Center Hill Lake
A deep, rocky Army Corps reservoir on the Caney Fork River in Middle Tennessee, between Smithville and Cookeville. It is known for smallmouth bass, walleye and crappie, with steep bluffs and clear water.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Smallmouth Bass
Points and rocky bluffs with jerkbaits and spinnerbaits in spring. Deeper structure in summer and points near the dam in fall.
Walleye
March spawning run in the Blue Hole area near Rock Island State Park. In summer, troll or jig 20 to 30 ft.
Crappie
Stocked yearly. Jigs or minnows around fallen trees in 10 to 15 ft in spring, under lights at night in summer.
Largemouth Bass
Spinnerbaits and soft plastics in spring, night fishing in summer, and jigging spoons on shad schools in late fall.
Spotted Bass
Same rocky habitat as smallmouth. Jigs on channel banks in winter.
Bluegill
Gravel pockets in about 5 ft in May with crickets or worms.
Boat launches
8 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Ragland Bottom Recreation AreaPublicUSACE. Ramp and campground, fees in seasonDirections ↗
- Floating Mill Recreation AreaPublicUSACE. Ramp and campground, fees in seasonDirections ↗
- Hurricane Bridge Recreation AreaPublicUSACE. Ramp and day use, fees in seasonDirections ↗
- Long Branch Recreation AreaPublicUSACE. Below the dam on the Caney Fork, ramp and campgroundDirections ↗
- Edgar Evins State ParkMarinaTennessee State Parks. Ramp and full-service marinaDirections ↗
- Rock Island State ParkPublicTennessee State Parks. Ramp on the upper Caney ForkDirections ↗
- Hurricane MarinaMarinaMarina at Silver Point with launchDirections ↗
- Sligo MarinaMarinaMarina near Smithville with launchDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass Reservoir-specific rule | 15 in | 5 / day black bass combined |
| Smallmouth Bass Reservoir-specific rule | 18 in | 5 / day black bass combined |
| Spotted Bass Counts in black bass limit | See Tennessee rules book ↗ | 5 / day black bass combined |
| Crappie All crappie combined | 10 in | 15 / day |
| Walleye Reservoir-specific rule | 16 in | 5 / day |
| Muskellunge Reservoir-specific rule | 50 in | 1 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near Center Hill Lake ↗Local tips
- Center Hill has its own length limits on bass, crappie and walleye; check the TWRA reservoir table before keeping fish.
- Water levels swing with flood control releases, so check the Corps lake level before heading to shallow ramps.
- Muskellunge are rare but show up in early spring in the upper Caney Fork near Rock Island.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.