What to bring
Tackle for Jackson Island
Three picks from the smallmouth 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.
Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:
How to get there
Getting to Jackson Island
Jackson Island is a public access point on Nolichucky River in Washington County, Tennessee, run by USFS.
Jackson Bridge Rd off of SR 107
Jackson Island is 14 miles south-west of Johnson City, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Unicoi County Boat Launch, 6.9 miles to the east. For bait, Fly Shop of Tennessee in Johnson City is about 18 miles away.
Coordinates 36.17981, -82.53363
What you can catch
Fish you can catch at Jackson Island
Nolichucky River holds these, according to the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes.
The Nolichucky Gorge between Poplar, NC and Unaka Springs is one of the most technical whitewater runs in the Southeast and drops the river into Tennessee at Erwin; the county’s fishing is the smallmouth and rock bass water from Unaka Springs downstream, and it rises and falls hard with rain because nothing upstream regulates it.
What you can keep
Fishing limits at Jackson Island
What you can keep from Nolichucky River at Jackson Island. TWRA sets 1 rule just for Nolichucky River. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.
| Fish | Daily limit | Length | Where or when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth bass | 5 black bass combined | 13–17 in protected slot, one over 17 in | ENKA Dam upstream to the NC line, including Davy Crockett Lake. Below ENKA Dam, Douglas Lake rules apply |
| 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 |
| Rainbow trout | 7 trout combined | No minimum | 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.
4 public boat launches in Washington County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.
What it looks like
Nolichucky River around Jackson Island
What the water at Jackson Island actually looks like. Drag or swipe through. Every picture opens that water’s own page.
Nolichucky RiverOpen the Nolichucky River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Boone LakeOpen the Boone Lake page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domain
Nolichucky RiverOpen the Nolichucky River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Boone LakeOpen the Boone Lake page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domain
Nolichucky RiverOpen the Nolichucky River page →Mark Fickett / CC BY 3.0
Boone LakeOpen the Boone Lake page →Tennessee Valley Authority / Public domainNext one along
More Nolichucky River access near Jackson Island
The closest other public access points on Nolichucky River, measured straight line from Jackson Island. Each one opens its own page with directions.
Jackson Island water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie.
Other water close by
Other fishing near Jackson Island
Public access on other water within 20 miles of Jackson Island, including Rocky Fork Creek, Boone Lake and Watauga River. Handy when the wind is wrong on Nolichucky River or the ramp is busy.
Bait on the way
Bait and tackle near Jackson Island
The closest shops to Jackson Island that this site has checked. Fly Shop of Tennessee in Johnson City is nearest, about 18 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.
Your turn
Rate and review Jackson Island
1. Tap your stars
2. Add a few words if you like
What visitors say
Loading visitor ratings
Where to next
Around Jackson Island
Jackson Island is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.