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Lake · Davidson, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale and Wilson

Fishing Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee

54 public access points across 5 counties, with directions to every one.

Jump to the access listLicence and limits

Every access point

Public access on Old Hickory Lake, county by county

All 54 public access points TWRA records on Old Hickory 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.

Old Hickory Lake access in Davidson County

Free5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaBlackjack Cove MarinaRiverside Drive1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.25110, -86.64095Free2 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEMetro Beach Boat Ramp3 ramps, More Than 3 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.28767, -86.65732Launch fee1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACEMetro Beach Swim AreaI-40 to exit 221. OH Blvd to OH damaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.28747, -86.66070Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesMarina · USACEOld Hickory Marina1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.25140, -86.63920

Old Hickory Lake access in Smith County

Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesFishing SiteOld Hickory Lake Fishing AccessDirections and detail →36.28966, -85.94077

Old Hickory Lake access in Sumner County

Free2 out of 5facilitiesMarina · MarinaAnchor High MarinarestroomsDirections and detail →36.29760, -86.64650Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEAvondale Recreation AreaShutes Lane to Avondale Access1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.32340, -86.54110Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TDECBledsoe Creek State Park RampZieglers Fort Rd1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.37610, -86.35230Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaBluegrass MarinaDirections and detail →36.31528, -86.57612Free5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEBull Run Access1 ramp, 2 lanesfishing pierrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.34290, -86.43340Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACECages Bend Campground1 ramprestroomsDirections and detail →36.30170, -86.51370Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACECairo Boat Ramp1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.35930, -86.36250Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACECedar Grove Access1 rampfishing pierrestroomsDirections and detail →36.34010, -86.44660Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaCreekwood MarinaDirections and detail →36.28625, -86.60813Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEDrakes Creek Boat Ramp1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.29680, -86.61340Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaDrakes Creek Marine WorksDirections and detail →36.26068, -86.60876Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaGallatin MarinaDirections and detail →36.34734, -86.47693Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TVAGallatin Steam Plant Ramp1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierDirections and detail →36.32420, -86.39200Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACELock 3 Access1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.27680, -86.63160Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACELock 4 Access1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierrestroomsDirections and detail →36.33740, -86.47620Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEMallard Point Park1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.28980, -86.60820Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEOld Union Hill Access1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.39830, -86.34530Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACERockland Park1 ramp, 3 lanesDirections and detail →36.29730, -86.65060Free5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CitySanders Ferry Park1 ramp, 3 lanesfishing pierrestroomsDirections and detail →36.24960, -86.60430Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACESaundersville1 rampDirections and detail →36.31730, -86.55950Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaShady Cove MarinaDirections and detail →36.37689, -86.33945Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACESpecial Needs Access1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.35760, -86.47310Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEStark KnobAnderson Lane to Cumberland Hills to Lake Park1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.28170, -86.57560Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEStation Camp Creek1 ramp, 2 lanesDirections and detail →36.34820, -86.51360Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesBoat LaunchWalton’s Ferry Boat RampDirections and detail →36.25869, -86.62874Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TDECZiegler’s Fort Ramp1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.37440, -86.35880

Old Hickory Lake access in Trousdale County

Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CountySecond Creek1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.38830, -86.20860Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat LaunchTaylor’s Landing1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.37233, -86.16785

Old Hickory Lake access in Wilson County

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEBartons Creek1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.27580, -86.36520Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaBoat House at Benders FerryDirections and detail →36.28219, -86.50096Free4 out of 5facilitiesMarina · Private LandCedar Creek MarinaHWY 70 to Noraville Road, right Saundersville Road1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.27420, -86.51120Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACECedar Creek Park1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.27750, -86.50830Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaCedar Creek Yacht ClubDirections and detail →36.28010, -86.50308Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · Private LandCherokee Boat Dock1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.33600, -86.43040Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaCherokee MarinaDirections and detail →36.33562, -86.42926Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACECiaro Bend1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.34060, -86.37370Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEColes FerryHWY 231 to Coles Ferry Pike1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.30520, -86.40280Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACECripple Children Ramp1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.30390, -86.47430Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEDavis Corner Access1 ramp, 2 lanesaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.28070, -86.44800Fee not listed1.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat LaunchDickerson ChapelDirections and detail →36.30490, -86.23381Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesMarinaHarbor Island Yacht ClubDirections and detail →36.25438, -86.56620Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEHunters Point231 to Old Hunters Point Pike, right onto Orian1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.29940, -86.26540Fee not listed2 out of 5facilitiesFishing SiteLangford Covefishing pierDirections and detail →36.24577, -86.57012Launch fee3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACELaquardo Access1 ramp, 2 lanesaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.28980, -86.44420Free4 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACELone Branch1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.28370, -86.50230Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEMartha Gallatin Boat Ramp1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.33586, -86.43876Free3 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRAMisty Cove1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.31960, -86.28960Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACEShutes Branch1 ramp, 1 lanefishing piercanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.24993, -86.56799Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · USACETyree Access1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.30340, -86.46420

What to bring

Tackle for Old Hickory 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 checklistStriper and Hybrid checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

The water

Old Hickory Lake boat ramps and fishing access

Old Hickory Lake has 54 public access points: 39 boat ramps, 9 fishing piers and 3 kayak launches, in Davidson, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale and Wilson counties.

54public access points
39boat ramps
9fishing piers
3kayak and canoe launches
5counties

Lake conditions

Old Hickory Lake level today

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

Old Hickory Lake level

Access notices

Closures and notices on Old Hickory Lake

Corps noticeSep 15, 2026

Old Hickory Lake drawdown to assess shoreline conditions in November

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 15, 2026), The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District has scheduled a drawdown of the lake for November 2026.

Old Hickory Lake

Corps of Engineers announcement

All Tennessee ramp closures

What Old Hickory Lake is actually like

Old Hickory Lake, county by county

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

Wilson County

From the Wilson County page

The Cumberland forms Wilson County’s northern border with Trousdale and Sumner and that reach is Old Hickory; the Wilson side is the Cedar Creek and Hunters Point country, and TWRA rates the lake a world-class trophy striped bass fishery with regular catches over 50 lb.

Davidson County

From the Davidson County page

TWRA describes it as a world-class trophy striped bass fishery with regular catches over 50 pounds; 44 free public access sites, 11 marinas and 8 fishing piers lakewide, though the biggest stripers are usually taken well upstream of Davidson County near Carthage.

Sumner County

From the Sumner County page

Sumner County holds most of the lake’s north shore from Hendersonville through Gallatin to Cairo and Bledsoe Creek; largemouth take about 40% of angler effort, and the Corps counts 44 free public access sites, 11 marinas and 8 fishing piers lakewide.

What it looks like

Old Hickory Lake in photographs

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

Old Hickory Lake, TennesseeOld Hickory LakeOpen the Old Hickory Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0J. Percy Priest Lake, TennesseeJ. Percy Priest LakeOpen the J. Percy Priest Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Cordell Hull Lake, TennesseeCordell Hull LakeOpen the Cordell Hull Lake page →United States Army Corps of Engineers image / Public domainCaney Fork River, TennesseeCaney Fork RiverOpen the Caney Fork River page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not s / Public domainOld Hickory Lake, TennesseeOld Hickory LakeOpen the Old Hickory Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0J. Percy Priest Lake, TennesseeJ. Percy Priest LakeOpen the J. Percy Priest Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

What you can catch

Fish in Old Hickory Lake

What Old Hickory 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 basscrappiestriped basswhite basswalleyesaugercatfish
Guides who fish Old Hickory Lake

What you can keep

Fishing limits on Old Hickory Lake

TWRA sets 3 rules just for Old Hickory 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 minimumOld Hickory Lake rule
Smallmouth bass5 black bass combined18 in minimumOld Hickory Lake rule
Crappie3010 in minimumOld Hickory Lake rule
Striped bass2 striped and hybrid combined15 in minimumStatewide
White bass15No minimumStatewide
Walleye516 in minimumStatewide
Sauger1015 in minimumStatewide
Channel catfishNo limit under 34 inOnly one over 34 inStatewide

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

October on Old Hickory Lake

What’s biting on Old Hickory 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

All of Tennessee in October

Tournaments

Upcoming tournaments on Old Hickory Lake

Oct282026

Major League Fishing event

Oct 28–30, 2026 · Major League Fishing

Launch: Sanders Ferry Park, Hendersonville

Event page

Old Hickory Lake schedule and resultsEvery Tennessee tournament

By county

Counties on Old Hickory Lake

Old Hickory Lake touches 5 Tennessee counties. The county page has the bait shops, the bank access and the local limits.

NashvilleDavidson County4 access points on Old Hickory Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →CarthageSmith County1 access point on Old Hickory Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →GallatinSumner County26 access points on Old Hickory Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →HartsvilleTrousdale County2 access points on Old Hickory Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →LebanonWilson County21 access points on Old Hickory Lake, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →

By town

Towns on Old Hickory 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.

Sumner CountyFishing near HendersonvillePublic water within about 30 miles of Hendersonville, closest first.See the spots →Smith CountyFishing near CarthagePublic water within about 30 miles of Carthage, closest first.See the spots →Sumner CountyFishing near GallatinPublic water within about 30 miles of Gallatin, closest first.See the spots →Wilson CountyFishing near LebanonPublic water within about 30 miles of Lebanon, closest first.See the spots →Wilson CountyFishing near Mount JulietPublic water within about 30 miles of Mount Juliet, closest first.See the spots →

54 public access points on Old Hickory Lake, every one with directions.

Common questions

Questions about fishing Old Hickory Lake

How many public boat ramps are there on Old Hickory Lake?

TWRA lists 39 public boat launches on Old Hickory Lake, with 47 ramp lanes between them, across 5 Tennessee counties. Every one of them is listed on this page with directions.

What fish can you catch in Old Hickory Lake?

Old Hickory Lake holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, striped bass, white bass, walleye, sauger 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 Old Hickory Lake run through?

Davidson, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale and Wilson counties. Each has its own page on this site with the local bait shops, ramps and bank access.

Can you fish Old Hickory Lake from the bank?

Yes. 9 of the public access points on Old Hickory 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 Old Hickory 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 Old Hickory 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 Old Hickory 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 Old Hickory Lake: Old Hickory Lake conditions.