Public Lake Access Points across Southern Middle Tennessee
Coy Gaithers / Bedford Lake
Coy Gaithers Bedford Lake can be found in Bedford County Tennessee. The lake is approximately 14 miles east of Wartrace TN and Shelbyville TN. The lake is 47 acres and has a picnic area for visitors, The fishing facilities also included a boat launching ramp, fishing pier, and fish attractors.
Laurel Hill Lake
Laurel Hill Lake is in Lawrence County Tennessee, approximately 15 miles west of Lawrenceburg. The lake is 325 acres and has a picnic area, restrooms, grills, vending machines, a primitive camping area.
The fishing facilities include a "youth-only" fishing area located near the office/concession building. (Youths 16 and under may fish in this area) Other fishing facilities include boat launching ramps, a fishing pier, boat rentals, and fish attractors.
New Lake - Lewisburg, TN
New Lake is located in Lewisburg, Tennessee. The lake features a walking trail, picnic shelter, boat ramp, and a free fishing day each year all on a 47 acre public lake tucked into the beautiful hills of Marshall County.
Normandy Lake
Normandy is the largest of the nonpower dams on tributaries of the Tennessee River. It is operated for flood damage reduction, water supply and recreational opportunities. Normandy also provides water for a fish hatchery immediately downstream.
Normandy Reservoir is located on the Duck River in south central Tennessee. The 17-mile-long reservoir was created in the 1970s to aid in the economic development of the upper Duck River region. Normandy Reservoir attracts bass anglers, campers and boaters from a wide area. Barton Springs Recreation Area on the south shore of the reservoir is particularly popular.
The Duck River watershed is one of the most biologically diverse river systems in the nation. Over 500 species of fish, insects and other aquatic life inhabit the ecosystem, including two species of mussels—the Cumberland monkeyface and the birdwing pearly—on the endangered species list.
Tims Ford Lake - Winchester, TN
Tims Ford Reservoir is on the Elk River in south central Tennessee. It extends 34 miles upstream to the northeast from Tims Ford Dam. Tims Ford's sprawling arms of water are popular with canoeists, kayakers, and anglers.
In addition to power generation and recreation, Tims Ford provides water supply and flood damage reduction downstream on the Elk River, primarily for Fayetteville, Tennessee.
VFW Lake
The VFW Lake in Lawrence County, Tennessee is twelve miles west of Lawrenceburg off U.S. Highway 64.
The lake is 22 acres and offers a picnic area, vending machines, and restrooms. The fishing facilities include a boat launching ramp, fishing piers, and boat rentals. For more information call (931) 762-7200.
Williamsport Lakes
(Photo: Shuttering Thru Life)
Williamsport Lakes is located in Maury County, on Highway 50 approximately 10 miles northwest of Columbia, just past the Duck River, or two miles east of the Natchez Trace Parkway, at the junction of Highways 50 and 247.
Whippoorwill Lake is 25 acres and only for youths 16 & under and the accompanying adult. Blue Cat Lake is 80 acres, Goldeneye Lake is 13 acres, and Shellcracker Lake is 46 acres and anyone with a license can fish these lakes.
The fishing facilities include a boat launching ramp, fishing piers, public restrooms, picnic tables, and a concessions area. You can buy your fishing license, rent a boat and get your bait & tackle. For more information call (931) 583-2477.
Wood Reservoir - Estill Springs, TN
Woods Reservoir is a 3,660-acre impoundment located in south-central Tennessee with a major portion in Franklin County. The US Air Force and Arnold Engineering Development Center own and operate Woods Reservoir. Dam completion occurred in 1952. Full pool elevation is 960 feet-mean sea level and winter pool elevation is 957 feet-mean sea level.
Five public boat access sites are available for use with no fees. These sites include Morris Ferry Access (Monroe Floyd Road), Franklin County Access (Franklin Co. Park Road), Coffee County Access (Old Brick Church Road), AEDC Access (Pumping Station Road), and Dabbs Ford River Access (Prairie Plains Road).
Four public fishing piers and more bank fishing access are connected by a paved greenway path at the Morris Ferry Boat and Bank Fishing Access Site. This bank fishing access site includes a diversity of fishing habitats, including deepwater, an assortment of fish attractors, and a large area to fish. One other public fishing pier is available on Pumping Station Road on the north side of the pumping station.
Fish attractor data for Woods Reservoir is available for you to upload into your fishfinder or other GPS devices, or view in free or online mapping applications (link). Ten fish attractor sites are maintained on Woods Reservoir by TWRA.
The best fishing opportunities are for Largemouth Bass, Crappie, White Bass, Yellow Bass, and Channel Catfish.