Fishing
Cast year-round for striper, largemouth and spotted bass, catfish and crappie—from the bank, a dock, a kayak or a boat.
Roane Tourism
Lake Life Living
Find your place on Watts Bar Lake—39,000 acres of open water, quiet coves, welcoming marinas and more than 700 miles of shoreline.
- 39,000
- Acres of water
- 700+
- Miles of shoreline
- 12+
- Waterfront parks
- 4
- Seasons on the lake
Tennessee’s freshwater playground
A lake made for every kind of day.
Watts Bar Lake is formed by the Tennessee, Clinch and Emory rivers and is one of the largest lakes in the Southeast. Its broad channels lead to hidden coves, forested islands, waterfront parks and communities shaped by the water.
At full pool—typically May through October—the lake sits 740 feet above sea level. An average seasonal fluctuation of about five feet keeps boating, fishing and wildlife watching part of life here throughout the year.
On the water
Choose your pace.
Boating
Find open water, sheltered coves and a navigable route through the Tennessee River system all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.
Paddling & water sports
Launch a canoe, kayak or paddleboard, pull a tube, or spend an easy afternoon swimming and relaxing in a quiet cove.
Wildlife
Watch for great blue herons, osprey and bald eagles along forested shoreline and nearby wildlife management areas.
Fishing & wildlife
Wild water, close to shore.
Beginners, families and tournament anglers fish Watts Bar throughout the year. Its varied water supports bass, catfish, crappie and striper, with bank, dock, pier, kayak and boat access across the county.
Along the shoreline, Paint Rock Wildlife Management Area and Thief Neck Island add natural places for birding, boating and quiet exploration. Keep watch for osprey, bald eagles and great blue herons overhead.
Around the shoreline
Launch, linger and stay awhile.
Marinas, waterfront parks, campgrounds and lakeside restaurants turn a day on the water into a full Roane County getaway.
Marinas & launches
Bayside Marina, Blue Springs Marina, Caney Creek Marina, Long Island Marina, Rockwood Marina & RV Resort, Ladd Park and 58 Landing make it easy to reach the water.
Waterfront parks
Roane County Park, Rockwood Waterfront Park, Ladd Park, Lakeshore Park and David Webb Riverfront Park offer places to launch, walk, picnic and play beside the water.
Stay by the lake
Make the water your home base at Caney Creek RV Resort, Rockwood Marina & RV Resort, Riley Creek Campground, Camp Buck Toms or John Knox Center.
Eat with a view
Pair lake time with waterfront flavor at Blue Springs Crow’s Nest Restaurant, Caney Creek Grille and Cove Cantina at Rockwood Marina & RV Resort.
Make a weekend of it
Your lake trip starts here.
Find places to stay, eat and launch in the Tourism Directory, then use Plan Your Visit to build a Roane County weekend around the water.