Guide To The Best Fishing Lakes In Tennessee

Top places to fish for bass, catfish, crappie and more in TN.

Boone Lake, Center Hill Lake, Cherokee Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Dale Hollow Reservoir, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Norris Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Percy Priest Lake, Pickwick Lake, Reelfoot Lake and Watauga Lake are the most popular places for fishing in Tennessee, offering anglers the chance to pursue a variety of fish species. Locate marinas on TN fishing lakes. The Boat Rental Page lists options for fishing boat rentals at some of these lakes.

Tennessee is home to a diverse range of fishing lakes, offering anglers a variety of fishing experiences. The state boasts both warm water lakes and cold water lakes, each providing unique habitats for different fish species.

Warm water lakes in Tennessee, such as Kentucky Lake, Chickamauga Lake, and Old Hickory Lake, offer exceptional fishing opportunities for species like largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, and catfish. These lakes are known for their abundance of aquatic vegetation, submerged structures, and warmer water temperatures, making them ideal habitats for warm water fish. Anglers can enjoy casting their lines from boats or the shoreline, using a variety of techniques and baits to target these species. Spring and fall are particularly productive seasons for warm water fishing, as the fish are more active and feeding closer to the surface.

On the other hand, Tennessee's cold water lakes provide excellent fishing opportunities for trout and other cold water species. Dale Hollow Lake, South Holston Lake, and Watauga Lake are renowned cold water fisheries in the state. These lakes are typically stocked with species like rainbow trout, brown trout, and lake trout. Anglers can enjoy fishing from boats or the shoreline, using techniques such as trolling, fly fishing, or casting with lures or bait. Spring and fall are considered prime seasons for trout fishing in cold water lakes, as the cooler temperatures are more favorable for these species.

The variety of fish species found in Tennessee's fishing lakes is impressive. Besides bass, crappie, and catfish, anglers can target species like bluegill, redear sunfish, sauger, walleye, and muskellunge in different lakes across the state. Each lake presents its unique fishing opportunities and challenges, ensuring that anglers of all skill levels can find something to suit their preferences.

Whether you're exploring the warm water lakes for bass and panfish or venturing to the cold water lakes for trout and other species, Tennessee's fishing lakes offer a wealth of opportunities. Anglers can enjoy the scenic beauty, abundant fish populations, and the thrill of hooking into their preferred catches. With a variety of species and fishing locations to choose from, Tennessee's fishing lakes are a paradise for anglers seeking memorable fishing experiences.

Bass Lakes

Carroll County Thousand Acre Recreation Lake, Center Hill Lake, Cheatham Lake, Cherokee Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Dale Hollow Reservoir, Davy Crockett Lake, Douglas Lake, Garrett Lake, Gibson County Lake, J Percy Priest Lake, John Sevier Reservoir, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Melton Hill Lake, Nickajack Lake, Norris Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Percy Priest Lake, Pickwick Lake, Reelfoot Lake, South Holston Lake, Tellico Reservoir and Watauga Lake are considered the best options for largemouth, smallmouth, redeye and spotted bass. More...

Catfish Lakes

Carroll County Thousand Acre Recreation Lake, Boone Lake, Center Hill Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Dale Hollow Reservoir, Garrett Lake, Gibson County Lake, John Sevier Reservoir, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Nickajack Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Percy Priest Lake, Pickwick Lake, Reelfoot Lake, Tellico Reservoir and Watts Bar Lake are favorite options for channel, blue and flathead catfish. More...

Crappie Lakes

Boone Lake, Center Hill Lake, Cheatham Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Cordell Hull Lake, Dale Hollow Reservoir, Douglas Lake, J Percy Priest Lake, John Sevier Reservoir, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Melton Hill Lake, Nickajack Lake, Norris Lake, Ocoee Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Percy Priest Lake, Pickwick Lake, Reelfoot Lake, South Holston Lake, Tellico Reservoir, Watauga Lake, Watts Bar Lake and Woods Reservoir are the most popular for black and white crappie. More...

Sunfish & Panfish Lakes

Carroll County Thousand Acre Recreation Lake, Center Hill Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Chilhowee Lake, Cordell Hull Lake, Dale Hollow Reservoir, Davy Crockett Lake, Gibson County Lake, Great Falls Lake, J Percy Priest Lake, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Melton Hill Lake, Norris Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Percy Priest Lake, Pickwick Lake, Reelfoot Lake, South Holston Lake, Tellico Reservoir, Tims Ford Lake, Watauga Lake, Watts Bar Lake are popular spots to fish for bluegill, bream, perch and other sunfish. More...

Walleye Lakes

Center Hill Lake, Cheatham Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Chilhowee Lake, Dale Hollow Reservoir, Douglas Lake, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Melton Hill Lake, Nickajack Lake, Normandy Lake, Norris Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Percy Priest Lake, Pickwick Lake, South Holston Lake, Tellico Reservoir, Tims Ford Lake, Watauga Lake, Watts Bar Lake and Woods Reservoir are considered the top locations for walleye fishing. More...

Trout Lakes

Boone Lake, Calderwood Reservoir, Center Hill Lake, Chilhowee Lake, Cordell Hull Lake, Dale Hollow Reservoir, Ocoee Lake, Parksville Reservoir, Tellico Reservoir and Watauga Lake are the favorite options for rainbow, cutthroat, brook, brown and lake trout. More...

Striped Bass Lakes

Center Hill Lake, Cherokee Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Cordell Hull Lake, Dale Hollow Reservoir, J Percy Priest Lake, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Nickajack Lake, Norris Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Pickwick Lake and Tellico Reservoir are good options for striped bass and hybrid striped bass. More...

Visit the Tennessee fishing page for links to information covering a wide variety of fish species and destinations in the state. Visit the Tennessee map to identify your best route to these top fishing locations. Look to our sister site for additional information about boating in TN at many of the most popular destinations in the state.

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