Watts Bar Lake
Watts Bar Lake
- Boat Ramps
- 41
- Access Points
- 67
- Species
- 39
Watts Bar Lake is a sprawling 39,600-acre reservoir created by the Watts Bar Dam on the Tennessee River in eastern Tennessee. With 722 miles of shoreline, this diverse fishery offers exceptional opportunities for anglers of all skill levels. The lake features various habitats including rocky shorelines, points, stumps, laydowns, aquatic vegetation, and numerous tributaries such as the Clinch River, Emory River, White's Creek, and Piney Creek. Surrounded by communities like Spring City, Rockwood, Harriman, Kingston, and Lenoir City, Watts Bar Lake is known for its abundant game fish populations and is a premier fishing destination in the Southeast.
Species & education
Learn what type of fish are at Watts Bar Lake and what's needed to catch them.
Find which waters have the species you want to catch
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
Muskellunge
Esox masquinongy
Walleye
Sander vitreus
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Bigmouth Buffalo
Ictiobus cyprinellus
Black Buffalo
Ictiobus niger
Black Redhorse
Moxostoma duquesnei
Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
Bluegill Sunfish
Lepomis macrochirus
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
Freshwater Drum
Aplodinotus grunniens
Golden Redhorse
Moxostoma erythrurum
Green Sunfish
Lepomis cyanellus
Longear Sunfish
Lepomis megalotis
Longnose Gar
Lepisosteus osseus
Northern Hogsucker
Hypentelium nigricans
Redbreast Sunfish
Lepomis auritus
Redear Sunfish
Lepomis microlophus
River Carpsucker
Carpiodes carpio
River Redhorse
Moxostoma carinatum
Rock Bass
Ambloplites rupestris
Sauger
Sander canadensis
Shorthead Redhorse Sucker
Moxostoma macrolepidotum
Silver Redhorse
Moxostoma anisurum
Skipjack Herring
Alosa chrysochloris
Smallmouth Buffalo
Ictiobus bubalus
Spotted Bass
Micropterus punctulatus
Spotted Sucker
Minytrema melanops
Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
White Bass
Morone chrysops
White Catfish
Ameiurus catus
White Crappie
Pomoxis annularis
White Sucker
Catostomus commersonii
Yellow Bass
Morone mississippiensis
Yellow Bullhead
Ameiurus natalis
Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities
Learn how to get on Watts Bar Lake. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.
Wanns Branch West Access
Belcove Access
Caney Creek Marina Access
Marina (euchee Marina & Campground) Access
Marina (piney Point Resort) Access
Marina (lakeside Resort) Access
Wanns Branch East Access
Marina (eden Of The Lake Resort) Access
Marina (red Cloud Campground) Access
Ferguson Branch (harbour Point Marina) Access
Know where you can legally fish on Watts Bar Lake
See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.
Tennessee licenses and regulations
Tennessee Boating Regulations
When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.
Tennessee Fishing License
No Fishing License Needed If: You are under 13 years of age (resident or nonresident). A type 022 supplemental license is required for anglers targeting trout. State-wide creel limit 7 trout.
Tennessee Fishing Regulations
This river has a variety of species and regulations, including potential floating and/or watercraft restrictions. Because this river is specially managed for species, seasons, angling methods, and watercraft, it is strongly encouraged you check all federal, state, and local regulations before fishing. Visit any of the links below, inquire locally, or contact a local fly shop to learn current regulations and restrictions.
Tennessee Stream Access Laws
On any river or stream that’s capable of floating a craft, the public has rights to passage, hunting and fishing. The question of streambed use on designated non-navigable rivers, however, is less clear, and probably not legal.
Take Watts Bar Lake with you
The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.
Use the map without signal
Download the map around Watts Bar Lake to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Watts Bar Lake to find where and when fish are biting for you.
HD depth charts from Garmin
Find drop offs, ledges, channels, points and shallow flats with Garmin depth charts in the app.
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Water and weather conditions (10 day forecast)
See the best times to fish Watts Bar Lake and check the forecast before you go.
No forecast data available.
Watts Bar Lake fishing guides
Book a trip with a local fishing guide through Guidesly.
Fishing near Watts Bar Lake
Tennessee River
Clinch River
Emory River
Little Tennessee River
Tellico Lake
Fort Loudoun Lake
Norris Lake
Holston River
French Broad River
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