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Boat Launch · Rutherford County

West Fork, J. Percy Priest Lake

1 ramp, 1 lane. 3 miles from Smyrna.

Get driving directionsAll Rutherford County spots

With a guide

Guides and charters near West Fork

Captains who run J. Percy Priest 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 West Fork

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:

Smallmouth Bass checklistCrappie checklistBluegill and Panfish checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

How to get there

Getting to West Fork

West Fork is a public boat launch on J. Percy Priest Lake in Rutherford County, Tennessee, run by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Florence Rd

West Fork is 2.8 miles east of Smyrna, the nearest town with its own page here. The county seat, Murfreesboro, is 10 miles to the south-east. The closest other public access is East Fork Boat Ramp, 1.3 miles to the east on the same water. For bait, Walmart Supercenter in Mount Juliet is about 14 miles away.

Coordinates 35.98066, -86.46940

Open in Google MapsSee nearby spots on the mapFishing near Smyrna
Aerial view of West Fork
West Fork from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at West Fork

Free to launch 2.5 out of 5 Facilities 2.5 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 West Fork. It is the same data the state uses, not a guess from a photograph.

Boat ramp

You can launch a trailered boat here. 1 lane.

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 West Fork

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

largemouth basssmallmouth basscrappiebluegillhybrid striped basswhite bassyellow basschannel catfish

Rutherford County holds the upper, shallower, more riverine end of the lake, where the spring crappie and white bass runs push up the tributaries; the summer hybrid striper fishing is concentrated at the lower Davidson County end around 18–19 feet.

Everything on J. Percy Priest LakeFind a local fishing guide

What you can keep

Fishing limits at West Fork

What you can keep from J. Percy Priest Lake at West Fork. TWRA sets 3 rules just for J. Percy Priest Lake. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Largemouth bass5 black bass combined15 in minimumJ. Percy Priest Lake rule
Smallmouth bass5 black bass combined18 in minimumJ. Percy Priest Lake rule
Crappie3010 in minimumJ. Percy Priest Lake rule
BluegillNo limitNo minimumStatewide
Hybrid striped bass2 striped and hybrid combined15 in minimumStatewide
White bass15No minimumStatewide
Channel 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.

Statewide limits and licenses

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

What it looks like

J. Percy Priest Lake around West Fork

What the water at West Fork 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 3.0Stones River, TennesseeWest Fork Stones RiverOpen the West Fork Stones River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0East Fork Stones River, TennesseeEast Fork Stones RiverOpen the East Fork Stones 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 3.0Stones River, TennesseeWest Fork Stones RiverOpen the West Fork Stones River page →Brent Moore / CC BY 2.0East Fork Stones River, TennesseeEast Fork Stones RiverOpen the East Fork Stones River page →Brent Moore / CC BY 2.0

Next one along

More J. Percy Priest Lake access near West Fork

The closest other public access points on J. Percy Priest Lake, measured straight line from West Fork. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · OtherEast Fork Boat Ramp1.3 miles east1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsDirections and detail →35.98130, -86.44550Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · OtherJefferson Springs1.5 miles north1 ramp, 2 lanesDirections and detail →36.00170, -86.47230Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEFall Creek2.8 miles north-east840 to 452 to Mona Rd1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.01760, -86.44710Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEMona Boat Ramp2.9 miles eastW. Jefferson Pike1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.97890, -86.41850Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEStewarts Creek3.8 miles north1 ramp, 2 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.03268, -86.49382Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesBoat LaunchJ. Percy Priest Lake Boat Launch3.9 miles northDirections and detail →36.03740, -86.47435
All 32 access points on J. Percy Priest Lake

West Fork water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill.

Other water close by

Other fishing near West Fork

Public access on other water within 20 miles of West Fork, including East Fork Stones River, West Fork Stones River and Stones River. Handy when the wind is wrong on J. Percy Priest Lake or the ramp is busy.

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityWalter Hill Boat rampEast Fork Stones River · 5.9 miles south-eastHwy 231 North1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.94192, -86.37603Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesPaddling · CityMurfreesboro GreenwayWest Fork Stones River · 6.9 miles southThompson Lane1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.88778, -86.42303Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesPaddlingWest Fork Stones River Paddle LaunchWest Fork Stones River · 7.7 miles southDirections and detail →35.87597, -86.42263Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesPaddlingManson Pk Trailhead AccessWest Fork Stones River · 9.1 miles southDirections and detail →35.85751, -86.41214Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACEBelow Percy Priest East SideStones River · 15 miles north-westI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Bell Rd, right to Dodson ChapelDirections and detail →36.15854, -86.61891Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACEMetro Park side below Percy Priest DamStones River · 15 miles north-westI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Bell Rd, right to damrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.15760, -86.62084

Bait on the way

Bait and tackle near West Fork

The closest shops to West Fork that this site has checked. Walmart Supercenter in Mount Juliet is nearest, about 14 miles away. Call ahead in winter, when smaller shops cut their hours.

Mount Juliet · about 14 milesWalmart SupercenterOpen late, sells licences at the counter, and carries terminal tackle and line.Directions and phone →Nashville · about 15 milesStarkey’s Bait & TackleLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →Nashville · about 15 milesFinn’s Tackle ShopLive bait, so this is the stop for minnows, crickets and nightcrawlers.Directions and phone →
All bait and tackle in Rutherford County

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Common questions

Questions about West Fork

Can you launch a boat at West Fork?

Yes. TWRA records West Fork as having a boat ramp. It has 1 lane. TWRA records it as free to launch.

Do you need a fishing licence at West Fork?

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 West Fork?

J. Percy Priest Lake holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, hybrid striped bass, white bass, yellow bass and channel catfish. Seasons and creel limits are set by TWRA and change, so check them before you keep anything.

Where can I buy bait near West Fork?

Walmart Supercenter in Mount Juliet is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 14 miles from West Fork. Starkey’s Bait & Tackle in Nashville is next, about 15 miles away.

Is there a restroom at West Fork?

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

Who runs West Fork?

West Fork 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 West Fork

West Fork is one access point. These pages cover the rest of the water and the rest of the county.

The whole waterFishing J. Percy Priest Lake32 public access points across 3 counties.See the spots →County guideFishing in Rutherford CountyEvery public spot in Rutherford County, mapped out.See the spots →Full listRutherford County spot listAll 15 access points in the county.See the spots →GearBait and tackle near MurfreesboroShops, rentals and where to buy a licence locally.Find gear →Nearest townFishing near SmyrnaEverything within about 30 miles of Smyrna, closest first.See the spots →

Keep going

Fishing around West Fork, 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 J. Percy Priest Lake rather than a booking desk. Licences and limits are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits