Guide To Great Fishing In Tennessee

All about fishing in the Volunteer State

Tennessee offers a wealth of fishing opportunities, thanks to its diverse range of species and the abundance of lakes, rivers, and ponds throughout the state. Anglers can enjoy a variety of fishing experiences, from warm water fisheries to cold water fisheries, and from larger lakes to smaller ponds and rivers.

Warm water fisheries in Tennessee are renowned for their diverse species and excellent fishing opportunities. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and crappie are popular targets in warm water lakes such as Kentucky Lake, Percy Priest Lake, and Chickamauga Lake. These lakes are known for their healthy fish populations, providing anglers with thrilling battles and the chance to land trophy-sized catches. Other warm water species sought after by anglers include catfish, sunfish, and various panfish species. These warm water fisheries offer a range of fishing techniques and strategies, allowing anglers to choose their preferred style of fishing.

Cold water fisheries in Tennessee offer a different angling experience, with a focus on trout and other cold water species. The state is home to several rivers and streams that provide excellent trout fishing opportunities. The Caney Fork River, the Hiwassee River, and the Clinch River are popular destinations for trout anglers, offering both rainbow trout and brown trout. These fisheries often require specialized fly fishing techniques, allowing anglers to test their skills and enjoy the tranquility of fishing in beautiful natural surroundings.

In addition to lakes and rivers, Tennessee's smaller ponds and reservoirs also provide rewarding fishing experiences. These bodies of water are often stocked with various species, including bass, catfish, and panfish, ensuring consistent angling opportunities for both novice and experienced anglers. Ponds and reservoirs offer accessible fishing locations, making them popular choices for family outings or a casual day of fishing.

Tennessee's fishing diversity and abundance of waterways provide anglers with endless opportunities to pursue their favorite species and fishing styles. Whether casting a line in a warm water lake, fly fishing in a cold water river, or enjoying a peaceful day of fishing in a pond, Tennessee offers something for every angler. With its rich fishing heritage and thriving fish populations, Tennessee is a destination that caters to the passions and preferences of all fishing enthusiasts.

Tennessee fishing offers many opportunities to catch the fish of your dreams. From giant stripers, to huge bass, boatloads of big crappie and huge walleyes...to monster catfish. Tennessee sports a million surface acres of water for all your fishing interests. Big lakes, small ponds, streams, creeks and rivers are scattered throughout the state. Locate marinas on fishing lakes in the state. Many of these lakes offer fishing boats for rent.

Here, you can fish for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, redeye bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout, brown trout, lake trout, bluegill, flier sunfish, green sunfish, longear sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, redbreast sunfish, redear sunfish, rock bass, spotted sunfish, warmouth, white bass, yellow bass, yellow perch, stripers, bowfin, chain pickerel, longnose gar, muskie, northern pike, paddlefish, sauger, saugeye and spotted gar in local lakes, rivers, ponds and/or streams.

Major Tennessee Lakes & Species

Fishing lake sizes and locations in the state.

Boone Lake is a 4,500-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Bluff City.

Calderwood Lake is a 514-acre reservoir on the southeast Tennessee border with NC, 20 miles south of Maryville.

Carroll County Thousand Acre Recreation Lake is a 1,000-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, 5 miles south of Huntingdon.

Center Hill Lake is an 18,000-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Silver Point, Tennessee.

Cheatham Lake is a 7,400-acre lake in north-central Tennessee, half way between Clarksville and Nashville.

Cherokee Lake is a 30,000-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Jefferson City.

Chickamauga Lake is a 35,000-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Chatanooga.

Chilhowee Lake is a 1,750-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Chilhowee.

Cordell Hull Lake is a 12,000 acre lake in the north-central part of TN, at Granville.

Dale Hollow Reservoir is a 28,000-acre lake in Kentucky and Tennessee on the northern border of the state, near Oakley.

Davy Crockett Lake is a 380-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, 7 miles south of Greeneville.

Douglas Lake is a 30,000-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Dandridge.

Fort Loudoun Lake is a 14,500-acre reservoir in east-central part of the state, at the southwest outskirts of Knoxville.

Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir is a 872-acre reservoir in northeast Tennessee, 5 miles south of Kingsport.

Garrett Lake - 200-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, 9 miles northeast of Dresden.

Gibson County Lake - 560-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, 3 miles east of Trenton.

Great Falls Lake is an 1,800-acre lake in central Tennessee, at Rock Island.

J. Percy Priest Lake is a 14,200-acre reservoir in the north-central part of Tennessee, on the northeast outskirts of Nashville.

John Sevier Reservoir is a 305-acre lake in the northeast corner of Tennessee, 30 miles west of Kingsport.

Kentucky Lake is a 160,000-acre lake in Kentucky and Tennessee on the northern border of the state, at Camden.

Lake Barkley is a 58,000-acre lake in Kentucky and Tennessee on the northern border of the state, at Dover.

Melton Hill Lake is a 5,700-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, 4 miles southeast of Oak Ridge.

Nickajack Lake is an 10,370-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Guild.

Normandy Lake is a 2,500-acre lake in the south-central portion of the state, 5 miles from Manchester.

Norris Lake is a 34,000-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Lake City.

Ocoee Lake is a 1,900-acre lake in the southeast corner of the state, at Ocoee.

Old Hickory Lake is a 23,000-acre lake in the north-central part of the state, at Gallatin.

Parksville Reservoir is a 1,900-acre lake in the southeast corner of the state, at Ocoee.

Percy Priest Lake is a 14,200-acre reservoir in the north-central part of Tennessee, on the northeast outskirts of Nashville.

Pickwick Lake is a 43,000-acre lake on the southern border of Tennessee, at Red Sulphur Springs.

Reelfoot Lake is a 15,400-acre lake in the northwest part of the state, at Samburg.

South Holston Lake is a 10,000-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Harr.

Tellico Reservoir is a 15,500-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Lenoir City.

Tims Ford Lake is a 10,500-acre lake in the south-central part of the state, at Winchester.

Watauga Lake is a 6,400-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Fish Springs.

Watts Bar Lake is a 39,000-acre lake in the southeast part of the state, at Grandview.

Woods Reservoir is a 4,000 acre lake in the south-central part of TN, 4 miles from Tullahoma.

Click the images and links above for species details.

Acquire a Tennessee fishing license here. Information about fishing in Tennessee is also available at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency website.

Visit AA-Boats-Boating.com to find information about fishing boats in Tennessee and other boating information.

Travel & Lodging Options

Fish for big bass

Excellent largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass and redeye bass fishing awaits anglers. Quality and quantity in a beautiful state. What more could one ask?

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