Boat Launch · Weakley County

Garrett Lake

1 ramp, 1 lane, fishing pier, accessible parking. 13 miles from Paris.

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What to bring

Tackle for Garrett Lake

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:

Crappie 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 Garrett Lake

Garrett Lake is a public boat launch on Garrett Lake in Weakley County, Tennessee, run by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Approximately 7 miles east of Dresden off State Highway 54. Take State Highway 190 north off Highway 54. Right at split and follow directional signs to lake.

Garrett Lake is 13 miles west of Paris, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Springville Pumphouse on Kentucky Lake, 23 miles to the east. For bait, Worms Sporting Goods in Gleason is about 8 miles away.

Coordinates 36.33008, -88.55057

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

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

What is there

What you will find at Garrett Lake

Free to launch 4 out of 5 Facilities 4 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 Garrett Lake. 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.

Fishing pier

A built pier, so you can fish deep water without a boat.

Accessible parking

Marked accessible parking at the access point.

Courtesy dock

A dock beside the ramp to tie off while you park the trailer.

Open 24 hours

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

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

What you can catch

Fish you can catch at Garrett Lake

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

largemouth bass crappie bluegill redear sunfish catfishbowfingarbuffalo

Located about 7 miles east of Dresden on Hwy 54, with a boat launching ramp, fishing pier, picnic area and pavilion; it is the county’s only substantial public lake and it is open 24 hours a day with no TWRA lake permit required.

Find a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Garrett Lake

What you can keep from Garrett Lake at Garrett Lake. Garrett Lake 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
Crappie	30	No minimum	Statewide (West Tennessee)
Bluegill	No limit	No minimum	Statewide
Redear sunfish	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

1 public boat launches in Weakley County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Garrett Lake

The closest shops to Garrett Lake that this site has checked. Worms Sporting Goods in Gleason is nearest, about 8 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Gleason · about 8 milesWorms Sporting GoodsSporting goods. Rods, reels, line and a licence counter.Directions and phone →Paris · about 13 milesMansard Island ResortLakeside operation with a dock store, bait and often boat rental.Directions and phone →Springville · about 23 milesPleasant View Resort & MarinaMarina store. Fuel, ice, terminal tackle and live bait when the lake is running.Directions and phone →

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Common questions

Questions about Garrett Lake

Can you launch a boat at Garrett Lake?

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

Do you need a fishing licence at Garrett Lake?

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 Garrett Lake?

Garrett Lake holds largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, catfish, bowfin, gar and buffalo. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near Garrett Lake?

Worms Sporting Goods in Gleason is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 8 miles from Garrett Lake. Mansard Island Resort in Paris is next, about 13 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Garrett Lake?

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

Who runs Garrett Lake?

Garrett Lake 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 Garrett Lake

Garrett Lake is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

County guideFishing in Weakley CountyEvery public spot in Weakley County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listWeakley County spot listThe one access point in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near DresdenShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near ParisEverything within about 30 miles of Paris, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

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

Guides by water Licence and limits