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Lake · Grainger, Hamblen, Hawkins and Jefferson

Fishing Cherokee Lake, Tennessee

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

Jump to the access listLicence and limits

Every access point

Public access on Cherokee Lake, county by county

All 47 public access points TWRA records on Cherokee 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.

Cherokee Lake access in Grainger County

Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaCard’nal Cove ResortDirections and detail →36.26233, -83.41393Launch fee3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · Private LandCardinal Cove Resort, Inc.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.26190, -83.41410Free2 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TWRACircle ParkTurn in Circle Park off Hwy 25-Ecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.29860, -83.29060Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVACounty Line Road Access Area1351 County Line Rd, Mooresburg, TN 378111 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.31917, -83.27676Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAGerman Creek Access Area2955 Lakeshore Dr, Bean Station, TN 377081 rampcanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.30807, -83.34582Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaGerman Creek MarinaDirections and detail →36.30433, -83.34777Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · Private LandGerman Creek Resort1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.30480, -83.34710Launch fee3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · MarinaGilmore Dock, Inc.Turn onto Gilmore Dock Lane off HWY 374 (Lakeshore Rd), just West of Helton Rd1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.27020, -83.39370Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAGrainger County Park12586 Lakeshore Dr, Rutledge, TN 378611 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →36.21340, -83.46780Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAGreenlee Campground1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.23450, -83.43210Launch fee3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAGreenlee Campground May SpringsFollow HWY 375 (Lakeshore Rd) approx 5 miles from HWY 92, right on Wa-Ni Village Rd, right onto May Springs Rd1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.21510, -83.46300Free2 out of 5facilitiesFishing SiteHwy 25 Fishing Pier1730 US 25E, Bean Station, TN 37708fishing pierDirections and detail →36.30324, -83.29186Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAHwy 25E #1301 US 25E, Bean Station, TN 377082 ramps, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.26805, -83.28510Launch fee3.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · Private LandLakeside Marina1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.27150, -83.28190Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVALambdin Branch10394 Lakeshore Dr, Rutledge, TN 378611 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.24070, -83.43700Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesAttention · TVAMary’s ChapelMary’s Chapel Rd, Bean Station, TNDirections and detail →36.30478, -83.35559Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAOak Grove Access Area1536 Oak Grove Rd, Bean Station, TN 377081 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.30190, -83.32320Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAOakland Hollow Access Area15061 Lakeshore Dr, Rutledge, TN 378611 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.17720, -83.48830Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVARock Haven CreekRamp area1 ramp, More Than 3 lanesDirections and detail →36.32874, -83.37560Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVATate SpringsHwy 11-W south toward Rutlegde; on left 1/2 mile from hwy 25-E1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.33530, -83.34890Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVATwin Churches499 Twin Church Rd, Bean Station, TN 377081 rampcanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.27360, -83.37810Launch fee3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · Private LandWA-NI Village Boat DockTurn onto Wa-Ni Village Road1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.22190, -83.45160

Cherokee Lake access in Hamblen County

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · OtherCedar Creek Acces AreaTurn left Of Brights Pike eastbound On to Cedar Creek Roadcanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.27870, -83.23164Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TWRACedar Creek Access2551 Cedar Creek Rd, Russellville, TN, 37860Directions and detail →36.27848, -83.23143Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · Private LandCedar Hill1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.19174, -83.43090Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaCedar Hill Boat DockDirections and detail →36.19535, -83.42771Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CountyCherokee, Boat Launch RoadFrom US 25E, right on Cherokee Park Rd, 0.5 mi, left on Brights Pike, 0.9 mi, left on Boat Launch Rd1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.27080, -83.27350Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · Private LandFall Creek Boat Ramp1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.29000, -83.22680Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAFall Creek Recreation AreaInside Greenlee of Fall Creek campground beside office and fartherst point in campground2 ramps, 1 lanerestroomsDirections and detail →36.29422, -83.23415Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaFalls Creek MarinaDirections and detail →36.28815, -83.22284Free4 out of 5facilitiesMarina · CountyHamblen Boat DockFrom US 25E, right on Cherokee Park Rd, 0.1 mi, left on Floyd Hall Dr, 0.5 mil, right on Hamblen Dock Rd, 0.3 mi to ramp1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.26850, -83.27420Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAKidwells Ridge1200 Lakeway Rd, Morristown, TN 378141 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.24530, -83.37610Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TDECPanther Creek State Park1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsDirections and detail →36.20720, -83.41980Fee not listed1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVATVA Brights Pikecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.25734, -83.27346Free2 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVATVA Holt’s ChurchTurn off Lakeway Rd onto Holts Church Rdcanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.24595, -83.36296Free2 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVATVA Kellar BranchOff Anderson Bend Rdcanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.30041, -83.19144Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesAttention · TVATVA Lowe DriveTurn off of Cedar Hill Rd onto Lowe Drivecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.19181, -83.43105Free2 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVAThree Springs Dock RoadTurn on first left after turning left off Three Springs Rd at Needmore Rd Intersection.canoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.30990, -83.17030

Cherokee Lake access in Hawkins County

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVACaney Creek469 Marble Hill Rd, Rogersville, TN 378571 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.38552, -83.08532Free2 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVAChurch House PointSouth of Rogersville, about 8.7 mi from US 11W, Jesus Christ Rd / Quarryville Cemetery Rdcanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.36140, -83.16320Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAMelinda Ferry349 Melinda’s Ferry Rd, Rogersville, TN 378571 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.36880, -83.08090Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAPoor Valley289 Substation Rd, Mooresburg, TN 378111 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.34175, -83.20513Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAQuarryville9401 Hwy 11W, Mooresburg, TN 378112 ramps, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.36277, -83.16488

Cherokee Lake access in Jefferson County

Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · Private LandBlack Oak DockI-40, exit 417, North on HWY 92 for 6.6 mil, right on Russell Ave for 1.2 mi, right on E Rhoten St, 1 mi, right on Black Oak Rd, marina is 1.3 mi on left1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.15400, -83.48630Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAByrd Spring Branch2133 N Sizer Ave, Jefferson City, TN 377601 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.13670, -83.49520Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · TVAMossy CreekNorth on Russell Ave in Jefferson City. Left on Cherokee dr-dead endcanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.13170, -83.50660Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVATVA Cherokee DamI-40, exit 417, North on TN 92 for 6.7 mi, left on W Broadway Blvd, 1.3 mi, right on TN 92N for 1 mi, left on TN 92N for 3.6 mi, ramp on right3 ramps, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.15580, -83.51350

What to bring

Tackle for Cherokee 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

Cherokee Lake boat ramps and fishing access

Cherokee Lake has 47 public access points: 31 boat ramps, 1 fishing pier and 33 kayak launches, in Grainger, Hamblen, Hawkins and Jefferson counties.

47public access points
31boat ramps
1fishing pier
33kayak and canoe launches
4counties

Lake conditions

Cherokee Lake level today

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

Cherokee Lake level

What Cherokee Lake is actually like

Cherokee Lake, county by county

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

Hawkins County

From the Hawkins County page

TWRA notes fish densities here are greater than in most Tennessee reservoirs because of high fertility; the Hawkins end fishes more like a river than a lake.

Jefferson County

From the Jefferson County page

High fertility means fish densities greater than most Tennessee reservoirs. Stripers, hybrids and crappie are all stocked rather than self-sustaining.

Grainger County

From the Grainger County page

Grainger County holds the largest share of Cherokee’s shoreline and the most ramps of any county on the lake

What it looks like

Cherokee Lake in photographs

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

Cherokee Lake, TennesseeCherokee LakeOpen the Cherokee Lake page →TVA Web Team / CC BY 2.0Norris Lake, TennesseeNorris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Holston River, TennesseeHolston RiverOpen the Holston River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Cherokee Lake, TennesseeCherokee LakeOpen the Cherokee Lake page →Dwight Burdette / CC BY 3.0Norris Lake, TennesseeNorris LakeOpen the Norris Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Holston River, TennesseeHolston RiverOpen the Holston River page →Dacoshi / CC BY-SA 3.0

What you can catch

Fish in Cherokee Lake

What Cherokee 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 basscrappiebluegillstriped basswhite basswalleyesaugeyecatfish
Guides who fish Cherokee Lake

What you can keep

Fishing limits on Cherokee Lake

TWRA sets 6 rules just for Cherokee Lake. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Largemouth bass5 combined with smallmouth15 in minimumReservoir rules run from Cherokee Dam upstream to John Sevier Dam
Smallmouth bass1 (Jun 1–Oct 15); 5 (Oct 16–May 31)18 in minimum Jun 1–Oct 15; 15 in minimum Oct 16–May 31Within the 5 largemouth/smallmouth combined limit
Spotted bass15No length limitSpotted/Alabama bass, separate from the largemouth/smallmouth limit
Walleye10 walleye/sauger/saugeye combined15 in minimumCherokee Lake rule
Sauger10 walleye/sauger/saugeye combined15 in minimumCherokee Lake rule
Paddlefish1No length limitSeason Apr 1–15. Culling prohibited. Holston River from Hwy 344 (Malinda Ferry Rd) bridge up to John Sevier Dam closed to snagging Mar 1–31 and Apr 16–May 31
Crappie1510 in minimumStatewide
BluegillNo limitNo minimumStatewide
Striped bass2 striped and hybrid combined15 in minimumStatewide
White bass15No minimumStatewide
Channel catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide

Other rules on Cherokee Lake

  • Jul 1–Sep 15: marked zone just above Cherokee Dam closed to fishing from boats (bank fishing and southeast-shore coves stay open)

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

Cherokee Lake fish consumption advisory

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

Entirety (28,780 acres)

Mercury

Precautionary advisory for black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted) and Catfish.*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 Cherokee Lake

What’s biting on Cherokee Lake in October

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 Cherokee Lake

Oct232026

MLF College Fishing

Oct 23, 2026 · Major League Fishing

Launch: TVA Dam Boat Launch, 2805 TN-92, Jefferson City

Event page

Oct242026

MLF High School Open

Oct 24, 2026 · Major League Fishing

Launch: TVA Dam Boat Launch, 2805 TN-92, Jefferson City

Event page

Apr242027

Phoenix Bass Fishing League Team/Solo

Apr 24, 2027 · Major League Fishing

Launch: TVA Dam Boat Launch, Jefferson City

Event page

Cherokee Lake schedule and resultsEvery Tennessee tournament

By county

Counties on Cherokee Lake

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

RutledgeGrainger County22 access points on Cherokee Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →MorristownHamblen County16 access points on Cherokee Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →RogersvilleHawkins County5 access points on Cherokee Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →DandridgeJefferson County4 access points on Cherokee Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →

By town

Towns on Cherokee 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.

Hamblen CountyFishing near MorristownPublic water within about 30 miles of Morristown, closest first.See the spots →Jefferson CountyFishing near Jefferson CityPublic water within about 30 miles of Jefferson City, closest first.See the spots →

47 public access points on Cherokee Lake, every one with directions.

Common questions

Questions about fishing Cherokee Lake

How many public boat ramps are there on Cherokee Lake?

TWRA lists 31 public boat launches on Cherokee 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 Cherokee Lake?

Cherokee Lake holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, striped bass, white bass, walleye, saugeye 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 Cherokee Lake run through?

Grainger, Hamblen, Hawkins and Jefferson counties. Each has its own page on this site with the local bait shops, ramps and bank access.

Can you fish Cherokee Lake from the bank?

Yes. 1 of the public access points on Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee Lake: Cherokee Lake conditions.