By Heather Listhartke
There are a ton of awesome, scenic places to visit within a few hours of Williamson County. One of these must-visit destinations is Bucksnort Trout Ranch, just a short hour away. Located in McEwen, just off I-40 at exit 152, the ranch includes a 62-acre property with beautiful scenery of local Sugar Creek, awesome rock formations, and a great swimming hole for one of the best family affordable fishing experiences.
The facility, established since 1966, is the premier place for trout fishing, but also offers services such as pond stocking and wholesale trout for local deliveries. While the Ranch has played host to a ton of Nashville’s biggest names, current owner Jim Anderson prides himself on creating a place where generations can pass down the tradition of lifetime memories at Bucksnort. He loves hearing from people saying that they used to fish there when they were kids.
Bucksnort’s most valuable resource that makes the facility great for trout is the 2.5 million gallons of pure spring water that the area holds. As 2016 marks 50 years of operation with the main facilities being built roughly the same time as interstate 40, they remember the owners who have managed the facilities over the five decades who sought to supply Middle Tennessee with fresh trout and a place to bring families for those memory-making experiences.
Bucksnort hasn’t always been known for trout though, back when Moonshine was popular in the south, it was known for some of the finest and highly sought after. This is actually how the area got its name as moonshine was often referred to as a “snort,” and the moonshine here was supplied by a guy named Buck. When one was asked what they were doing that night they’d originally answered “to get a Buck snort, which eventually shortened to just to “Bucksnort.”
If you’re looking for a great place to go fishing and spend time with the family, the Bucksnort Ranch offers all levels of fishing from lakes stocked with fewer, but bigger fishes around seven pounds for those seeking the trophy experience as well as smaller ponds filled with plentiful amounts of 1-4 pound fish to guarantee a catch for the kids who just want to catch something. Just a short hour away, this could make a fun trip for the day for the whole family.
