What to bring
Tackle for Stump Shoals
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.
Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:
How to get there
Getting to Stump Shoals
Stump Shoals is a public boat launch on Elk River in Lincoln County, Tennessee, run by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
1/2 mile north of US Hwy 64 east of Fayetteville
Stump Shoals is 21 miles west of Winchester, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Dickey Bridge, 1.5 miles to the east on the same water. For bait, The Sportsman’s Corner in Manchester is about 32 miles away.
Coordinates 35.14005, -86.47564
What you can catch
Fish you can catch at Stump Shoals
Elk River holds these, according to the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes.
By the time the Elk reaches Giles County it is well below the Tims Ford trout water and has become a warmwater smallmouth and catfish river
What you can keep
Fishing limits at Stump Shoals
What you can keep from Elk River at Stump Shoals. TWRA sets 1 rule just for Elk River. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.
| Fish | Daily limit | Length | Where or when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown trout | 1 | 20 in minimum | Tailwater: Tims Ford Dam to I-65 bridge, including tributaries. Total trout limit stays 7 |
| Largemouth bass | 5 black bass combined | No minimum | Statewide |
| Smallmouth bass | 5 black bass combined | No minimum | Statewide |
| Bluegill | No limit | No minimum | Statewide |
| Rock bass | 20 | No minimum | Statewide |
| Channel catfish | No limit under 34 in | Only one over 34 in | Statewide |
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.
3 public boat launches in Lincoln County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.
What it looks like
Elk River around Stump Shoals
What the water at Stump Shoals actually looks like. Drag or swipe through. Every picture opens that water’s own page.
Next one along
More Elk River access near Stump Shoals
The closest other public access points on Elk River, measured straight line from Stump Shoals. Each one opens its own page with directions.
Stump Shoals water holds smallmouth bass, sunfish, rock bass, catfish.
Other water close by
Other fishing near Stump Shoals
Public access on other water within 20 miles of Stump Shoals, including Tims Ford Lake. Handy when the wind is wrong on Elk River or the ramp is busy.
Bait on the way
Bait and tackle near Stump Shoals
The closest shops to Stump Shoals that this site has checked. The Sportsman’s Corner in Manchester is nearest, about 32 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.
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Where to next
Around Stump Shoals
Stump Shoals is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.