Williamsport Lakes in Tennessee
General Description
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.
Whippoorwill Lake is for juvenile fishing, only youths 16 and under and an accompanying adult may fish. Two wetland ponds, Egret and Heron, are closed to fishing.
Largemouth Bass: 1 per day, 20 inch minimum length limit.
Bluegill/Redear: 20 per day in combination, no length limit.
Crappie (all species): 15 per day, 10 inch minimum length limit.
Blue/Channel Catfish: 5 per day in combination, 14 inch minimum length limit.
Hybrid Striped Bass: 2 per day, 15 inch minimum length limit.
TWRA Family Fishing Lakes
Hours
The lakes are open to fishing all week. Lakes will open one‑half hour before official sunrise and close one‑half hour after official sunset, except Garrett Lake which is open 24 hours a day. Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day the following lakes are closed: Gibson Co., Glenn Springs, Herb Parsons, and Lake Graham.
Permits
A daily lake permit of $6.00 (available at most lakes), in addition to the regular fishing license, is required to use these lakes. At Lake Halford, a daily or annual permit is required for anyone using the lake or facilities for any type of recreation. A lake permit is not required at Garrett and Whiteville lakes. All residents 16 through 64 years of age, and nonresidents 16 years of age or older must have a permit. Sportsman license and lifetime license holders do not need a lake permit. Resident anglers 65 years of age and older do not need a permit, but do need a fishing license. A $48.00 Annual Lake Permit may also be purchased at many of the lakes with concessionaires, and is good at all TWRA fishing lakes. For Coy Gaither-Bedford Lake, a daily lake permit should be purchased from a license agent in the surrounding area before going to the lake. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited at all agency lakes. Boats used for any activity other than fishing are prohibited, except for hunting on specific lakes during the regular hunting season as listed in the Tennessee Hunting Guide. Speed boating, personal water craft, water skiing, and swimming are prohibited. Houseboats, sailboats and inboard cruisers are prohibited. On Coy Gaither-Bedford, Marrowbone, VFW and Williamsport lakes, only trolling motors can be used. At Lake Halford recreational boating, personal watercraft, water-skiiing and swimming are allowed. Boats may be rented for $10.00 per day at some lakes on a seasonal basis. There is no charge for paddles.
Tackle
Only rods and reels, poles, hand-held lines, and jugs may be used. Snagging is prohibited. Trotlines and limblines are prohibited.
From April 1 through Sept. 30, jug fishing is prohibited on Saturdays, Sundays, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. On days open to jug fishing, each boat is limited to 10 jugs or blocks per day.
Fish Species
Largemouth bass - Florida bass - bluegill - redear sunfish - blue & channel catfish - Hybrid Striped bass
Fishing Tips
- These lakes are managed for large bass, so appropriate weight tackle is advised.
- Bass are most active early and late during warm weather and will usually be found near cover.
- Bluegill can be taken on crickets and worms.
- Catfish can be taken on worms and liver.
