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

Fishing Site · Bedford County

Normandy Hatchery, Duck River

7 miles from Tullahoma.

What to bring

Tackle for Normandy Hatchery

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 Normandy Hatchery

Normandy Hatchery is a public access point on Duck River in Bedford County, Tennessee, run by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

1st bridge north of Normandy on Hiles Rd (Huffman Rd)

Normandy Hatchery is 7.1 miles north of Tullahoma, the nearest town with its own page here. The county seat, Shelbyville, is 12 miles to the west. The closest other public access is Pollard Boat Launching Area, a few hundred yards to the north-west on the same water. For bait, The Sportsman’s Corner in Manchester is about 10 miles away.

Coordinates 35.45802, -86.25673

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

What is there

What you will find at Normandy Hatchery

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 Normandy Hatchery. It is the same data the state uses, not a guess from a photograph.

Bank and water access

TWRA lists Normandy Hatchery 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 Normandy Hatchery

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

This is the county’s headline water and the page should lead with the biodiversity claim: the Duck is described as the most biologically diverse river in North America, with over 50 freshwater mussel species and 151 fish species. Below Henry Horton the pools get larger and the catfishing is the strength, with fish averaging around 18 inches.

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Normandy Hatchery

What you can keep from Duck River at Normandy Hatchery. Duck River has no limits of its own, so the statewide limits apply. These are the ones for the fish it holds.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Largemouth bass5 black bass combinedNo minimumStatewide
Smallmouth bass5 black bass combinedNo minimumStatewide
Spotted bass5 black bass combinedNo minimumStatewide
BluegillNo limitNo minimumStatewide
Rock bass20No minimumStatewide
Channel catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide
Flathead catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide

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.

2 public boat launches in Bedford County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Duck River around Normandy Hatchery

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

Normandy Hatchery water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Normandy Hatchery

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Normandy Hatchery, including Normandy Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on Duck River or the ramp is busy.

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Common questions

Questions about Normandy Hatchery

Can you launch a boat at Normandy Hatchery?

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

Do you need a fishing licence at Normandy Hatchery?

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 Normandy Hatchery?

Duck River holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill, rock bass, yellow bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish and redhorse. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near Normandy Hatchery?

The Sportsman’s Corner in Manchester is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 10 miles from Normandy Hatchery. Walmart Supercenter in McMinnville is next, about 31 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Normandy Hatchery?

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

Who runs Normandy Hatchery?

Normandy Hatchery 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.

Keep going

Fishing around Normandy Hatchery, 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 Duck River rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.