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River · Davidson

Fishing Stones River, Tennessee

4 public access points across 1 county, with directions to every one.

Jump to the access listLicence and limits

Every access point

Public access on Stones River, county by county

All 4 public access points TWRA records on Stones 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.

Stones River access in Davidson County

Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACEBelow Percy Priest East SideI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Bell Rd, right to Dodson ChapelDirections and detail →36.15854, -86.61891Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · CityHeartland RampFrom I40, take exit 215B for TN 155 N/Briley Pkwy. Take exit 10 for Two Rivers Pkwy. Turn right at Two Rivers Pkwy. Turn left at McGavock Pike. Take 2nd right onto Fernbrook…1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.18539, -86.66500Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing Site · USACEMetro Park side below Percy Priest DamI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Bell Rd, right to damrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.15760, -86.62084Fee not listed1.5 out of 5facilitiesFishing SiteStones River Greenway, HermitageDirections and detail →36.18533, -86.63434

What to bring

Tackle for Stones 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:

Smallmouth Bass checklistBluegill and Panfish checklistStriper and Hybrid checklistFish Finders comparedTrolling Motors comparedLithium Marine Batteries comparedShallow Water Anchors compared

The water

Stones River boat ramps and fishing access

Stones River has 4 public access points: 1 boat ramp and 1 kayak launch, in Davidson County.

4public access points
1boat ramp
1kayak and canoe launches
1county

Lake conditions

Stones River generation schedule

The flow in the Stones River follows the release from J. Percy Priest Dam. The schedule for it is on its lake conditions page. USGS flow and gauge readings for the Stones River are on its river level page.

J. Percy Priest Dam scheduleStones River flow

What Stones River is actually like

Stones River, county by county

Stones River 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

Enters Percy Priest from Rutherford County; the lower river and the Percy Priest tailwater below the dam are the Davidson County portions.

What it looks like

Stones River in photographs

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

Stones River, TennesseeStones RiverOpen the Stones 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 3.0Stones River, TennesseeStones RiverOpen the Stones River page →Brent Moore / CC BY 2.0J. Percy Priest Lake, TennesseeJ. Percy Priest LakeOpen the J. Percy Priest Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Stones River, TennesseeStones RiverOpen the Stones River page →Casey Fleser / CC BY 2.0J. 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 Stones River

What Stones 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 basssmallmouth bassrock basshybrid striped basscatfish
Guides who fish Stones River

What you can keep

Fishing limits on Stones River

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

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Largemouth bass5 black bass combined14 in minimumConfluence with the Cumberland up to J. Percy Priest Dam: Cheatham Lake rules apply
Smallmouth bass5 black bass combined18 in minimumBelow J. Percy Priest Dam
Crappie3010 in minimumBelow J. Percy Priest Dam
Rock bass20No minimumStatewide
Hybrid striped bass2 striped and hybrid combined15 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

By county

Counties on Stones River

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

NashvilleDavidson County4 access points on Stones River, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →

By town

Towns on Stones 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.

Wilson CountyFishing near Mount JulietPublic water within about 30 miles of Mount Juliet, closest first.See the spots →Davidson CountyFishing near NashvillePublic water within about 30 miles of Nashville, closest first.See the spots →

4 public access points on Stones River, every one with directions.

Common questions

Questions about fishing Stones River

How many public boat ramps are there on Stones River?

TWRA lists 1 public boat launch on Stones River, with 1 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 Stones River?

Stones River holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rock bass, hybrid striped 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 Stones River run through?

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

Can you fish Stones River from the bank?

Yes, though no public fishing pier is recorded on Stones 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 Stones 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 Stones 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 Stones 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 waterLicence and limits