River · Scott

Fishing New River, Tennessee

Q: Is New 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 1 county, with directions to every one.

Jump to the access list Licence and limits

Every access point

Public access on New River, county by county

All 3 public access points TWRA records on New 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.

New River access in Scott County

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CountyHighway 27 New River Bridge1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.38295, -84.55202 Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CountyRiver Road Access1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.37444, -84.45059 Fee not listed2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CountyTowns Spring Road1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.40542, -84.49772

What to bring

Tackle for New River

Three picks from the smallmouth 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.

RodSt. Croix Bass X 7 ft medium spinning rodLight enough for a Ned rig, with enough backbone for a 5 lb fish in current.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

ReelPflueger President 30 spinning reelSmooth drag at a fair price. Fill it with braid and a leader.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

FinesseZ-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheadsThe single most reliable smallmouth bait on Tennessee rock. Drag it slowly.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

Full smallmouth bass checklist (10 items)All gear checklists

Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:

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

The water

New River boat ramps and fishing access

New River has 3 public access points: 3 boat ramps, in Scott County.

3public access points

3boat ramps

1county

River levels

New River level and flow today

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

New River level

What New River is actually like

New River, county by county

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

Scott County

From the Scott County page

Rises at Frozen Head in Morgan County and enters Scott County from the south-east, crossing US-27 at the community of New River just above the park boundary. Its upper watershed drains heavily coal-mined country and has a documented pollution history, which improves markedly by the time it reaches the Big South Fork confluence.

What you can catch

Fish in New River

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

smallmouth bass rock bass catfish

Guides who fish New River

What you can keep

Fishing limits on New River

New 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
Smallmouth bass	5 black bass combined	No minimum	Statewide
Rock bass	20	No minimum	Statewide
Channel 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 New River

New River touches 1 Tennessee county. The county page has the bait shops, the bank access and the local limits.

HuntsvilleScott County3 access points on New River, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →

By town

Towns on New 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.

Campbell CountyFishing near LaFollettePublic water within about 30 miles of LaFollette, closest first.See the spots →

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

Common questions

Questions about fishing New River

How many public boat ramps are there on New River?

TWRA lists 3 public boat launches on New River, with 3 ramp lanes between them, across 1 Tennessee county. Every one of them is listed on this page with directions.

What fish can you catch in New River?

New River holds smallmouth bass, rock bass 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 New River run through?

Scott county. Each has its own page on this site with the local bait shops, ramps and bank access.

Can you fish New River from the bank?

Yes, though no public fishing pier is recorded on New 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 New 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 New 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 New 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