Public access · Jackson County

Fish Dam, Roaring River

14 miles from Cookeville.

Get driving directions All Jackson County spots

With a guide

Guides and charters near Fish Dam

Captains who run Nashville lakes and the Cumberland, with their own phone numbers. You call and book with them directly.

Billy Flatt · Nashville

Nashville Fishing Charters

Stripers, hybrids, crappie, largemouth, smallmouthCall 615-812-2091 nashvillefishingcharters.com

Capt. Brian and two guides · Nashville

Fish Nashville

Striper, hybrid, catfish, crappie, bass, troutCall 615-200-0618 fishnashville.com

Mark Travis · Nashville area

Crappie Guide Service

White and black crappieCall 615-542-9800 crappieguideservice.com

All 6 guides on Nashville lakes and the Cumberland

What to bring

Tackle for Fish Dam

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 Bluegill and Panfish checklist Catfish checklist Fish Finders compared Trolling Motors compared Lithium Marine Batteries compared Shallow Water Anchors compared

How to get there

Getting to Fish Dam

Fish Dam is a public access point on Roaring River in Jackson County, Tennessee, run by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

TWRA holds no written directions for Fish Dam. 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.

Fish Dam is 14 miles north of Cookeville, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is The Boils, 2.0 miles to the east on the same water. For bait, Granville Marina in Gainesboro is about 3 miles away.

Coordinates 36.35265, -85.59912

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

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

What is there

What you will find at Fish Dam

Free to launch 1.5 out of 5 Facilities 1.5 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 Fish Dam. It is the same data the state uses, not a guess from a photograph.

Bank and water access

TWRA lists Fish Dam as public access without built facilities. No ramp, no pier, no restroom, park, walk in and fish.

Open 24 hours

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

Not recorded here: boat ramp, 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 Fish Dam

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

largemouth bass smallmouth bass sunfish rock bass catfish

The Boils WMA at 2036 Roaring River Rd is a floodplain habitat with gravel bar access, TWRA restricts it to trolling motors, which keeps it quiet. Fish Dam is a second TWRA-managed site on the same river.

Everything on Roaring River Find a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Fish Dam

What you can keep from Roaring River at Fish Dam. Roaring 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
Bluegill	No limit	No minimum	Statewide
Rock bass	20	No 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

10 public boat launches in Jackson County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Roaring River around Fish Dam

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

Cordell Hull LakeOpen the Cordell Hull Lake page →United States Army Corps of Engineers image / Public domain

Cumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not s / Public domain

Cumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

Cumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →Pub. by Southern Latex Co., Nashville, Tenn. “Ti / Public domain

Next one along

More Roaring River access near Fish Dam

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

Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAThe Boils2.0 miles eastFrom Gainesboro take HWY 53 N to HWY 135. Turn right and travel 2.4 miles then turn left on Roaring River Rd., cross bridge, turn right and go 4.2 miles. Access area is on right.canoe / kayak landingtrolling motors onlyDirections and detail →36.34946, -85.56340

All 2 access points on Roaring River

Fish Dam water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Fish Dam

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Fish Dam, including Cordell Hull Lake and Cumberland River. Handy when the wind is wrong on Roaring River or the ramp is busy.

Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACERoaring River ParkCordell Hull Lake · 2.8 miles north-west1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →36.37430, -85.64140 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEHigh School RampCordell Hull Lake · 4.2 miles north-west1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.37990, -85.66570 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEWhites Bend Boat RampCordell Hull Lake · 7.6 miles west1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.34990, -85.73466 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEBrimstone CreekCumberland River · 8.7 miles north1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.47920, -85.60850 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEButlers LandingCumberland River · 9.6 miles north1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.48951, -85.56421 Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEButler’s Landing Launch RampCumberland River · 9.7 miles northFrom I-40, N on Hwy 56 to Gainesboro. N on 53 to Clay Co. Approx. 1 mile on left1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.48970, -85.56410

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Fish Dam

The closest shops to Fish Dam that this site has checked. Granville Marina in Gainesboro is nearest, about 3 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Gainesboro · about 3 milesGranville MarinaMarina store. Fuel, ice, terminal tackle and live bait when the lake is running.Directions and phone →Granville · about 13 milesWildwood Resort and MarinaMarina store. Fuel, ice, terminal tackle and live bait when the lake is running.Directions and phone →Lancaster · about 21 milesCenter Hill MarinaMarina store. Fuel, ice, terminal tackle and live bait when the lake is running.Directions and phone →

All bait and tackle in Jackson County

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Common questions

Questions about Fish Dam

Can you launch a boat at Fish Dam?

No trailered ramp is recorded at Fish Dam. It is listed as bank or pier access rather than a launch.

Do you need a fishing licence at Fish Dam?

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 Fish Dam?

Roaring River holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, sunfish, rock bass 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 Fish Dam?

Granville Marina in Gainesboro is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 3 miles from Fish Dam. Wildwood Resort and Marina in Granville is next, about 13 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Fish Dam?

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

Who runs Fish Dam?

Fish Dam is listed under the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency 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 Fish Dam

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

The whole waterFishing Roaring River2 public access points across 1 county.See the spots →County guideFishing in Jackson CountyEvery public spot in Jackson County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listJackson County spot listAll 12 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near GainesboroShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near CookevilleEverything within about 30 miles of Cookeville, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around Fish Dam, 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 Roaring River rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by water Licence and limits