Tennessee bass limits change with the lake, river, species and sometimes the season
A five-bass statewide limit is only the starting point. One lake may protect smallmouth from 16 to 21 inches; another requires an 18-inch minimum; a nearby river stretch may allow just one smallmouth per day.
What is Tennessee’s statewide bass limit?
Largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, Alabama and Coosa bass count together where the general statewide rule applies.
No minimum length under the general statewide rule. Many individual reservoirs and river stretches override this.
General waters have no statewide seasonal bass closure. Special waters, seasonal limits and local closures can change that.
TWRA measures fish by laying them on a ruler, closing the mouth and squeezing the tail fin. Do not manipulate the mouth to artificially increase length. For minimum-length requirements, a fish below the threshold must be released.
Tennessee bass fishing regulations by lake
These are selected TWRA reservoir-specific rules. Values are for bass only, not crappie, striped bass or other fish. “Combined” means the stated species share a daily limit unless a separate species exception is listed.
| Reservoir | Daily bass limit | Largemouth | Smallmouth | Spotted / other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickamauga | 5 black bass combined | 15-inch minimum | No minimum; only one smallmouth, spotted, Alabama or hybrid over 16 inches per day | Included in the special over-16-inch allowance |
| Dale Hollow | 5 black bass combined; no more than 2 smallmouth | 15-inch minimum | 16–21-inch protected range; one may be below 16 and one may exceed 21 | No minimum length |
| Center Hill | 5 combined | 15-inch minimum | 18-inch minimum | No minimum length |
| J. Percy Priest | 5 combined | 15-inch minimum | 18-inch minimum | No minimum length |
| Kentucky Lake | 5 combined | 15-inch minimum | 15-inch minimum | No minimum length |
| Pickwick | 5 combined | 15-inch minimum | 15-inch minimum | 15-inch minimum for black bass on the specified reservoir |
| Douglas | 5 black bass per day | Oct–May no length minimum; Jun–Sep only one largemouth or smallmouth over 16 inches | Same seasonal over-16-inch restriction | No length restriction year-round |
| Norris | 5 largemouth/smallmouth combined; separate spotted/Alabama allowance | 14-inch minimum | Jun 1–Oct 15: 1 at 18-inch minimum; Oct 16–May 31: up to 5 at 15-inch minimum | Spotted/Alabama: no creel or length limit per TWRA reservoir rule |
| Cherokee | 5 largemouth/smallmouth combined; separate spotted/Alabama limit | 15-inch minimum | Jun 1–Oct 15: 1 at 18-inch minimum; Oct 16–May 31: up to 5 at 15-inch minimum | Spotted/Alabama: 15 daily, no length minimum |
| Cheatham | 5 combined | 14-inch minimum | 18-inch minimum | No minimum length |
| Cordell Hull | 5 combined | 15-inch minimum | 18-inch minimum | No minimum length |
Select your Tennessee lake, bass species and fish length
This educational checker handles common reservoir rules from the table above. It does not establish species identification, precise boundary position, legal possession or an emergency-rule exemption.
For Norris, Cherokee and Douglas, seasonal limits use today’s date. For a future trip, recheck during the applicable season. A “potentially eligible” result never overrides the daily creel limit.
What does a protected length range actually mean?
A protected length range (PLR), often called a slot limit, means fish within that range cannot be harvested. It is not a minimum-length limit.
Dale Hollow smallmouth: 16–21-inch protected range
Example: a 15-inch smallmouth may qualify for the under-16 allowance; an 18-inch smallmouth must be released; a 22-inch smallmouth may qualify for the over-21 allowance. Only one from each eligible side may be retained, within the two-smallmouth and five-black-bass daily limits.
Minimum size rule
A 15-inch minimum means a 14.75-inch fish is too short to keep. A fish meeting or exceeding the minimum may be eligible, subject to the creel limit.
Maximum / over-size allowance
A rule permitting only one fish over 16 inches does not mean larger fish are all protected. It means you cannot keep more than the allowed number above that measurement.
Where the same smallmouth bass changes legal status during the year
June 1 – October 15
Smallmouth: one per day at least 18 inches. Other largemouth/smallmouth limits continue to apply.
October 16–May 31: up to five smallmouth at a 15-inch minimum within the combined allowance.
June 1 – October 15
Smallmouth: one per day, 18-inch minimum.
October 16–May 31: up to five smallmouth at 15 inches or longer, sharing the largemouth/smallmouth five-fish allowance.
June 1 – September 30
Only one largemouth or smallmouth over 16 inches may be harvested per day.
October 1–May 31: no general length limit for largemouth and smallmouth on this reservoir.
Tennessee river bass regulations: bridge-to-bridge sections matter
Use the exact described reach. Do not apply a river section’s special smallmouth rule to the entire river or to the adjoining reservoir.
French Broad River
Highway 168 to Douglas Dam: smallmouth bass have an 18-inch minimum length and five-fish limit.
Highway 321 at Newport upstream to North Carolina: 13–17-inch protected range for smallmouth; only one over 17 inches. Five black bass combined.
Pigeon River
Highway 321 at Newport upstream to North Carolina: only one smallmouth per day; 20-inch minimum.
This is substantially stricter than the statewide no-minimum rule.
Little Pigeon River
Mouth upstream to Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundary, including West Prong and East Fork: smallmouth one per day, 20-inch minimum.
Holston River
I-40 bridge upstream to Cherokee Dam; John Sevier Dam upstream to North Fork Holston: smallmouth 13–17-inch PLR, only one over 17 inches. Five black bass combined.
Powell River
Gap Creek confluence upstream to state line: smallmouth 13–17-inch protected range, only one over 17 inches. Five black bass combined.
Tellico River
Tellico Reservoir boundary upstream to state line: smallmouth 13–17-inch protected range; only one over 17 inches. Five black bass combined.
Little River
Rockford Dam upstream to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundary: smallmouth 13–17-inch protected range, only one over 17 inches. Five black bass combined.
Wolf River / Dale Hollow
South Ford Road Bridge downstream into Dale Hollow: two smallmouth per day, with a 16–21-inch protected range. One may be under 16 and one over 21.
Some small lakes are catch-and-release only for bass
Travis McNatt Lake
At Big Hill Pond State Park: black bass are catch-and-release only under the 2026–27 TWRA rules.
Woodhaven Lake
At Montgomery Bell State Park: black bass are catch-and-release only under the current rules.
Lake Lajoie and Lake Placid
At Chickasaw State Park: 14–18-inch protected slot for black bass. Ten bass per day, only one over 18 inches.
Poplar Tree Lake
At Meeman Shelby State Park: largemouth bass 10 per day, with only one fish longer than 18 inches permitted.
Other state park lakes have different rules: Big Ridge Lake has a 14-inch black bass minimum, and certain listed state park waters require a 15-inch minimum. Always match the lake name, not merely the park category.
Pickwick and Dale Hollow: one fishing license does not always mean one set of rules
Pickwick Lake: Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi
A reciprocal agreement recognizes qualifying licenses from these states in the specified impounded-water zone from Pickwick Dam upstream to Tennessee River Mile 224.8 at Bear Creek’s mouth.
The agreement excludes Bear Creek and the part of Yellow Creek above Highway 25 Bridge. Follow the fishing regulations of the state whose waters you are physically fishing.
Dale Hollow: Tennessee and Kentucky
The reciprocal agreement has a defined Wolf River arm area, not unlimited coverage of every tributary.
Before fishing across a state line, check the agreement boundary and which jurisdiction’s limits govern the bank or water where you fish.
Know which bass you caught before applying its length rule
Largemouth bass
The upper jaw usually extends past the back edge of the eye when the mouth is closed. A broken horizontal dark stripe is often visible.
Smallmouth bass
Usually bronze to brown, frequently with vertical bars; jaw generally does not extend well beyond the eye. Often found in rocky river and reservoir habitat.
Spotted / Alabama bass
Often resembles largemouth but has a smaller mouth and a rough tongue patch. Species identification can be difficult, especially where related black bass coexist.
Why fishing above a lake’s full-pool boundary can change the limit
TWRA reservoir entries commonly state that full-pool elevation marks the boundary between reservoir regulations and tributary stream/river harvest restrictions.
- Identify the exact water. For example, Douglas Reservoir versus the upstream French Broad or Pigeon River.
- Find the reservoir’s official upstream regulation boundary. TWRA sometimes names a bridge, dam, confluence or other landmark.
- Check whether a river exception begins at the boundary. Do not assume the reservoir’s seasonal rule continues upstream.
- Measure and identify your bass using the rules for that side. If uncertain about your precise location, release the fish until the boundary can be confirmed.
Three real-world examples that prevent bass-limit mistakes
18-inch smallmouth
Release. The fish is inside the protected 16–21-inch range.
17-inch smallmouth
Release. The reservoir has an 18-inch smallmouth minimum.
17-inch smallmouth
Release. The June 1–October 15 smallmouth rule requires 18 inches.
These examples assume correct species identification, exact reservoir boundaries and no temporary restrictions.
Do you need a Tennessee fishing license to catch and release bass?
Yes, a valid license is generally required for anglers who are not exempt, even when every bass is released. Tennessee has separate license categories for residents, visitors, youth, seniors and certain limited fishing activities.
Resident adults
Most residents age 16–64 need an appropriate Tennessee fishing license. The ordinary annual combination Hunt/Fish license is a common option.
Nonresident adults
Choose the appropriate nonresident fishing license for trip length. Bass fishing without trout generally does not require a trout-inclusive license.
Special locations
Some TWRA State Lakes, parks and other managed areas may require additional permits or access compliance.
For license categories, resident/nonresident fees, digital proof and account steps, see the site’s Tennessee fishing license overview.
Things bass anglers should verify beyond size and bag limits
- Bait release: do not transfer or release live fish, crayfish or salamanders into Tennessee waters other than the waters where they were taken.
- Reservoir water level: a changing pool level can shift visible shoreline features but does not necessarily change the established legal reservoir boundary.
- Tailwater safety: check generation schedules and warning signs before wading below TVA or USACE dams.
- Fish handling: release protected fish promptly, avoiding prolonged exposure to air, especially in warm months.
- Border waters: reciprocal fishing-license coverage and species harvest regulations are two separate checks.
- Fishing tournaments: tournament rules cannot waive TWRA limits on possession, culling or fish harvest.
How to verify your bass limit with TWRA before the trip
- Open the TWRA fishing regulations page and locate the current edition.
- Identify your lake or the precise river reach, including the nearest regulation boundary.
- Read the species-specific largemouth, smallmouth and spotted-bass provisions.
- Check season dates, protected size ranges, combined creel limits and separate spotted-bass allowances.
- Check temporary closures and local access requirements immediately before fishing.
- Keep a copy of the relevant official regulation available for field reference.
Five-minute Tennessee bass trip checklist
- Confirm the reservoir or exact river section.
- Identify whether the target is largemouth, smallmouth, spotted or Alabama bass.
- Check whether the limit is combined or species-specific.
- Check whether a minimum size, slot limit or maximum-size allowance applies.
- Check the calendar date for seasonal smallmouth restrictions.
- Verify fishing-license status and any area-specific permit.
- Check the latest dam-release forecast, weather and access conditions.
- Measure fish correctly; release fish that do not clearly qualify.
Tennessee bass fishing regulations FAQ
How many bass can I keep in Tennessee?
On waters covered by the statewide rule, five black bass per day in any combination. Special waters may have different daily limits, including separate spotted-bass allowances or more restrictive smallmouth rules.
Does Tennessee have a statewide minimum size for largemouth bass?
No general statewide black-bass minimum length applies, but many reservoirs establish minimum largemouth lengths, such as 15 inches at Chickamauga, Kentucky Lake and Center Hill.
What is the Dale Hollow smallmouth slot limit?
Dale Hollow has a 16–21-inch protected length range for smallmouth. No more than two smallmouth may be kept daily, with one permitted under 16 inches and one over 21 inches, within the combined black-bass limit.
How many smallmouth bass can I keep at Norris Lake in summer?
From June 1 through October 15, only one smallmouth per day may be kept, and it must measure at least 18 inches. From October 16 through May 31, the minimum is 15 inches and up to five may be retained within the largemouth/smallmouth combined limit.
What is the Chickamauga largemouth bass size limit?
Chickamauga Reservoir has a 15-inch minimum length for largemouth bass and a combined five-black-bass daily limit. Smallmouth, spotted, Alabama and hybrids have a separate restriction allowing only one over 16 inches per day.
Are bass fishing seasons closed during spawning?
Tennessee’s general statewide bass fishing opportunity is year-round, but specific waters have seasonal retention limits, and some lakes are catch-and-release only for black bass. Check your exact location.
Can I keep a 17-inch bass at Center Hill?
Species matters. A 17-inch largemouth meets Center Hill’s 15-inch minimum, but a 17-inch smallmouth falls below its 18-inch minimum and must be released.
Is the Pickwick bass rule the same in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi?
No. The Pickwick reciprocal agreement covers a specifically defined area and recognizes qualifying fishing licenses, but anglers must follow the fishing regulations of the state in whose waters they are fishing.
Can I keep a bass that is inside a protected length range?
No. A protected length range means bass within the protected measurements must be released. Outside-range fish may qualify only when all other daily, species and special-water restrictions are met.
Do I need a license if I only catch and release bass?
Usually yes, unless you qualify for a Tennessee fishing-license exemption. Catch-and-release does not itself eliminate the fishing-license requirement.
Your next decision: the exact water, not just the species
Before keeping a Tennessee bass, identify the waterbody, species, measured length, current date and fish already retained that day. Where the limit changes at a bridge, dam or full-pool boundary, confirm your location before applying the rule.
TennesseeFishingLicense.website is an independent educational resource, not the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Official regulations control.