What to bring
Tackle for Reister Access
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 Reister Access
Reister Access is a public boat launch on Emory River in Morgan County, Tennessee, run by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Access is located on west side of Deermont Rd Bridge and is available on both the N and S side of the road
Reister Access is 6.6 miles north of Harriman, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Nemo, 5.4 miles to the north-west on the same water. For bait, Lane’s Landing Bait & Tackle in Lenoir City is about 24 miles away.
Coordinates 36.02722, -84.57970
What you can catch
Fish you can catch at Reister Access
Emory River holds these, according to the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes.
The Emory joins the Clinch near Kingston and its lower reach is the county’s distinctive fishery: a winter and early-spring sauger run that carries its own gear restriction, which is the thing to build the page around.
What you can keep
Fishing limits at Reister Access
What you can keep from Emory River at Reister Access. TWRA sets 1 rule just for Emory River. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.
| Fish | Daily limit | Length | Where or when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paddlefish | No harvest | — | Closed to snagging, taking or possessing paddlefish from the mouth up to Hwy 299 bridge at Oakdale |
| Smallmouth bass | 5 black bass combined | No minimum | Statewide |
| Bluegill | No limit | No minimum | Statewide |
| Rock bass | 20 | No minimum | Statewide |
| Walleye | 5 | 16 in minimum | Statewide |
| Sauger | 10 | 15 in minimum | Statewide |
| Channel catfish | No limit under 34 in | Only one over 34 in | Statewide |
Other rules on Emory River
- Jan 1–Apr 30, Hwy 27 bridge (Harriman) up to Hwy 299 bridge (Oakdale): one single-point hook or lure with one single-point hook, max 3 rods; gigging, snagging and bowfishing closed.
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.
1 public boat launches in Morgan County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.
What it looks like
Emory River around Reister Access
What the water at Reister Access actually looks like. Drag or swipe through. Every picture opens that water’s own page.
Emory RiverOpen the Emory River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Clear CreekOpen the Clear Creek page →NPS staff / Public domain
Emory RiverOpen the Emory River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Clear CreekOpen the Clear Creek page →NPS staff / Public domain
Emory RiverOpen the Emory River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 4.0
Clear CreekOpen the Clear Creek page →NPS staff / Public domainNext one along
More Emory River access near Reister Access
The closest other public access points on Emory River, measured straight line from Reister Access. Each one opens its own page with directions.
Reister Access water holds smallmouth bass, sunfish, rock bass, muskellunge.
Other water close by
Other fishing near Reister Access
Public access on other water within 20 miles of Reister Access, including Watts Bar Lake and Clear Creek. Handy when the wind is wrong on Emory River or the ramp is busy.
Bait on the way
Bait and tackle near Reister Access
The closest shops to Reister Access that this site has checked. Lane’s Landing Bait & Tackle in Lenoir City is nearest, about 24 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.
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Where to next
Around Reister Access
Reister Access is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.