95 Counties · 1,002 Public Access Points · 78 Lakes and RiversTennessee state record fish

Boat Launch · Lake County

Keystone, Reelfoot Lake

1 ramp, 2 lanes, fishing pier, canoe / kayak landing. In Tiptonville.

With a guide

Guides and charters near Keystone

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

Jon Kincade · Samburg / Hornbeak

Kincade’s Guide Service

Largemouth, crappie, catfish, bluegillCall 731-697-5494kgsreelfoot.com

David Ransom · Hornbeak

Reelfoot Lake Crappie Guide

Crappie, bluegill, catfishCall 731-335-2203reelfootlakefishingguide.com

Billy Blakley, Jeff Riddle · Hornbeak

Blue Bank Resort guide staff

CrappieCall 877-258-3226bluebankresort.com

What to bring

Tackle for Keystone

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

Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:

How to get there

Getting to Keystone

Keystone is a public boat launch on Reelfoot Lake in Lake County, Tennessee, run by TDEC.

From Tiptonville east on Hwy 21/22; 1.2 mile to Wagon Wheel Loop; 0.1 mile to Keystone Park Dr

Keystone is in Tiptonville. The closest other public access is Lassiter Landing, 0.4 miles to the south-east on the same water. For bait, Reelfoot Lake Sportsman’s Resort in Tiptonville is about 2 miles away.

Coordinates 36.38434, -89.44704

Aerial view of Keystone
Keystone from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Keystone

Free to launch 3.5 out of 5 Facilities 3.5 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 Keystone. It is the same data the state uses, not a guess from a photograph.

Boat ramp

You can launch a trailered boat here. 2 lanes.

Fishing pier

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

Canoe and kayak

A landing shallow enough to carry a paddle craft in and out.

Restrooms

Toilets on site, which is rarer than you would think.

Not recorded here: camping. Worth knowing before a long drive with the family.

What you can catch

Fish you can catch at Keystone

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

Formed by the 1811-12 New Madrid earthquakes, when the Mississippi River ran backward into a subsided basin. About 68% of the lake is three feet deep or less, with extensive stump fields, aquatic vegetation and standing bald cypress.

Crappie is the most harvested species, averaging over three-quarters of a pound over the last decade, and bluegill catch rates are among the best in the state at around 0.45 lb average. Be honest about bass: strict regulations reflect historically low largemouth densities. This is a panfish lake, not a bass lake.

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Keystone

What you can keep from Reelfoot Lake at Keystone. TWRA sets 2 rules just for Reelfoot Lake. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Largemouth bass5 largemouth/spotted combined15 in minimumReelfoot Lake rule
Crappie2010 in minimumReelfoot Lake rule
BluegillNo limitNo minimumStatewide
Channel catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide

Other rules on Reelfoot Lake

  • Reelfoot Preservation Permit required (exemptions for under 16, residents 65+, lifetime and sportsman licenses). Gas-powered boats prohibited in posted areas Apr 1–May 31.

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.

12 public boat launches in Lake County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

Keystone water holds largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, white bass.

Your turn

Rate and review Keystone

1. Tap your stars

2. Add a few words if you like

What visitors say

Loading visitor ratings

Common questions

Questions about Keystone

Can you launch a boat at Keystone?

Yes. TWRA records Keystone as having a boat ramp. It has 2 lanes. TWRA records it as free to launch.

Do you need a fishing licence at Keystone?

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 Keystone?

Reelfoot Lake holds largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, yellow bass, channel catfish, bowfin and gar. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near Keystone?

Reelfoot Lake Sportsman’s Resort in Tiptonville is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 2 miles from Keystone. Reelfoot Outdoors in Tiptonville is next, about 2 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Keystone?

Yes, TWRA records restrooms at this access point.

Who runs Keystone?

Keystone is listed under TDEC 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.

Keep going

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