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Boat Launch · Claiborne County

Earls Hollow, Norris Lake

1 ramp, 1 lane. 25 miles from LaFollette.

Get driving directionsAll Claiborne County spots

With a guide

Guides and charters near Earls Hollow

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

Maynardville

Mel’s Striper Guide Service

Striped bassCall 865-661-7806melsstriperguideservice.com

Capt. Jim Durham · Multi-base TN/KY

StriperFun Guide Service

Charters on 13 TN waters: Norris, Cherokee, Dale Hollow, Percy Priest, Tims Ford, Center Hill and Normandy lakes; the Cumberland, Clinch, Powell, Holston, Obey and Caney Fork riversCall 931-403-2501striperfun.com

Anderson County

East Tennessee Guide Service

Norris LakeCall 865-310-5521tnfishingguide.com

All 4 guides on Norris and the Clinch

What to bring

Tackle for Earls Hollow

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 Earls Hollow

Earls Hollow is a public boat launch on Norris Lake in Claiborne County, Tennessee, run by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Earls Hollow Rd, Speedwell TN

Earls Hollow is 25 miles east of LaFollette, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Lonesome Valley, 1.8 miles to the south-east on the same water. For bait, Beach Island Resort & Marina in Maynardville is about 18 miles away.

Coordinates 36.49630, -83.70538

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

What is there

What you will find at Earls Hollow

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 Earls Hollow. 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 Earls Hollow

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

largemouth basssmallmouth basscrappiestriped basswalleyemuskellungecatfish

Union County owns the lake’s broad middle, including the “Loyston Sea,” one of the widest sections of Norris; TWRA is specific that the smallmouth fishing is a November-through-April proposition, and the lake draws down as much as 45 ft a year.

Everything on Norris LakeFind a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Earls Hollow

What you can keep from Norris Lake at Earls Hollow. TWRA sets 8 rules just for Norris Lake. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Largemouth bass5 combined with smallmouth14 in minimumReservoir rules run to the Hwy 25E bridge (Clinch arm) and Gap Creek (Powell arm)
Smallmouth bass1 (Jun 1–Oct 15); 5 (Oct 16–May 31)18 in minimum Jun 1–Oct 15; 15 in minimum Oct 16–May 31Norris Lake rule
Spotted bassNo limitNo length limitIncludes Alabama bass
Crappie1010 in minimumNorris Lake rule
Striped bass2 (Apr 1–Oct 31); 1 (Nov 1–Mar 31)15 in minimum Apr–Oct; 36 in minimum Nov–MarNorris Lake rule
Walleye5 walleye/sauger combined15 in minimumUpstream to Grissom Island on the Clinch
Sauger5 walleye/sauger combined15 in minimumNorris Lake rule
Bluegill30 bluegill/warmouth/other sunfishNo length limitNorris Lake rule
Muskellunge136 in minimumStatewide
Channel catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide

Other rules on Norris Lake

  • Jan 1–Apr 30: no trotlines, limblines, jugs, gigging or snagging above River Mile 32 (Powell arm) and River Mile 137 (Clinch arm) to the Hwy 25E bridges. Doakes Pond closed to fishing.

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

8 public boat launches in Claiborne County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Norris Lake around Earls Hollow

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

Norris Lake, TennesseeNorris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Clinch River, TennesseeClinch RiverOpen the Clinch River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Norris Lake, TennesseeNorris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Clinch River, TennesseeClinch RiverOpen the Clinch River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Norris Lake, TennesseeNorris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Norris Lake, TennesseeNorris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →David Ratledge / CC BY 4.0

Next one along

More Norris Lake access near Earls Hollow

The closest other public access points on Norris Lake, measured straight line from Earls Hollow. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVALonesome Valley1.8 miles south-eastLonesome Valley Rd, Tazewell, TN1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.48179, -83.67809Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVABunch Hollow4.4 miles south-west1613 Bunch Hollow Rd, New Tazewell, TN 378251 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.45198, -83.76128Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaStraight Creek Dock8.6 miles southDirections and detail →36.37328, -83.67750Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaCedar Grove Marina9.1 miles southDirections and detail →36.36454, -83.71462Fee not listed2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVABear Creek9.8 miles southBear Creek Rd, New Tazewell, TN1 rampDirections and detail →36.36026, -83.65723Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVABrogran’s Access Area9.8 miles south5750 Hwy 33 S, New Tazewell, TN 378251 ramp, 2 lanesDirections and detail →36.35599, -83.73113
All 61 access points on Norris Lake

Earls Hollow water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, rock bass.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Earls Hollow

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Earls Hollow, including Powell River and Clinch River. Handy when the wind is wrong on Norris Lake or the ramp is busy.

Free1 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · TDOTPowell River Hwy 25E/32 River AccessPowell River · 5.2 miles north-eastTurn off Hwy 25E onto Powell River Rd., then take an immediate rightDirections and detail →36.54114, -83.63182Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · TDECPowell River Preserve State Natural AreaPowell River · 7.4 miles north-eastturn on Powell River Rd. From Hwy 25E, go approximately 4 miles, turn right into parking areacanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.55178, -83.59207Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAHighway 25E Bridge AccessClinch River · 15 miles south-eastHwy 25E Bridge /Riverside Rd, Tazewell, TN1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.40111, -83.46012Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAMulberry Creek AccessPowell River · 19 miles eastIntersection of Hwy 63 and Alanthus Hill Rd1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.55607, -83.37998

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Earls Hollow

The closest shops to Earls Hollow that this site has checked. Beach Island Resort & Marina in Maynardville is nearest, about 18 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Maynardville · about 18 milesBeach Island Resort & MarinaMarina store. Fuel, ice, terminal tackle and live bait when the lake is running.Directions and phone →Rutledge · about 18 milesGilmore Boat DockLakeside operation with a dock store, bait and often boat rental.Directions and phone →Rutledge · about 18 milesGreenlee Campground & MarineTackle and bait for Grainger County water. Call ahead out of season, winter hours are short.Directions and phone →
All bait and tackle in Claiborne County

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Common questions

Questions about Earls Hollow

Can you launch a boat at Earls Hollow?

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

Do you need a fishing licence at Earls Hollow?

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 Earls Hollow?

Norris Lake holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, striped 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 Earls Hollow?

Beach Island Resort & Marina in Maynardville is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 18 miles from Earls Hollow. Gilmore Boat Dock in Rutledge is next, about 18 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Earls Hollow?

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

Who runs Earls Hollow?

Earls Hollow 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 Earls Hollow

Earls Hollow is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

The whole waterFishing Norris Lake61 public access points across 5 counties.See the spots →County guideFishing in Claiborne CountyEvery public spot in Claiborne County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listClaiborne County spot listAll 13 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near TazewellShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near LaFolletteEverything within about 30 miles of LaFollette, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around Earls Hollow, 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 Norris Lake rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits