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

Boat Launch · Campbell County

Whitman Hollow, Norris Lake

1 ramp, 1 lane, canoe / kayak landing. 5 miles from LaFollette.

With a guide

Guides and charters near Whitman Hollow

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 Whitman Hollow

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 Whitman Hollow

Whitman Hollow is a public boat launch on Norris Lake in Campbell County, Tennessee, run by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Whitman Hollow Rd, LaFollette, TN

Whitman Hollow is 4.6 miles south of LaFollette, the nearest town with its own page here. The closest other public access is Whitman Hollow Marina, a few hundred yards to the south-west on the same water. For bait, Walmart Supercenter in Jacksboro is about 5 miles away.

Coordinates 36.31841, -84.09211

Aerial view of Whitman Hollow
Whitman Hollow from above. The pin marks the access point. USGS aerial imagery.

What is there

What you will find at Whitman Hollow

Free to launch 3 out of 5 Facilities 3 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 Whitman Hollow. 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.

Canoe and kayak

A landing shallow enough to carry a paddle craft in and out.

Open 24 hours

TWRA records round the clock access, so early starts are fine.

Not recorded here: fishing pier, restrooms, camping. Worth knowing before a long drive with the family.

What you can catch

Fish you can catch at Whitman Hollow

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 Whitman Hollow

What you can keep from Norris Lake at Whitman Hollow. 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.

Next one along

More Norris Lake access near Whitman Hollow

The closest other public access points on Norris Lake, measured straight line from Whitman Hollow. Each one opens its own page with directions.

Whitman Hollow water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill.

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Common questions

Questions about Whitman Hollow

Can you launch a boat at Whitman Hollow?

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

Do you need a fishing licence at Whitman Hollow?

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 Whitman Hollow?

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 Whitman Hollow?

Walmart Supercenter in Jacksboro is the closest bait and tackle shop this site lists, about 5 miles from Whitman Hollow. Buffalo Creek Outdoor Etc in Andersonville is next, about 9 miles away.

Is there a restroom at Whitman Hollow?

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

Who runs Whitman Hollow?

Whitman Hollow is listed under the Tennessee Valley Authority 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.

Keep going

Fishing around Whitman Hollow, 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.