Woods Reservoir near Estill Springs: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Woods Reservoir sits in Franklin County, out in Tennessee. It sits at 968 feet above sea level. Around 5.7 sq miles of open water: conditions change from one end to the other. At about 27 miles of edge, most people fish a single area and learn it well. Estill Springs at 4.8 miles is the nearest place to stop. It is 41 miles to Murfreesboro, the nearest city. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Woods Reservoir

  50 ft is what our records show. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Across Franklin County, recorded fish include bluegill, blackside snubnose darter and rainbow darter. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Take Woods Reservoir a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 77°F on average, January about 37°F. Cooler months are the productive ones on most of this water. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Plan any trip to Woods Reservoir around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public access is on record for this one. You can launch: the ramp is 0.9 miles away. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. Bluegill and other panfish take small jigs or worms under a float near any cover. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. AEDC Retention Reservoir sits 4.4 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at Woods Reservoir may have changed since it was mapped.