Things to Do in Watts Bar Lake 

With 780 miles of shoreline for swimming, sunning, fishing, and boating, Watts Bar is known for its world-class bass fishing which draws anglers of all skill levels to its rocky shorelines and submerged vegetation.

Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) lake system offers activities suitable for the entire family. Watts Bar Lake in particular offers many activities for boating, fishing, camping, and hiking along its shores surrounded by state and national forests – providing hikers an ideal opportunity to take in nature at its finest!

Watts Bar Lake was built by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) along the Tennessee River in Roane, Loudon, and Meigs Counties, and is an expansive 39,000-acre reservoir dotted with wonderful campgrounds, marinas, and cottages. Here there is something fun for everyone to do – from weekend getaways to extended summer stays, this lake offers something special.

Come stay with us at Rockwood Marina & RV Resort to experience the best of Watts Bar Lake!

Fishing at Watts Bar Lake

Watts Bar offers some of the best jumbo crappie, spotted and largemouth bass, and striper fishing experiences. The healthy population of both largemouth and smallmouth bass has made it popular with anglers of all skill levels. Its rocky shorelines and submerged vegetation offer an ideal habitat for these prized game fish.
Watts Bar Lake offers abundant crappie fishing opportunities as well, and can be found along riprap banks, bridge pilings, and submerged brush piles using jigs or plastic worms. This is a wonderful place to introduce children to the joys of fishing! Try catching bluegill in shallow waters with a pole and bait such as grub or worm.

Boating and Marinas on Watts Bar Lake

Fed by the Tennessee River, Clinch River, and Emory River, Watts Bar Lake boating and fishing are popular activities from Rockwood Marina. There are several marinas to choose from all around the lake.

There is plenty of space on the lake to anchor and relax in a quiet place to cast a fishing line. The lake offers world-record-sized crappie and catfish, and is one of the most popular fishing lakes in East Tennessee. Watts Bar Lake Boat rentals, pontoon, paddleboard, and canoe rentals are also available at nearby marinas. This website gives you a full list of boat launches.

58 Landing

At Kingston on Highway 58 high above the confluence of Tennessee and Clinch Rivers, 58 Landing Park provides a lighted 190-foot centered baseball field, bleachers, concession stand, restrooms, pavilion, and regulation size basketball court.

Also included is a walking trail and picnic areas. Home to Kingston Girls Softball Association as well as hosting the annual Storm the Fort Triathlon races every August, it serves as the halfway point on Kingston waterfront trail connecting Kingston City Park to Southwest Point.

Betty Brown Memorial Walking Trail

Betty Brown Memorial Walking Trail is family-friendly and provides an enjoyable stroll for those seeking a leisurely pace. Pet-friendly amenities can also be found along the trail as well as work-out stations to maintain fitness.

Named in honor of a local trail advocate who died while biking on a busy roadway, this ultra-safe 1.66-mile paved greenway is considered moderate in difficulty and runs through Bridgemore, McFee Manor, and Cottages at Pryse Farm subdivisions in Oak Ridge. McFee Park can also be reached along the greenway, as can Melton Lake Greenway.

Dining at Watts Bar Lake

With so much to do around the lake, there is a variety of restaurants on hand to feed you and your crew. Blue Springs Crow’s Nest Restaurant has a full-service bar at Blue Springs Marina. Along with a tasty and varied menu, choose from indoor and outdoor seating, with great sunset views! They are open for lunch and dinner Thursday – Sunday, with brunch on the weekends.
Over at Kingston City Park, Caramella Bistro offers gourmet dining, complete with lake views! This cozy and intimate bistro lies on the banks of the Clinch River, where chef Andras Bartha not only whips up delectable meals but offers cooking classes, inviting guests behind the scenes. Reservations are required for lunch and dinner.

Watts Bar Lake Park

Watts Bar Lake Park offers a picturesque and relaxing area located along its shores, complete with a children’s playground, lighted softball field with bleachers and bleacher seating, concession stand, pavilion, restrooms, boat ramps, and docks – plus 18 covered boat slips for rent!

The TVA dam at Watts Bar Lake created a widening in the Clinch River, making it navigable upstream to Oak Ridge and Clinton power plant as well as Emory River. Watts Bar Lake reservoir’s wetlands and shallow coves attract nesting birds such as blue herons and ospreys while its tributaries offer even more excellent fishing opportunities.

These are just some of the relaxing activities you’ll find all along Watts Bar Lake.