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River · Monroe

Fishing Tellico River, Tennessee

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

Jump to the access listLicence and limits

Every access point

Public access on Tellico River, county by county

All 1 public access point TWRA records on Tellico 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.

Tellico River access in Monroe County

Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesBoat Launch · TWRABig Creek1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →35.45700, -84.27290

What to bring

Tackle for Tellico River

Three picks from the trout 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 Elite ultralight spinning rod, 6 ftCasts a 1/16 oz spinner and protects 4 lb line.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
ReelPflueger President 20 spinning reelSmall, smooth drag for light line.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
SpinnerPanther Martin spinner, 1/8 ozThe tailwater standard. Gold blade in stained water, silver in clear.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
Full trout checklist (11 items)All gear checklists

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

Trout Waders comparedHard Coolers compared

The water

Tellico River boat ramps and fishing access

Tellico River has 1 public access point: 1 boat ramp and 1 kayak launch, in Monroe County.

1public access point
1boat ramp
1kayak and canoe launches
1county

River levels

Tellico River level and flow today

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

Tellico River level

What Tellico River is actually like

Tellico River, county by county

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

Monroe County

From the Monroe County page

Nationally recognised as a premier trout stream and the centre of the county’s fishing identity; the delayed-harvest reach and the Tellico-Citico permit area both sit here, and Bald River Falls is on its main tributary.

What it looks like

Tellico River in photographs

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

Tellico River, TennesseeTellico RiverOpen the Tellico River page →ChristopherM / CC BY 2.5Tellico Lake, TennesseeTellico LakeOpen the Tellico Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Tellico River, TennesseeTellico RiverOpen the Tellico River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Tellico Lake, TennesseeTellico LakeOpen the Tellico Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Tellico River, TennesseeTellico RiverOpen the Tellico River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0Tellico Lake, TennesseeTellico LakeOpen the Tellico Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0

What you can catch

Fish in Tellico River

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

brook trout
Guides who fish Tellico River

What you can keep

Fishing limits on Tellico River

TWRA sets 2 rules just for Tellico River. They replace the statewide limit for those fish. Everything else follows the statewide limit.

FishDaily limitLengthWhere or when
TroutNo harvest Oct 1–Feb 28—Delayed harvest, mouth of North River up to the NC line: catch and release, artificial lures only, no bait
Trout7No length limitTellico-Citico permit area (Turkey Creek confluence to NC line): permit required and closed Thu–Fri Mar 1–Aug 15; one rod per angler; 30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset

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 Tellico River

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

MadisonvilleMonroe County1 access point on Tellico River, plus the rest of the county’s water.See the spots →

By town

Towns on Tellico 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.

McMinn CountyFishing near AthensPublic water within about 30 miles of Athens, closest first.See the spots →

1 public access point on Tellico River, every one with directions.

Common questions

Questions about fishing Tellico River

How many public boat ramps are there on Tellico River?

TWRA lists 1 public boat launch on Tellico 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 Tellico River?

Tellico River holds brook trout. 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 Tellico River run through?

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

Can you fish Tellico River from the bank?

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