Tennessee Fishing Limits, Seasons & Special-Water Rules — Explained Before You Keep a Fish
Tennessee’s statewide limits are the starting point, not the final answer. A bass, crappie or trout that is legal on one lake may be protected on the next lake or even on another section of the same river.
Four checks decide whether a Tennessee fish is legal to keep
Identify it
Distinguish largemouth from smallmouth, striped bass from hybrids, and trout species when limits differ.
Locate the water
Find the exact reservoir, tributary, tailwater reach or stocked stream in TWRA’s water-specific rules.
Check length & bag
Apply any protected length range, minimum length, combined creel or species-specific cap.
Check the date & method
A delayed-harvest trout closure, paddlefish season, bait restriction or gear prohibition can change the answer.
Tennessee fishing bag limits and minimum sizes
These are the general TWRA rules when no more specific regulation applies. Combined limits mean different species within the named group count toward the same daily total.
| Species / group | Daily creel | Minimum length | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black bass — largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, Alabama, Coosa and hybrids | 5 combined | None statewide | Not five of each bass species. Local reservoir minimums and protected ranges are common. |
| Crappie — all combined | 15 | 10 inches | Region 1 has a 30-fish/no-minimum default exception unless a particular water says otherwise. |
| Striped bass + hybrid striped bass | 2 combined | 15 inches | Some reservoirs use special seasonal slots or length restrictions. |
| White bass | 15 | None | Do not confuse white bass with striped or hybrid striped bass. |
| Trout — all species | 7 combined | None statewide | A maximum of two lake trout may be included in the seven; many trout streams are stricter. |
| Catfish | No limit under 34 inches; only 1 over 34 inches | No general minimum | A lake or community pond may set a separate bag or minimum. |
| Walleye | 5 | 16 inches | Named reservoirs may have higher minimums or combined walleye/sauger limits. |
| Sauger and sauger/walleye hybrids | 10 | 15 inches | Check special river and reservoir harvest provisions. |
| Muskellunge | 1 | 36 inches | Melton Hill has a stricter 50-inch minimum. |
| Rock bass, redeye and shadow bass | 20 | None | A separate category from the five-fish black bass group. |
| Redear sunfish | 20 | None | Community waters may combine redear and bluegill in a shared limit. |
| Skipjack herring | 100 | None | Legal gear and bait movement rules still apply. |
| Paddlefish | 2 in open season | None | April 24–May 31; no culling. Exceptions apply on certain reservoirs. |
| Alligator gar and shovelnose sturgeon | No harvest | Not applicable | Release immediately. |
Compiled from TWRA’s current statewide creel and length limits. Named-water restrictions, reciprocal-border rules and emergency notices can supersede these figures.
Look up a common Tennessee fishing scenario
Choose a species or notable water. The result explains the regulation to check, rather than pretending every lake follows one statewide rule.
A 16-inch minimum and a 16–22-inch protected range are very different
Example: 16-inch minimum
A fish shorter than the minimum must be released. A longer fish may be retained only if the relevant season and daily limit also allow it.
Example: 16–22-inch PLR
Fish in the protected band must be released. Fish outside it may be harvestable, but there can also be an additional limit on larger fish.
Real Tennessee lakes and ponds where the default limit changes
These examples explain why the location matters. They are not the entire TWRA exceptions directory.
20 crappie — but still 10 inches
Reelfoot Lake lists 20 crappie combined, 10-inch minimum. Its largemouth bass have a 15-inch minimum, and five largemouth/spotted bass may be taken in combination.
Do not automatically apply the Region 1 default of 30 crappie with no minimum to Reelfoot.
Striped bass limits change with the season
Watts Bar lists two striped or hybrid striped bass combined daily. From November 1–March 31, only one may be striped bass and striped bass must be at least 36 inches.
From April 1–October 31, its listed striped bass minimum is 15 inches.
Muskellunge require 50 inches
Statewide muskie minimum: 36 inches. On Melton Hill Reservoir, TWRA specifies one per day, 50-inch minimum, and fish not intended for harvest must be released promptly.
This is a 14-inch difference from the statewide minimum.
Just one black bass per day
TWRA-listed community fishing ponds have a one-fish black bass limit; catfish and trout also have special five-fish limits. Only rod-and-reel, handlines or poles are permitted.
Jugs, trotlines, cast nets and seines are prohibited on these community waters.
The community fishing rules apply at these listed waters
What changed in the current Tennessee fishing regulations?
Travis McNatt Lake
At Big Hill Pond State Park, black bass are catch-and-release only. Other species have their own lake-specific limits.
Woodhaven Lake
At Montgomery Bell State Park, TWRA’s 2026–27 changes establish black bass catch-and-release only.
Big Soddy Creek
The delayed-harvest start moved to November 1. TWRA lists the catch-and-release period through February 28 on the designated reach.
Catoosa Wildlife Management Area
Streams and ponds are open for fishing except during deer hunts and wild hog control seasons. Check scheduled closures before visiting.
Tennessee trout fishing regulations: seasons, slots and special streams
The statewide trout creel is seven, but many popular tailwaters and stocked streams have different limits. A trout endorsement or fishing license does not override a protected slot or catch-and-release season.
| Water / designated reach | Trout rule | Practical consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Caney Fork River — Center Hill Dam to Cumberland River, including tributaries | Five trout combined. Rainbow, brook and cutthroat: 14–20-inch PLR with one over 20 inches; brown trout one per day, 24-inch minimum. | Do not use the statewide seven-trout daily number here. |
| Elk River — Tims Ford Dam to I-65 bridge, including tributaries | Seven trout combined. Brown trout one per day, 20-inch minimum; seasonal catch-and-release restriction Oct. 1–Feb. 28. | Check the specific date and whether keeping trout is allowed. |
| South Fork Holston — designated reaches below South Holston Dam | 16–22-inch protected length range; seven trout combined, only one above 22 inches. Certain reaches closed Nov. 1–Jan. 31. | Confirm bridge/island boundaries before entering a closed stretch. |
| Watauga River quality trout area — Smallings Bridge to CSX railroad bridges | Two trout per day; 14-inch minimum. Additional bait and method restrictions apply. | This reach is much stricter than the statewide trout rule. |
| Big Soddy Creek — upstream of Back Valley Road | Catch-and-release season Nov. 1–Feb. 28. | During delayed harvest, do not possess or use bait; artificial lures only. |
| Hiwassee River — Appalachian Powerhouse to L&N railroad bridge | Delayed harvest Oct. 1–Feb. 28. | Trout harvest/possession prohibited during the special season. |
| Paint Creek — campground to French Broad River | Delayed harvest Oct. 1–Feb. 28. | Use artificial lures and release trout during the protected period. |
How to avoid a wrong-reach trout violation
- Identify the river and the dam, bridge, park or railroad landmark defining the reach.
- Check the current catch-and-release dates for that exact stretch.
- Read the species-specific size rule, not just the total trout bag.
- Look for bait bans, artificial-only, single-hook and access restrictions.
- For a TVA or Corps tailwater, check generation/release conditions before wading.
Which Tennessee fishing rules have important dates?
Paddlefish harvest
The general paddlefish harvest window is April 24–May 31. Two fish daily, no culling; special rules affect Center Hill, Cherokee and Watts Bar waters.
Delayed-harvest trout areas
Many designated trout sections restrict possession, bait and harvest during fall/winter. Start and end dates vary by water.
Watts Bar striped bass
November 1–March 31 brings the special 36-inch striped bass minimum and only one striped bass within the two-fish combined daily limit.
Legal Tennessee fishing methods: what TWRA permits and restricts
Rods and active lines
TWRA’s statewide definition counts poles or rods as lines actively baited or deployed. Generally there is no statewide limit on active poles unless a specific water or regulation says otherwise.
Trotlines
Sport anglers may use trotlines totaling no more than 100 hooks. Drop lines must be at least 24 inches apart, lines must be properly identified and checked at least once every 24 hours.
Trotlines must not be placed within 1,000 yards below TVA or Corps dams or within 100 yards of a river, creek or slough mouth.
Limblines, yo-yos and jugs
General sport limits are 25 limblines and 50 jugs or blocks, with one hook per limbline/jug. Identification and daily checking requirements apply.
Local lakes can prohibit them entirely or restrict dates, times or quantities.
Live bait and fish movement
TWRA categorizes bait species and regulates their harvest, transport, sale and use. A baitfish legal to catch at one lake is not automatically legal to transport live to another.
Three bait mistakes worth avoiding
- Moving baitfish: Some classes may only be used alive at the water where harvested.
- Assuming every species is legal bait: TWRA lists prohibited live aquatic species, including certain carp, round goby, snakeheads and zebra mussels.
- Using a cast net or bait trap in a restricted lake: The gear may be legal statewide but prohibited at a community pond, trout reach or other named water.
Locations where legal statewide gear can become illegal
TWRA Fishing Lakes
Trotlines and limblines are prohibited. Jug fishing has seasonal weekend/holiday restrictions and a limit of 10 jugs or blocks per boat on permitted days.
Indian Boundary Lake
Jugs, trotlines and limblines are prohibited. Fish limits also differ from general statewide rules.
Norris Reservoir
Specific Powell and Clinch River arms prohibit trotlines, limblines and jugs during January 1–April 30 within defined river-mile boundaries.
A lake-specific restriction applies to the named lake/reach, not necessarily to the whole Tennessee River system.
Tennessee border waters: a license may be reciprocal while harvest rules remain different
| Border water | Reciprocal licensing principle | Critical limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Pickwick Lake — Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi | Specified reciprocal area recognizes qualifying sport licenses from the three states. | Bear Creek and a portion of Yellow Creek are excluded; follow the regulations of the state whose waters you fish. |
| Kentucky Lake — Tennessee/Kentucky | Specified bridge-to-bridge reciprocal area. | The Blood River embayment is excluded. Bank anglers follow rules of the state where physically fishing. |
| Dale Hollow — Wolf River arm | Reciprocal portion includes defined Wolf River/Illwill Creek waters. | Not a blanket reciprocal rule for all shoreline and tributaries. |
| Big South Fork | Specified reciprocal river stretch between Leatherwood Ford Bridge and KY 92 at Yamacraw. | Shore anglers must follow rules of the state where they are fishing. |
| Mississippi River — Arkansas/Missouri borders | Separate reciprocal arrangements cover defined common river waters. | Tributaries, wildlife areas, backwater locations and equipment rules have exclusions. |
| Calderwood Reservoir — North Carolina | Either state’s license is recognized in the reservoir while fishing from a boat. | Does not mean unrestricted bank fishing across the state boundary. |
| South Holston Reservoir — Virginia | Special supplemental license available to eligible Tennessee/Virginia residents. | Nonresidents of both states need to account for the state boundary and appropriate licenses. |
- Find the exact reciprocal section, not just the lake name.
- Check whether you are on the water or fishing from a bank.
- Confirm that your state’s license qualifies.
- Use the applicable state’s species, length, season and gear rules.
Do you need a Tennessee fishing license in addition to following these rules?
Generally, anglers taking or attempting to take fish, or assisting with the activity, need an appropriate TWRA license unless an exemption applies. Age, residency, trout privileges and certain special waters influence what must be purchased.
Under age 13
Generally exempt from the ordinary fishing-license requirement. A special location or permit rule can still matter.
Ages 13–15
Junior license requirements apply. Residents and visitors have different products and possible special permits.
Trout anglers
Appropriate trout privileges or all-species coverage may be necessary on top of the base license depending on the angler and product.
For costs, trout supplements, resident/nonresident decisions and special permits, consult the Tennessee fishing license guide.
How to keep, transport and measure fish legally
Daily creel
The maximum fish you may harvest in one day for the particular species group and water.
Example: A statewide five-black-bass limit does not allow five largemouth plus five smallmouth.
Possession
TWRA’s general possession maximum is twice the daily creel, but the amount carried afield is capped at the daily creel.
Do not alter fish while afield so that officers cannot identify the species or determine the fish’s full length.
Culling
Do not assume that exchanging a retained fish for a larger fish is always allowed. TWRA expressly prohibits paddlefish culling, and other species or waters may have special rules.
Inspection
Under Tennessee’s inspection law, participating anglers must permit authorized wildlife officers to determine license and wildlife-law compliance.
Five examples showing how an angler can apply these rules
A crappie trip to Reelfoot
Do not stop at the Region 1 crappie figure. Reelfoot has its own 20-fish combined daily limit and 10-inch minimum. Measure every fish before placing it in the cooler.
Winter trout fishing on a delayed-harvest reach
Even though the statewide trout table lists seven fish, the designated delayed-harvest section may prohibit keeping any trout during that season. Leave bait out of the restricted reach.
A November striped-bass trip on Watts Bar
Use the November–March striped bass rules, not the statewide 15-inch minimum. TWRA lists a 36-inch minimum for striped bass during this period and no more than one striped bass in the combined two-fish bag.
A Nashville community pond with children
At Cedar Hill Pond, the community-fishing rules apply. The black bass daily limit is one, and methods such as cast nets and trotlines are prohibited.
Crossing Pickwick Lake by boat
Check whether the boat is within the covered reciprocal area and determine which state’s waters you are fishing. A qualifying reciprocal license does not erase that state’s species regulations.
Below Tennessee dams, legal fishing water can become unsafe quickly
Hydropower releases on the Cumberland, Tennessee, Holston and other river systems can rapidly change water depth and current. A legal trout or bass fishing section is not necessarily safe for wading during generation.
Check generation
Look up the correct TVA or Corps project and the latest release schedule before entering a tailwater.
Recognize changes
Rising water, sirens and sudden current are reasons to leave the water immediately.
Don’t rely on a schedule alone
Releases can change. Observe warning signs, posted restricted areas and changing conditions.
How to confirm the exact regulation before fishing
The official sources are the final check after you identify your water and target species. TWRA’s live rule pages are especially important when an older PDF, video or tackle-shop chart uses outdated information.
- Open the TWRA fishing regulation hub.
- Read the statewide species rule.
- Open the fishing regulation exceptions directory and find your named lake or reach.
- For trout, read the separate trout regulations and delayed-harvest section.
- For bait, nets, jugs or other methods, review the statewide method and live-bait rules.
- Check whether a current-year rule change or emergency closure affects the trip.
Seven checks before a Tennessee fishing trip
- License: Have valid TWRA fishing and any required trout or special permits.
- Exact water: Check the lake, river-mile or designated trout reach by name.
- Species: Read the combined bag, minimum, protected range and any trophy restriction.
- Season: Check delayed harvest, paddlefish harvest or another species/area closure.
- Gear: Check hooks, bait, trotline/jug permissions and local prohibitions.
- Access: Confirm private property permission, park restrictions and WMA closures.
- Conditions: Check the weather and dam generation if fishing below a reservoir.
Tennessee fishing regulations FAQ
How many bass can you keep per day in Tennessee?
The general statewide black bass limit is five per day in combination across largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, Alabama and Coosa bass and their hybrids. Specific lakes and streams can have different length limits or catch-and-release requirements.
What is the statewide crappie size limit in Tennessee?
The general statewide crappie minimum is 10 inches with a combined daily limit of 15. Region 1 has a broader default exception of 30 without a minimum unless a particular water specifies another rule. Reelfoot Lake, for example, has a 20-fish limit and 10-inch minimum.
How many trout can you keep in Tennessee?
The statewide combined daily trout limit is seven with no statewide minimum length, and no more than two of the seven may be lake trout. Special trout waters can impose lower creels, slots, minimum lengths, bait rules or catch-and-release seasons.
Can you keep catfish over 34 inches in Tennessee?
The general statewide rule permits only one catfish longer than 34 inches per day, with no general creel limit for catfish under 34 inches. Individual ponds, lakes and community fishing waters may impose different catfish restrictions.
When is Tennessee paddlefish season?
The general paddlefish harvest season runs April 24 through May 31, with two fish per day and no culling. TWRA lists exceptions for Center Hill, Cherokee and Watts Bar reservoirs that anglers must verify.
Can you fish with multiple rods in Tennessee?
TWRA generally does not impose a statewide cap on the number of actively used rods or poles, unless a particular regulation says otherwise. The general hook maximum is three per rod, pole or handheld line, with a specified sabiki rig exception for harvesting shad or herring.
What does a protected length range mean?
A protected length range means fish within the listed length interval must be released. Fish below or above the range may be eligible for harvest, but separate creel or maximum-over-slot restrictions may still apply.
Can I fish with live bait in a Tennessee delayed-harvest trout area?
During the designated delayed-harvest catch-and-release season, bait use and possession are prohibited, and only artificial lures may be used. The exact dates and boundaries differ between trout waters.
Does a Tennessee fishing license cover border lakes?
Some named waters have reciprocal agreements with adjacent states, but the agreements have specific geographic boundaries, qualifying license rules and harvest requirements. Pickwick Lake, Kentucky Lake, Dale Hollow, Calderwood and South Holston have different provisions.
Can I rely on the statewide fishing regulations for every Tennessee lake?
No. TWRA publishes separate exceptions for named reservoirs, rivers, streams, TWRA lakes, community fishing ponds, state parks and wildlife management areas. Always check the exact location before applying the general statewide limit.