95 Counties · 1,002 Public Access Points · 78 Lakes and RiversTennessee state record fish
Tennessee Fishing SpotsEvery County, Every Town
Spot SearchGear SearchLakes & RiversFishAll Fishing SpotsCountiesTownsGuides & ChartersTournamentsState RecordsLicence & LimitsEmail Updates

Boat Launch · Davidson County

Shelby Park Boat Ramp, Cheatham Lake

1 ramp, 2 lanes. 3 miles from Nashville.

Get driving directionsAll Davidson County spots

With a guide

Guides and charters near Shelby Park Boat Ramp

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

Billy Flatt · Nashville

Nashville Fishing Charters

Stripers, hybrids, crappie, largemouth, smallmouthCall 615-812-2091nashvillefishingcharters.com

Capt. Brian and two guides · Nashville

Fish Nashville

Striper, hybrid, catfish, crappie, bass, troutCall 615-200-0618fishnashville.com

Mark Travis · Nashville area

Crappie Guide Service

White and black crappieCall 615-542-9800crappieguideservice.com

All 6 guides on Nashville lakes and the Cumberland

What to bring

Tackle for Shelby Park Boat Ramp

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 checklistStriper and Hybrid checklistWalleye and Sauger checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

How to get there

Getting to Shelby Park Boat Ramp

Shelby Park Boat Ramp is a public boat launch on Cheatham Lake in Davidson County, Tennessee, run by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

TWRA holds no written directions for Shelby Park Boat Ramp. Use the coordinates below, which come straight from the state’s access record and drop you on the access point itself rather than on the nearest town.

Shelby Park Boat Ramp is 3.0 miles east of Nashville, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Heartland Ramp on Stones River, 3.8 miles to the east. For bait, Fly South in Nashville is about 4 miles away.

Coordinates 36.16517, -86.72782

Open in Google MapsSee nearby spots on the mapFishing near Nashville
Aerial view of Shelby Park Boat Ramp
Shelby Park Boat Ramp from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Shelby Park Boat Ramp

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 Shelby Park Boat Ramp. 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.

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: 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 Shelby Park Boat Ramp

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

largemouth basscrappiewhite basswalleyesaugercatfishrainbow trout

This is the Cumberland River as it runs through downtown Nashville and on to Ashland City, 16 free ramps, two marinas, and the winter sauger bite below Old Hickory and Percy Priest dams is the standout.

Everything on Cheatham LakeFind a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Shelby Park Boat Ramp

What you can keep from Cheatham Lake at Shelby Park Boat Ramp. TWRA sets 3 rules just for Cheatham Lake. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Largemouth bass5 black bass combined14 in minimumIncludes the Stones River up to J. Percy Priest Dam
Smallmouth bass5 black bass combined18 in minimumCheatham Lake rule
Crappie3010 in minimumCheatham Lake rule
White bass15No minimumStatewide
Walleye516 in minimumStatewide
Sauger1015 in minimumStatewide
Channel catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide
Rainbow trout7 trout combinedNo minimumStatewide

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

21 public boat launches in Davidson County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Cheatham Lake around Shelby Park Boat Ramp

What the water at Shelby Park Boat Ramp actually looks like. Drag or swipe through. Every picture opens that water’s own page.

J. Percy Priest Lake, TennesseeJ. Percy Priest LakeOpen the J. Percy Priest Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Cumberland River, TennesseeCumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not s / Public domainJ. Percy Priest Lake, TennesseeJ. Percy Priest LakeOpen the J. Percy Priest Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Cumberland River, TennesseeCumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0J. Percy Priest Lake, TennesseeJ. Percy Priest LakeOpen the J. Percy Priest Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Cumberland River, TennesseeCumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →Pub. by Southern Latex Co., Nashville, Tenn. “Ti / Public domain

Next one along

More Cheatham Lake access near Shelby Park Boat Ramp

The closest other public access points on Cheatham Lake, measured straight line from Shelby Park Boat Ramp. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACENeely’s Bend Boat Ramp4.3 miles north-eastI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Neely’s Bend Rd1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.19458, -86.66078Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACELock Two Park Boat Ramp5.6 miles northI-40 to Briley Pkwy North, to McGavock pike exit, then to Pennington Bend River1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.24392, -86.70346Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesBoat LaunchCheatham Lake Boat Launch9.3 miles westDirections and detail →36.14327, -86.89092Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACEOld Hickory Dam9.8 miles north-eastI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to OH Damrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.29657, -86.65942Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEOld Hickory Dam Boat Ramp9.9 miles northI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to OH Dam1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.29828, -86.66279Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityRiverbluff21 miles west1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.26890, -87.07420
All 14 access points on Cheatham Lake

Shelby Park Boat Ramp water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Shelby Park Boat Ramp

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Shelby Park Boat Ramp, including Stones River and J. Percy Priest Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on Cheatham Lake or the ramp is busy.

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityHeartland RampStones River · 3.8 miles eastFrom I40, take exit 215B for TN 155 N/Briley Pkwy. Take exit 10 for Two Rivers Pkwy. Turn right at Two Rivers Pkwy. Turn left at McGavock Pike. Take 2nd right onto Fernbrook…1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.18539, -86.66500Fee not listed1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing SiteStones River Greenway, HermitageStones River · 5.4 miles eastDirections and detail →36.18533, -86.63434Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACEMetro Park side below Percy Priest DamStones River · 6.0 miles eastI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Bell Rd, right to damrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.15760, -86.62084Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACEJ. Percy Priest Resource CenterJ. Percy Priest Lake · 6.0 miles eastI-40 to Stewart’s Ferry exit, Bell Rdaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.15383, -86.62129Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACEBelow Percy Priest East SideStones River · 6.1 miles eastI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Bell Rd, right to Dodson ChapelDirections and detail →36.15854, -86.61891Launch fee5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaElm Hill MarinaJ. Percy Priest Lake · 6.3 miles eastI-40 to Stewarts Ferry, proceed to marina2 ramps, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.13370, -86.62230

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near Shelby Park Boat Ramp

The closest shops to Shelby Park Boat Ramp that this site has checked. Fly South in Nashville is nearest, about 4 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Nashville · about 4 milesFly SouthFly shop and outfitter. Flies, leader, licences and local water advice.Directions and phone →Nashville · about 5 milesCumberland TransitTackle and bait for Davidson County water. Call ahead out of season, winter hours are short.Directions and phone →Nashville · about 6 milesStarkey’s Bait & TackleLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →
All bait and tackle in Davidson County

Your turn

Rate and review Shelby Park Boat Ramp

1. Tap your stars

2. Add a few words if you like

What visitors say

Loading visitor ratings

Common questions

Questions about Shelby Park Boat Ramp

Can you launch a boat at Shelby Park Boat Ramp?

Yes. TWRA records Shelby Park Boat Ramp as having a boat ramp. It has 2 lanes. TWRA records it as free to launch.

Do you need a fishing licence at Shelby Park Boat Ramp?

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 Shelby Park Boat Ramp?

Cheatham Lake holds largemouth bass, crappie, white bass, walleye, sauger, catfish and rainbow trout. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near Shelby Park Boat Ramp?

Fly South in Nashville is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 4 miles from Shelby Park Boat Ramp. Cumberland Transit in Nashville is next, about 5 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Shelby Park Boat Ramp?

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

Who runs Shelby Park Boat Ramp?

Shelby Park Boat Ramp is listed under the US Army Corps of Engineers 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 Shelby Park Boat Ramp

Shelby Park Boat Ramp is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

The whole waterFishing Cheatham Lake14 public access points across 3 counties.See the spots →County guideFishing in Davidson CountyEvery public spot in Davidson County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listDavidson County spot listAll 43 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near NashvilleShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near NashvilleEverything within about 30 miles of Nashville, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around Shelby Park Boat Ramp, 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 Cheatham Lake rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits