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Lake · DeKalb, Putnam, Warren and White

Fishing Center Hill Lake, Tennessee

26 public access points across 4 counties, with directions to every one.

Jump to the access listLicence and limits

Every access point

Public access on Center Hill Lake, county by county

All 26 public access points TWRA records on Center Hill Lake. Each card opens its own page with written directions, coordinates and a link straight to Google Maps.

Tap a pin for the spot page and directions. Open the full Tennessee fishing map.

Center Hill Lake access in DeKalb County

Free2 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACEAustin Bottomcanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.03733, -85.72056Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEBig Hurricane Creek1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.02609, -85.77656Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · USACECenter Hill MarinaFrom I-40, exit 269 S-go approx. 3 miles-turn right-go approx 2.5 miles-marina on left2 ramps, 2 lanesrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.07690, -85.86000Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACECookeville DockFrom I-40, exit 280s-go approx. 5mi to Cookeville boat Dock Rd-turn right, follow to dock1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.00080, -85.65220Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEDubland1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.94550, -85.68933Free4 out of 5facilitiesMarina · USACEEdgar Evins MarinaFrom I-40, exit 269S, go about 3 miles to 4-way stop, continue 2 miles straight ahead1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.08360, -85.82620Free5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEEdgar Evins SP Ramp 21 ramp, 3 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.07100, -85.83870Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEEdgar Evins Sp Ramp 11 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.07416, -85.83979Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEFloating Mill Recreation Area1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.04560, -85.76260Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · USACEHidden Harbor Marina1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.00180, -85.82660Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEHurricane Bridge Ramp2 ramps, More Than 3 lanesfishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.02650, -85.75030Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · USACEHurricane Marina1 ramp, 3 lanesrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.03930, -85.75950Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEJohnson Chapel1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.00420, -85.66790Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACELakeside Resort1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.02581, -85.74336Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesMarina · USACEPates Ford Marina1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →35.88300, -85.67310Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEPucketts’ Point1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.99640, -85.72010Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACERagland Bottom2 ramps, 3 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →35.97930, -85.72150Launch fee3.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · USACESligo Marinarestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →35.96700, -85.71720Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaUnnamed marinaDirections and detail →35.94111, -85.70153

Center Hill Lake access in Putnam County

Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaCookeville Boat DockDirections and detail →36.00098, -85.65218Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesBoat LaunchUnnamed boat launchDirections and detail →36.00129, -85.65328

Center Hill Lake access in Warren County

Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACERock Island State ParkFrom main park entrance, continue on Beach Rd until it ends at boat ramp parking lot1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →35.81619, -85.64563Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEWarren County Boat Ramp2.6 miles west of main park entrance, turn on Warren County Park Rd, follow 1. 4miles1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.81907, -85.66480

Center Hill Lake access in White County

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACECane Hollow1 ramp, More Than 3 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.03283, -85.62161Free3 out of 5facilitiesMarina · USACEHorseshoe Bend MarinaWebbs Camp Road to end at ramp1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →35.82510, -85.67740Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEThree Islands1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.85777, -85.66972

What to bring

Tackle for Center Hill Lake

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

The water

Center Hill Lake boat ramps and fishing access

Center Hill Lake has 26 public access points: 21 boat ramps, 2 fishing piers and 15 kayak launches, in DeKalb, Putnam, Warren and White counties.

26public access points
21boat ramps
2fishing piers
15kayak and canoe launches
4counties

Lake conditions

Center Hill Lake level today

TVA’s current Center Hill Lake level, the 24-hour change, the Center Hill Dam generation schedule and the level forecast, on one page.

Center Hill Lake level

What Center Hill Lake is actually like

Center Hill Lake, county by county

Center Hill Lake does not fish the same at both ends. This is what the research for each county on it turned up.

DeKalb County

From the DeKalb County page

A deep, clear highland reservoir under steep rocky ridges, it fishes like a mountain lake rather than a Middle Tennessee impoundment, with finesse presentations in deep water through winter and a strong March–April walleye run

White County

From the White County page

White County holds the lake’s upper end below Great Falls Dam; it’s a deep, clear highland reservoir with rocky shorelines under steep ridges, and the March–April walleye run up the Caney Fork is the county’s signature event.

Putnam County

From the Putnam County page

Putnam holds a share of the upper lake; it is a deep, clear, steep-sided highland reservoir with rocky shorelines under bluffs, fished very differently from the shallow Middle Tennessee impoundments.

What it looks like

Center Hill Lake in photographs

What Center Hill Lake looks like through the year. Every picture opens that water’s own page.

Center Hill Lake, TennesseeCenter Hill LakeOpen the Center Hill Lake page →Tyler White / Public domainCaney Fork River, TennesseeCaney Fork RiverOpen the Caney Fork River page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not s / Public domainBarren Fork River, TennesseeBarren Fork RiverOpen the Barren Fork River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Collins River, TennesseeCollins RiverOpen the Collins River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Center Hill Lake, TennesseeCenter Hill LakeOpen the Center Hill Lake page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not s / Public domainCaney Fork River, TennesseeCaney Fork RiverOpen the Caney Fork River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

What you can catch

Fish in Center Hill Lake

What Center Hill Lake actually holds, from the county research behind this site and TWRA’s own species notes. A licence is required for all of it.

largemouth basssmallmouth bassspotted basscrappiebluegillwalleyecatfish
Guides who fish Center Hill Lake

What you can keep

Fishing limits on Center Hill Lake

TWRA sets 4 rules just for Center Hill 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 minimumCenter Hill Lake rule
Smallmouth bass5 black bass combined18 in minimumCenter Hill Lake rule
Muskellunge150 in minimumCenter Hill Lake rule
PaddlefishNo harvest—Reservoir and its tributaries closed to taking or possessing paddlefish
Spotted bass5 black bass combinedNo minimumStatewide
Crappie1510 in minimumStatewide
BluegillNo limitNo minimumStatewide
Walleye516 in minimumStatewide
Channel catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide

Other rules on Center Hill Lake

  • Snagging prohibited year-round. Jan 1–Apr 30 single-hook, 3-rod walleye run rule on the Caney Fork from Rock Island State Park ramp to Great Falls Dam.

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

Eating what you catch

Center Hill Lake fish consumption advisory

TDEC’s fish consumption advisory for Center Hill Lake, from its August 2026 list of posted waters.

Entire reservoir (23,051 acres)

Mercury

Precautionary advisory for any size black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted.) and walleye over 19 inches.*Precautionary means: Children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers should not consume the fish species named. All other persons should limit consumption of the named species to one meal per month.

Every Tennessee fish advisory

October on Center Hill Lake

What’s biting on Center Hill Lake in October

Crappie

Crappie in Tennessee

Crappie come back shallow in October. Fish attractors produce from October to May in 6–12 ft.

Where: Center Hill Lake, Great Falls Lake, Old Hickory Lake, J. Percy Priest Lake and Tims Ford Lake.

Source: TWRA: Center Hill · TWRA: Great Falls · TWRA: Old Hickory · TWRA: Percy Priest · TWRA: Tims Ford

Smallmouth bass

Smallmouth bass in Tennessee

Smallmouth move to long tapering points near the dam.

Where: Center Hill Lake.

Rules: On Norris Lake and Cherokee Lake the limit goes to 5 fish at a 15″ minimum from October 16.

Source: TWRA: Center Hill · TWRA: Norris · TWRA: Cherokee

All of Tennessee in October

Tournaments

Upcoming tournaments on Center Hill Lake

Apr102027

Phoenix Bass Fishing League Team/Solo

Apr 10, 2027 · Major League Fishing

Launch: Ragland Bottom Recreation Area, Sparta

Event page

Center Hill Lake schedule and resultsEvery Tennessee tournament

By county

Counties on Center Hill Lake

Center Hill Lake touches 4 Tennessee counties. The county page has the bait shops, the bank access and the local limits.

SmithvilleDeKalb County19 access points on Center Hill Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →CookevillePutnam County2 access points on Center Hill Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →McMinnvilleWarren County2 access points on Center Hill Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →Sparta (on the Calfkiller River)White County3 access points on Center Hill Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →

By town

Towns on Center Hill Lake

These pages measure from the middle of town rather than the county line, which is usually the number that matters when you are deciding where to drive.

DeKalb CountyFishing near SmithvillePublic water within about 30 miles of Smithville, closest first.See the spots →Warren CountyFishing near McMinnvillePublic water within about 30 miles of McMinnville, closest first.See the spots →Putnam CountyFishing near CookevillePublic water within about 30 miles of Cookeville, closest first.See the spots →

26 public access points on Center Hill Lake, every one with directions.

Common questions

Questions about fishing Center Hill Lake

How many public boat ramps are there on Center Hill Lake?

TWRA lists 21 public boat launches on Center Hill Lake, with 35 ramp lanes between them, across 4 Tennessee counties. Every one of them is listed on this page with directions.

What fish can you catch in Center Hill Lake?

Center Hill Lake holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, bluegill, walleye and catfish. Which of those is actually worth chasing depends on the season, and TWRA sets size and creel limits that change, so check before you keep anything.

Which counties does Center Hill Lake run through?

DeKalb, Putnam, Warren and White counties. Each has its own page on this site with the local bait shops, ramps and bank access.

Can you fish Center Hill Lake from the bank?

Yes. 2 of the public access points on Center Hill Lake have a built fishing pier, and most of the ramps have shoreline you can walk. A pier is the easiest option with children or without a boat.

Do you need a licence to fish Center Hill Lake?

Yes. Anyone 13 or older needs a Tennessee fishing licence, and a trout supplemental on top if you plan to keep trout. Non-residents can buy a three-day or ten-day licence rather than a full year.

Is Center Hill Lake free to fish?

The water is. Some of the ramps are not, Corps of Engineers sites, state park ramps and marinas often charge to launch or park. Each listing below shows the owner, which is the best guide to whether you will be asked for money.

Keep going

More Center Hill Lake water, and who fishes it

Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits

Before you launch, check today's level, dam release schedule and any weather alerts for Center Hill Lake: Center Hill Lake conditions.