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

Marina · Campbell County

Straight Creek Dock, Norris Lake

20 miles from Jefferson City.

With a guide

Guides and charters near Straight Creek Dock

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

Maynardville

Mel’s Striper Guide Service

Striped bassCall 865-661-7806melsstriperguideservice.com

Capt. Jim Durham · Multi-base TN/KY

StriperFun Guide Service

Charters on 13 TN waters: Norris, Cherokee, Dale Hollow, Percy Priest, Tims Ford, Center Hill and Normandy lakes; the Cumberland, Clinch, Powell, Holston, Obey and Caney Fork riversCall 931-403-2501striperfun.com

Anderson County

East Tennessee Guide Service

Norris LakeCall 865-310-5521tnfishingguide.com

What to bring

Tackle for Straight Creek Dock

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 Straight Creek Dock

Straight Creek Dock is a public marina on Norris Lake in Campbell County, Tennessee.

TWRA holds no written directions for Straight Creek Dock. 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.

Straight Creek Dock is 20 miles north-west of Jefferson City, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Bear Creek, 1.4 miles to the south-east on the same water. For bait, Beach Island Resort & Marina in Maynardville is about 11 miles away.

Coordinates 36.37328, -83.67750

Aerial view of Straight Creek Dock
Straight Creek Dock from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Straight Creek Dock

Fee not listed, call ahead 1 out of 5 Facilities 1 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 Straight Creek Dock. It is the same data the state uses, not a guess from a photograph.

Bank and water access

TWRA lists Straight Creek Dock as public access without built facilities. No ramp, no pier, no restroom, park, walk in and fish.

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 Straight Creek Dock

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

Union County owns the lake’s broad middle, including the “Loyston Sea,” one of the widest sections of Norris; TWRA is specific that the smallmouth fishing is a November-through-April proposition, and the lake draws down as much as 45 ft a year.

What you can keep

Fishing limits at Straight Creek Dock

What you can keep from Norris Lake at Straight Creek Dock. TWRA sets 8 rules just for Norris Lake. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Largemouth bass5 combined with smallmouth14 in minimumReservoir rules run to the Hwy 25E bridge (Clinch arm) and Gap Creek (Powell arm)
Smallmouth bass1 (Jun 1–Oct 15); 5 (Oct 16–May 31)18 in minimum Jun 1–Oct 15; 15 in minimum Oct 16–May 31Norris Lake rule
Spotted bassNo limitNo length limitIncludes Alabama bass
Crappie1010 in minimumNorris Lake rule
Striped bass2 (Apr 1–Oct 31); 1 (Nov 1–Mar 31)15 in minimum Apr–Oct; 36 in minimum Nov–MarNorris Lake rule
Walleye5 walleye/sauger combined15 in minimumUpstream to Grissom Island on the Clinch
Sauger5 walleye/sauger combined15 in minimumNorris Lake rule
Bluegill30 bluegill/warmouth/other sunfishNo length limitNorris Lake rule
Muskellunge136 in minimumStatewide
Channel catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide

Other rules on Norris Lake

  • Jan 1–Apr 30: no trotlines, limblines, jugs, gigging or snagging above River Mile 32 (Powell arm) and River Mile 137 (Clinch arm) to the Hwy 25E bridges. Doakes Pond closed to fishing.

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.

11 public boat launches in Campbell County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.

What it looks like

Norris Lake around Straight Creek Dock

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

Straight Creek Dock water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill.

Other water close by

Other fishing near Straight Creek Dock

Public access on other water within 20 miles of Straight Creek Dock, including Powell River, Clinch River and Holston River. Handy when the wind is wrong on Norris Lake or the ramp is busy.

Free1 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · TDOTPowell River Hwy 25E/32 River AccessPowell River · 12 miles northTurn off Hwy 25E onto Powell River Rd., then take an immediate rightDirections and detail →36.54114, -83.63182Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAHighway 25E Bridge AccessClinch River · 12 miles eastHwy 25E Bridge /Riverside Rd, Tazewell, TN1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.40111, -83.46012Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · TDECPowell River Preserve State Natural AreaPowell River · 13 miles northturn on Powell River Rd. From Hwy 25E, go approximately 4 miles, turn right into parking areacanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.55178, -83.59207Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · Private LandIndian Cave ParkHolston River · 15 miles southTurn onto Indian Cave Rd off Indian Ridge, follow about 1 mile to end.canoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →36.15928, -83.60077Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAGrainger County ParkCherokee Lake · 16 miles south-east12586 Lakeshore Dr, Rutledge, TN 378611 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →36.21340, -83.46780Launch fee3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAGreenlee Campground May SpringsCherokee Lake · 16 miles south-eastFollow HWY 375 (Lakeshore Rd) approx 5 miles from HWY 92, right on Wa-Ni Village Rd, right onto May Springs Rd1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.21510, -83.46300

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Common questions

Questions about Straight Creek Dock

Can you launch a boat at Straight Creek Dock?

No trailered ramp is recorded at Straight Creek Dock. It is listed as bank or pier access rather than a launch.

Do you need a fishing licence at Straight Creek Dock?

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 Straight Creek Dock?

Norris Lake holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, striped bass, walleye, muskellunge and catfish. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near Straight Creek Dock?

Beach Island Resort & Marina in Maynardville is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 11 miles from Straight Creek Dock. Gilmore Boat Dock in Rutledge is next, about 11 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Straight Creek Dock?

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

What town is closest to Straight Creek Dock?

Jefferson City, about 20 miles away. Jefferson City has its own page on this site listing every access point within about 30 miles of the middle of town.

Keep going

Fishing around Straight Creek Dock, 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 Norris Lake rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.