Red metal truss bridge crossing a calm river, with green trees in the background and a concrete pier in the water.
Wooden boardwalk bridge extends over a calm lake toward a rust-colored covered structure, surrounded by dense green trees.
Aerial view of a winding river surrounded by dense green forests; two long docked barges anchor near a marshy shoreline.

Tims Ford Lake

Description

This 10,700 acre lake has 250 miles of shorelines, is bordered by 5 cities, and has six islands that are accessible for camping and exploring. It’s optimized and managed for quality bass, striped bass, walleye, and crappie.  

Optimized Fish:
Quality Bass
Quality Bass
Crappie
Crappie
Walleye
Walleye
Striped Bass
Striped Bass
Enhancements

  • Continued management for quality bass, striped bass, walleye, and crappie fishing. 

  • Continued stockings of crappie, striped bass, and walleye. 

  • Annual habitat management and improvements.  

Activities:
Camping
Cabins
Hiking
Fishing
Boating
Paddling
Birding
Swimming
Biking
Picnicking
RVs and campers parked along a forested lakeside campground during autumn.
Two women in life jackets stand on a lakeshore with two kayaks; one holds a double-bladed paddle, trees and water in the background.
Wooden pedestrian bridge with red truss arch, wooden rails, leading into woods; path centered with perspective.
Wooden porch with rocking chairs and a bench outside a blue building; glass door, blinds, and forest in background.
Deer grazing in a sunlit forest clearing, with two adults and a fawn among trees and fallen leaves.
Tall, colorful sign reading “Tims Ford Marina” with boat image; lists waterfront cabins, restaurant, pontoon rentals, and boat tracker services.
A white motorboat with a black canopy on calm water near a tree-lined shore; two people ride, one steering, engine at stern.
Location
  • Franklin
  • Moore
Tims Ford Lake label on a map, with lake outline in blue and surrounding county borders labeled.
History

  • The Tims Ford Dam was named from an early ford crossing the Elk River near Winchester. The ford was on or near land owned by Abner Mansfield Tims, an early Franklin County settler. The ford was used until about 1885 when the Tims Ford Bridge was constructed across the river. 

  • The massive dam and reservoir construction program that was undertaken by TVA following its creation in 1933, required the purchase of over one million acres of land for the creation of 34 reservoirs in five of the seven states in the Tennessee Valley region. 

Rules & Regulations

For rules and regulations, please visit TWRA.com. 

Hours of operation may vary.