95 Counties · 1,002 Public Access Points · 78 Lakes and RiversTennessee state record fish
Tennessee Fishing SpotsEvery County, Every Town
Spot SearchGear SearchLakes & RiversFishAll Fishing SpotsCountiesTownsGuides & ChartersTournamentsState RecordsLicence & LimitsEmail Updates

Boat Launch · Wilson County

Coles Ferry, Old Hickory Lake

1 ramp, 1 lane. 6 miles from Gallatin.

Get driving directionsAll Wilson County spots

With a guide

Guides and charters near Coles Ferry

Captains who run Old Hickory Lake, 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 Coles Ferry

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 checklistCrappie checklistStriper and Hybrid checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

How to get there

Getting to Coles Ferry

Coles Ferry is a public boat launch on Old Hickory Lake in Wilson County, Tennessee, run by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

HWY 231 to Coles Ferry Pike

Coles Ferry is 6.2 miles south-east of Gallatin, the nearest town with its own page here. The county seat, Lebanon, is 9.2 miles to the south-east. The closest other public access is Gallatin Steam Plant Ramp, 1.4 miles to the north-east on the same water. For bait, Poindexter Bait Shop in Gallatin is about 4 miles away.

Coordinates 36.30520, -86.40280

Open in Google MapsSee nearby spots on the mapFishing near Gallatin
Aerial view of Coles Ferry
Coles Ferry from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Coles Ferry

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 Coles Ferry. 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.

Open 24 hours

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

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

What you can catch

Fish you can catch at Coles Ferry

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

largemouth basssmallmouth basscrappiestriped basswhite basswalleyesaugercatfish

The Cumberland forms Wilson County’s northern border with Trousdale and Sumner and that reach is Old Hickory; the Wilson side is the Cedar Creek and Hunters Point country, and TWRA rates the lake a world-class trophy striped bass fishery with regular catches over 50 lb.

Everything on Old Hickory LakeFind a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Coles Ferry

What you can keep from Old Hickory Lake at Coles Ferry. TWRA sets 3 rules just for Old Hickory Lake. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Largemouth bass5 black bass combined14 in minimumOld Hickory Lake rule
Smallmouth bass5 black bass combined18 in minimumOld Hickory Lake rule
Crappie3010 in minimumOld Hickory Lake rule
Striped bass2 striped and hybrid combined15 in minimumStatewide
White bass15No minimumStatewide
Walleye516 in minimumStatewide
Sauger1015 in minimumStatewide
Channel catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide

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

16 public boat launches in Wilson County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Old Hickory Lake around Coles Ferry

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

Old Hickory Lake, TennesseeOld Hickory LakeOpen the Old Hickory Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0J. Percy Priest Lake, TennesseeJ. Percy Priest LakeOpen the J. Percy Priest Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Old Hickory Lake, TennesseeOld Hickory LakeOpen the Old Hickory Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0J. Percy Priest Lake, TennesseeJ. Percy Priest LakeOpen the J. Percy Priest Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0J. Percy Priest Lake, TennesseeJ. Percy Priest LakeOpen the J. Percy Priest Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0J. Percy Priest Lake, TennesseeJ. Percy Priest LakeOpen the J. Percy Priest Lake page →Billferguson / CC BY 3.0

Next one along

More Old Hickory Lake access near Coles Ferry

The closest other public access points on Old Hickory Lake, measured straight line from Coles Ferry. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAGallatin Steam Plant Ramp1.4 miles north-east1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierDirections and detail →36.32420, -86.39200Launch fee3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACELaquardo Access2.6 miles south-west1 ramp, 2 lanesaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.28980, -86.44420Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaCherokee Marina2.6 miles north-westDirections and detail →36.33562, -86.42926Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · Private LandCherokee Boat Dock2.6 miles north-west1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.33600, -86.43040Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEMartha Gallatin Boat Ramp2.9 miles north-west1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.33586, -86.43876Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEBartons Creek2.9 miles south-east1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.27580, -86.36520
All 54 access points on Old Hickory Lake

Coles Ferry water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, sunfish.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Coles Ferry

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Coles Ferry, including J. Percy Priest Lake and Cheatham Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on Old Hickory Lake or the ramp is busy.

Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEVivrett Creek Recreation AreaJ. Percy Priest Lake · 14 miles south-west1 ramp, 2 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.14076, -86.54348Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACEOld Hickory DamCheatham Lake · 14 miles westI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to OH Damrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.29657, -86.65942Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEOld Hickory Dam Boat RampCheatham Lake · 15 miles westI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to OH Dam1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.29828, -86.66279Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACESeven Points Boat RampJ. Percy Priest Lake · 15 miles south-west1 ramp, 2 lanesaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.13170, -86.56510Free4 out of 5facilitiesMarina · USACENashville Shores Yacht Club and MarinaJ. Percy Priest Lake · 15 miles south-westI-40 to exit 221,OH Blvd to Bell Rd, right to entrance1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.16110, -86.60820Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesBoat LaunchJ. Percy Priest Lake Boat LaunchJ. Percy Priest Lake · 15 miles south-westDirections and detail →36.16101, -86.60821

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Coles Ferry

The closest shops to Coles Ferry that this site has checked. Poindexter Bait Shop in Gallatin is nearest, about 4 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Gallatin · about 4 milesPoindexter Bait ShopLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →Mount Juliet · about 10 milesAcademy Sports + OutdoorsChain sporting goods. Rods, reels, line, terminal tackle and a licence counter.Directions and phone →Mount Juliet · about 11 milesWalmart SupercenterOpen late, sells licences at the counter, and carries terminal tackle and line.Directions and phone →
All bait and tackle in Wilson County

Your turn

Rate and review Coles Ferry

1. Tap your stars

2. Add a few words if you like

What visitors say

Loading visitor ratings

Common questions

Questions about Coles Ferry

Can you launch a boat at Coles Ferry?

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

Do you need a fishing licence at Coles Ferry?

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 Coles Ferry?

Old Hickory Lake holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, striped bass, white 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 Coles Ferry?

Poindexter Bait Shop in Gallatin is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 4 miles from Coles Ferry. Academy Sports + Outdoors in Mount Juliet is next, about 10 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Coles Ferry?

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

Who runs Coles Ferry?

Coles Ferry is listed under the US Army Corps of Engineers 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 Coles Ferry

Coles Ferry is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

The whole waterFishing Old Hickory Lake54 public access points across 5 counties.See the spots →County guideFishing in Wilson CountyEvery public spot in Wilson County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listWilson County spot listAll 22 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near LebanonShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near GallatinEverything within about 30 miles of Gallatin, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around Coles Ferry, 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 Old Hickory Lake rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits