River · Dyer and Madison

Fishing Forked Deer River, Tennessee

Q: Is Forked Deer River 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.

3 public access points across 2 counties, with directions to every one.

Jump to the access list Licence and limits

Every access point

Public access on Forked Deer River, county by county

All 3 public access points TWRA records on Forked Deer River. 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.

Forked Deer River access in Dyer County

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAParker Ditch Boat Ramp1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.98437, -89.27837 Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CountyUnionville Bat Ramp1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →35.97666, -89.40105

Forked Deer River access in Madison County

Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesBoat LaunchSpring Creek WMADirections and detail →35.77713, -88.69488

What to bring

Tackle for Forked Deer River

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 checklist Bluegill and Panfish checklist Striper and Hybrid checklist Fish Finders compared Trolling Motors compared Lithium Marine Batteries compared Shallow Water Anchors compared

The water

Forked Deer River boat ramps and fishing access

Forked Deer River has 3 public access points: 2 boat ramps, in Dyer and Madison counties.

3public access points

2boat ramps

2counties

River levels

Forked Deer River level and flow today

The latest USGS gauge readings on the Forked Deer River, the seven-day trend and the forecast.

Forked Deer River level

What it looks like

Forked Deer River in photographs

What Forked Deer River looks like through the year. Every picture opens that water’s own page.

Forked Deer RiverOpen the Forked Deer River page →Malepheasant at en.wikipedia / Public domain

Obion RiverOpen the Obion River page →David.k.hochreiter / CC BY-SA 3.0

What you can catch

Fish in Forked Deer River

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

largemouth bass crappie sunfish white bass sauger channel catfish blue catfish flathead catfishbowfin

Guides who fish Forked Deer River

What you can keep

Fishing limits on Forked Deer River

Forked Deer River has no limits of its own, so the statewide limits apply. These are the ones for the fish it holds.

Fish	Daily limit	Length	Where or when
Largemouth bass	5 black bass combined	No minimum	Statewide
Crappie	30	No minimum	Statewide (West Tennessee)
Bluegill	No limit	No minimum	Statewide
White bass	15	No minimum	Statewide
Sauger	10	15 in minimum	Statewide
Channel catfish	No limit under 34 in	Only one over 34 in	Statewide
Blue catfish	No limit under 34 in	Only one over 34 in	Statewide
Flathead catfish	No limit under 34 in	Only one over 34 in	Statewide

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

By county

Counties on Forked Deer River

Forked Deer River touches 2 Tennessee counties. The county page has the bait shops, the bank access and the local limits.

DyersburgDyer County2 access points on Forked Deer River, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →JacksonMadison County1 access point on Forked Deer River, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →

By town

Towns on Forked Deer River

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.

Dyer CountyFishing near DyersburgPublic water within about 30 miles of Dyersburg, closest first.See the spots →Madison CountyFishing near JacksonPublic water within about 30 miles of Jackson, closest first.See the spots →

3 public access points on Forked Deer River, every one with directions.

Common questions

Questions about fishing Forked Deer River

How many public boat ramps are there on Forked Deer River?

TWRA lists 2 public boat launches on Forked Deer River, with 2 ramp lanes between them, across 2 Tennessee counties. Every one of them is listed on this page with directions.

What fish can you catch in Forked Deer River?

Forked Deer River holds largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish, white bass, sauger, channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish and bowfin. 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 Forked Deer River run through?

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

Can you fish Forked Deer River from the bank?

Yes, though no public fishing pier is recorded on Forked Deer River. Bank fishing here means the shoreline and parking areas at the public ramps, plus road and bridge crossings where there is public right of way.

Do you need a licence to fish Forked Deer River?

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 Forked Deer River 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 Forked Deer River 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 water Licence and limits