This is the Official Tennessee Fishing regulations and Information navigation page for the Tennessee state rules and regulations guidebook overviews.
You can access each individual state regulation guidebook by clicking the links below.
These are just the overviews of the official state regulations.
The Actual state Tennessee Fishing regulation guidebooks are accessible by clicking on the state you would like to see from the home page map then clicking on the Tennessee state fishing regulations books.
They are also accessible by clicking on the Tennessee fishing reg. books below and accessing the Tennessee fishing regs link in the Tennessee Guidebooks listed below.
Enjoy be safe and have a great time exploring the site and remember to check back often to keep updated on all the new laws, rules, and Tennessee regulations pertaining to the hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife sports.
Weather its Tennessee Trout fishing, Tennessee bass fishing, Tennessee striper fishing, Tennessee Salmon fishing, Tennessee Catfish fishing, Tennessee steelhead fishing, Tennessee Panfish fishing, Tennessee pike/muskie fishing, Tennessee Walleye fishing  We have the Tennessee state fishing regulations for your trip into the wilderness or on the water covered in one easy to location.
If you need Tennessee fishing maps, Tennessee state fishing maps, or just some Tennessee fishing reports to tell you were the bite is hot we have that too.

Tennessee Fishing Report

If you’re planning a fishing trip to Tennessee, you have some excellent choices for lakes and streams throughout the state including Boone Lake, Center Hill Lake, Cherokee Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Dale Hollow Lake, Douglas Lake, Hull Lake, J Percy Priest Lake, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Nickajack Lake, Norris Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Reelfoot Lake, South Holston Lake, Tellico Lake, Tims Ford Lake, Watauga Lake, Watts Bar Lake and others. Many of the lakes in Tennessee have camping facilities as well as other accommodations nearby. Tennessee is well known for excellent Bass, Crappie and Walleye fishing. Additionally, in waters around the state you’ll find populations of Trout, Catfish, Stripers, Musky, Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Sauger, Saugeye, Longnose Gar, Spotted Gar, Bowfin, Paddlefish and sunfish including Flier Sunfish, Green Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Redbreast Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Rock Bass, Spotted Sunfish, Warmouth, White Bass, Yellow Bass, Yellow Perch which are plentiful in some waters.

Fishing is regulated in Tennessee by the Fish & Game Department. You can check their website for current fishing reports.

Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Redeye Bass and Smallmouth Bass Fishing in in Tennessee.

Bass are one of the most sought after of all the game fish. Its appeal spans cultures, age groups and genders to tap on the heart strings of anglers everywhere. Join us in our endeavor to offer information about bass fishing on your favorite bass lake in the Tennessee area.

Bass Fishing Lakes In Tennessee

If you like to fish for bass, you'll love Tennessee. Every major lake in the state is loaded with quality bass including Boone Lake, Center Hill Lake, Cherokee Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Dale Hollow Lake, Douglas Lake, Hull Lake, J Percy Priest Lake, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Nickajack Lake, Norris Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Reelfoot Lake, South Holston Lake, Tellico Lake, Tims Ford Lake, Watauga Lake and Watts Bar Lake. Bass can also be found in smaller lakes rivers and ponds throughout the state.

Sugar Creek turned out the Tennessee state record largemouth bass and the TN state record smallmouth bass was pulled out of Dale Hollow Reservoir.

Trout Fishing in Tennessee

The 5 primary trouts are the rainbow, brook, brown, cutthroat and lake trout. Brown trout are considered the most difficult to catch and brookies are the easiest. Pure cold water is key to survival of the trouts and the brook trout is the most sensitive to temperature. The others are comfortable in slightly warmer waters.

Trout Fishing Lakes In Tennessee

Dale Hollow Lake and Watauga Lake are the two major lakes in Tennessee with quality schools of trout. Other smaller lakes, rivers and ponds are stocked with trout or have small sustained populations of trout. Visit the Tennessee Wildlife Resources website for information on trout stockings in Tennessee.

Hiwassee River turned out the Tennessee state record brook trout and the TN state record brown trout was pulled out of the. The Obey River was home to the state record cutthroat trout and the state record lake trout came out of Watauga Reservoir. The Tennessee state record rainbow trout was taken from Boone Reservoir.

 

Walleye Fishing in Tennessee

Walleye
Stizostedion vitreum

The walleye prefers moderately deep lakes with gravel, rock or sandy bottoms. It is found primarily in cold water lakes but has proven to survive in some warmer water impoundments. It is prized for its great tasting white, flaky flesh.

Walleye Fishing Lakes In Tennessee

Tennessee anglers are fortunate to have big lakes with quality walleye populations. These lakes include Center Hill Lake, Cherokee Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Dale Hollow Lake, Douglas Lake, Hull Lake, Norris Lake, Old Hickory Lake, South Holston Lake, Tellico Lake, Tims Ford Lake and Watauga Lake. Sivers flowing into and out of these lakes are likely to hold a few walleye as well.

Old Hickory Reservoir turned out the Tennessee state record walleye.

Tennessee walleye spawn in spring and when they have the option will choose to migrate from the lake up into feeder streams to spawn. If this option is not available they seek out shallow bars or shoals with clean bottom surfaces near deep water.

Crappie Fishing in Tennessee

Crappie are actually a member of the sunfish family and can be found in all the continental states. They are known by many different names, typically based on geographic location. Paper mouth, goggleye, bridge perch and speckled perch, just to name a few.

Crappie Fishing Lakes In Tennessee

Tennessee fishing waters and crappie go hand in hand. Major lakes with plentiful craooie include Boone Lake, Center Hill Lake, Cherokee Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Dale Hollow Lake, Douglas Lake, Hull Lake, J Percy Priest Lake, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Nickajack Lake, Norris Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Reelfoot Lake, South Holston Lake, Tellico Lake, Tims Ford Lake, Watauga Lake and Watts Bar Lake. Many other small lakes, rivers and ponds also contain excellent schools of crappie.

Browns Creek Lake turned out the Tennessee state record black crappie and the TN state record white crappie was pulled out of a pond.

Catfish Fishing in Tennessee

There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. Adults range in size from less than a pound to hundreds of pounds. They can be found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers. There are even species which spend a limited amount of time on dry land. Big giant catfish put up a very noble fight once hooked.

Catfish Fishing Lakes In Tennessee

Catfish are in virtually all waters in Tennessee. Major lakes with catfish include Boone Lake, Center Hill Lake, Cherokee Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Dale Hollow Lake, Douglas Lake, Hull Lake, J Percy Priest Lake, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Nickajack Lake, Norris Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Reelfoot Lake, South Holston Lake, Tellico Lake, Tims Ford Lake, Watauga Lake and Watts Bar Lake. Catfish are also found in most rivers, smaller lakes and ponds as well.

Cumberland River - Lock C turned out the Tennessee state record blue catfish and the TN state record channel catfish was pulled out of Fall Creek Lake. The Hiwassee River was home to the TN state record flathead catfish.

Sunfish Fishing in Tennessee for Bluegills, Flier Sunfish, Green Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Redbreast Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Rock Bass, Spotted Sunfish, Warmouth, White Bass, Yellow Bass, Yellow Perch and Other TN Panfish.

One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout Tennessee and around the world for that matter. They can survive in waters that provide their natural food source of minnows, crustaceans, insects and worms. Their competitive nature amongst themselves for food, makes them relatively easy to catch.

Sunfish Lakes In Tennessee

They are everywhere. Choose Boone Lake, Center Hill Lake, Cherokee Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Dale Hollow Lake, Douglas Lake, Hull Lake, J Percy Priest Lake, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Nickajack Lake, Norris Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Reelfoot Lake, South Holston Lake, Tellico Lake, Tims Ford Lake, Watauga Lake and Watts Bar Lake and you'll find healthy panfish. Ponds, rivers and smaller lakes also have panfish.

Fall Creek and a private pond each turned out the tieing Tennessee state record bluegill and the TN state record flier sunfish was pulled out of Blair Lake. North Cross Creek was home to the TN state record green sunfish and Dogwood lake served up the Tennessee state record pumpkinseed sunfish. The state record redbreast sunfish came out of the Holston River and the state record for redear sunfish came from a pond. Melton Hill Reservoir and the Hiwassee River produced a tie for the state record yellow perch.

Striper Fishing in Tennessee

While stripers are native to salt water, they naturally migrate into fresh water streams to spawn. Their eggs must remain in motion in order to hatch so the fresh water rivers and streams which drain into the ocean become the spawning grounds for stripers.

Striped Bass Fishing Lakes In Tennessee

Boone Lake, Cherokee Lake, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Norris Lake, Old Hickory Lake and Tellico Lake all have quality schools of stripers. Cordell Hull Reservoir turned out the Tennessee state record striped bass.

Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
World Record: 78.8 lbs

In natural settings striped bass live the majority of their life in the ocean and migrate into freshwater rivers to spawn. Once it was determined that stripers could survive in fresh water they were introduced into fresh water impoundments as a test. Results ranged from complete failure to resounding success. Often successful to the extent of eating the local species out of house and home. Stripers can live up to 30 years if conditions allow.

Striped bass generally spend their time in the middle sections of the lake, in deeper water than most fish. Their primary diet is shad. They prefer the larger shad which are too big to be eaten by the vast majority of other fish in the lake. Stripers will eat just about any fish they can get in their mouth. As a schooling fish which can grow to enormous size they can deplete a school of baitfish in very short order. When you catch a striper you can rest assured that there are probably more close by.

Fishing for Striped Bass in Tennessee

When fishing for stripers concentrate on the deeper waters in the lake. If you can locate schools of shad, stripers are often close by. When the baitfish are shallow over the deep water, you can catch stripers on crankbaits or by swimming spoons at appropriate depths. And for the ultimate thrill try large topwater baits if you see any surface feeding action. When the stripers are deep, jigs and jigging spoons work well. Live and cut bait will also take striped bass when they are in medium to deeper water. Fish nearby or in the river channel if it is a defined depth change. Trolling is also an excellent way to fish for stripers. Use flashy lures in bigger sizes.
Fishing for Musky, Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel, Sauger, Saugeye, Longnose Gar, Spotted Gar, Bowfin, Paddlefish in Tennessee.

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