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Lake · Cheatham, Davidson and Dickson

Fishing Cheatham Lake, Tennessee

14 public access points across 3 counties, with directions to every one.

Jump to the access listLicence and limits

Every access point

Public access on Cheatham Lake, county by county

All 14 public access points TWRA records on Cheatham 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.

Cheatham Lake access in Cheatham County

Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesFishing SiteCheatham Lake Fishing AccessDirections and detail →36.32274, -87.22377Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEBluff Creek Access Area1 ramp, 1 lanefishing piercanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.27990, -87.09910Launch fee3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACECheatham Dam Campground1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsDirections and detail →36.31500, -87.18670Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACECheatham Dam Ramp1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsDirections and detail →36.31710, -87.20110Free3 out of 5facilitiesMarina · Private LandHarpeth Shoals Marina1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsDirections and detail →36.27707, -87.07307Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityRiverbluff1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.26890, -87.07420Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · Private LandRiverview Marina (formerly Ashland City Dock)1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.26880, -87.07650

Cheatham Lake access in Davidson County

Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesBoat LaunchCheatham Lake Boat LaunchDirections and detail →36.14327, -86.89092Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACELock Two Park Boat RampI-40 to Briley Pkwy North, to McGavock pike exit, then to Pennington Bend River1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.24392, -86.70346Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACENeely’s Bend Boat RampI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Neely’s Bend Rd1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.19458, -86.66078Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACEOld Hickory DamI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to OH Damrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.29657, -86.65942Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEOld Hickory Dam Boat RampI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to OH Dam1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.29828, -86.66279Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEShelby Park Boat Ramp1 ramp, 2 lanesDirections and detail →36.16517, -86.72782

Cheatham Lake access in Dickson County

Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEDoziers Boat Dock1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.30290, -87.15290

What to bring

Tackle for Cheatham 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:

Crappie checklistStriper and Hybrid checklistWalleye and Sauger checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

The water

Cheatham Lake boat ramps and fishing access

Cheatham Lake has 14 public access points: 11 boat ramps, 1 fishing pier and 3 kayak launches, in Cheatham, Davidson and Dickson counties.

14public access points
11boat ramps
1fishing pier
3kayak and canoe launches
3counties

Lake conditions

Cheatham Lake level today

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

Cheatham Lake level

What Cheatham Lake is actually like

Cheatham Lake, county by county

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

Davidson County

From the Davidson County page

This is the Cumberland River as it runs through downtown Nashville and on to Ashland City, 16 free ramps, two marinas, and the winter sauger bite below Old Hickory and Percy Priest dams is the standout.

What it looks like

Cheatham Lake in photographs

What Cheatham Lake looks like through the year. 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 3.0Cumberland River, TennesseeCumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not s / Public domainJ. Percy Priest Lake, TennesseeJ. Percy Priest LakeOpen the J. Percy Priest Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Cumberland River, TennesseeCumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland 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 3.0Cumberland River, TennesseeCumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →Pub. by Southern Latex Co., Nashville, Tenn. “Ti / Public domain

What you can catch

Fish in Cheatham Lake

What Cheatham 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 basscrappiewhite basswalleyesaugercatfishrainbow trout
Guides who fish Cheatham Lake

What you can keep

Fishing limits on Cheatham Lake

TWRA sets 3 rules just for Cheatham Lake. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Largemouth bass5 black bass combined14 in minimumIncludes the Stones River up to J. Percy Priest Dam
Smallmouth bass5 black bass combined18 in minimumCheatham Lake rule
Crappie3010 in minimumCheatham Lake rule
White bass15No minimumStatewide
Walleye516 in minimumStatewide
Sauger1015 in minimumStatewide
Channel catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide
Rainbow trout7 trout combinedNo minimumStatewide

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

Cheatham Lake fish consumption advisory

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

Entire reservoir (7450 acres) Cumberland River from Cheatham Dam to Old Hickory Dam.

PCBs

Precautionary advisory for black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) from Briley Parkway bridge crossing in Pennington Bend (Cumberland River Mile 200) downstream to Briley Parkway (Andrew B. Gibson Bridge) in Cockrell Bend (Cumberland River Mile 182).* Precautionary advisory for Catfish entire reservoir.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

By county

Counties on Cheatham Lake

Cheatham Lake touches 3 Tennessee counties. The county page has the bait shops, the bank access and the local limits.

Ashland CityCheatham County7 access points on Cheatham Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →NashvilleDavidson County6 access points on Cheatham Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →CharlotteDickson County1 access point on Cheatham Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →

14 public access points on Cheatham Lake, every one with directions.

By town

Towns on Cheatham 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.

Montgomery CountyFishing near ClarksvillePublic water within about 30 miles of Clarksville, closest first.See the spots →Davidson CountyFishing near NashvillePublic water within about 30 miles of Nashville, closest first.See the spots →Sumner CountyFishing near HendersonvillePublic water within about 30 miles of Hendersonville, closest first.See the spots →

Common questions

Questions about fishing Cheatham Lake

How many public boat ramps are there on Cheatham Lake?

TWRA lists 11 public boat launches on Cheatham Lake, with 13 ramp lanes between them, across 3 Tennessee counties. Every one of them is listed on this page with directions.

What fish can you catch in Cheatham Lake?

Cheatham Lake holds largemouth bass, crappie, white bass, walleye, sauger, catfish and rainbow trout. 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 Cheatham Lake run through?

Cheatham, Davidson and Dickson counties. Each has its own page on this site with the local bait shops, ramps and bank access.

Can you fish Cheatham Lake from the bank?

Yes. 1 of the public access points on Cheatham 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 Cheatham 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 Cheatham 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 Cheatham 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