of Sparta?

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

Who runs City of Sparta?

City of Sparta is listed under the city 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 City of Sparta

City of Sparta is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

The whole waterFishing Calf Killer River2 public access points across 1 county.See the spots →County guideFishing in White CountyEvery public spot in White County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listWhite County spot listAll 5 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near Sparta (on the Calfkiller River)Shops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near SpartaEverything within about 30 miles of Sparta, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around City of Sparta, 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 Calf Killer River rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by water Licence and limits