Reelfoot Preservation Permit: what to buy, who is exempt, and where it applies
Fishing or boating at Reelfoot Lake often requires more than a regular Tennessee fishing license. The Reelfoot Preservation Permit is a separate TWRA access requirement that also applies to designated wildlife-management and refuge waters.
Reelfoot Preservation Permit cost: $3, $10 or $16
The permit fee is identical for Tennessee residents and visitors from other states. TWRA lists three durations, with purchase-processing fees charged separately.
1-Day Permit
Designed for one day of covered activity at Reelfoot.
3-Day Permit
Three consecutive days from the selected start date.
Annual Permit
Best for repeat trips or extended use, subject to the dates printed on the purchased product.
| Number of use days | One-day permits | Alternative | Suggested comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | $3 | 3-day $10; annual $16 | One-day permit has the lowest listed base cost. |
| 2 days | $6 | 3-day $10 | Two day permits are cheaper before processing fees. |
| 3 days | $9 | 3-day $10 | Daily permits total $1 less, before transaction charges. |
| 4 days | $12 | Annual $16 | Daily permits have a lower listed base cost. |
| 5 days | $15 | Annual $16 | Compare transaction fees and planned return visits. |
| 6+ days | $18 or more | Annual $16 | Annual has the lower published base cost. |
TWRA states that annual licenses and permits generally last 365 days from purchase unless otherwise indicated. Confirm the particular Reelfoot permit’s effective and expiration dates at checkout rather than treating every product as a calendar-year permit.
Four exemption checks before you pay
Exempt
The Preservation Permit is not required for visitors younger than 16.
Exempt
The age exemption is for qualifying Tennessee residents, not automatically every visitor over 65.
Exempt
Qualifying annual Sportsman license holders do not need an additional Reelfoot Preservation Permit.
Exempt
Lifetime Sportsman license holders are also exempt from this particular preservation permit.
Activity and visitor exemption checker
Select your visitor category and primary activity to identify the likely permit requirement.
Most adult anglers need two different products for Reelfoot
The Reelfoot Preservation Permit authorizes covered WMA use. It is not a general Tennessee fishing license. If you are fishing and not exempt, you normally need both products.
Tennessee fishing license
A valid resident, nonresident, short-term, youth or other qualifying fishing license covers the underlying recreational fishing activity.
Reelfoot Preservation Permit
Add the $3, $10 or $16 permit unless a specific exemption applies.
Resident angler, age 40
With an ordinary annual fishing license, the person still needs a separate Reelfoot Preservation Permit for the covered area.
Resident angler, age 68
The person is exempt from the Reelfoot Preservation Permit but must still meet applicable Tennessee fishing-license requirements.
Visitor, age 70
Age alone does not provide the Tennessee-resident Reelfoot exemption. Check the appropriate visitor fishing license and preservation permit.
Child, age 14
The Reelfoot permit is not needed, but a Tennessee resident youth age 13–15 ordinarily needs the appropriate junior license to fish.
Use our Tennessee fishing-license guide to identify the correct base license, and the current Tennessee fishing-license price guide to compare resident and nonresident options.
How to buy a Reelfoot Preservation Permit online
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency sells these products through Go Outdoors Tennessee, its official licensing portal. You can also use an authorized TWRA license agent or a regional office.
- Open the state-authorized portal: Go Outdoors Tennessee.
- Find your existing customer record: use the sign-in/customer lookup route if you previously purchased a Tennessee license or registered a boat.
- Check exemption first: if you are under 16, a qualifying Tennessee resident age 65+, or a qualifying Sportsman license holder, verify whether a separate preservation product is unnecessary.
- Locate Reelfoot Preservation Permit: choose the appropriate 1-day, 3-day or annual product. Select the correct starting date where applicable.
- Add a fishing license if necessary: do not assume the preservation permit alone legalizes fishing.
- Review the total: confirm dates, product selection and TWRA transaction-processing charges.
- Complete payment: purchase through the official system, then check the confirmation and issued documents.
- Carry valid proof: keep the permit and other necessary licenses available for inspection. The official TWRA On the Go mobile app can help store licensing documents.
Where does the Reelfoot Preservation Permit apply?
The requirement is broader than launching a fishing boat onto the open lake. TWRA identifies Reelfoot WMA, the washout and marked downstream tailwaters, Black Bayou Refuge and the Tennessee portion of Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge within the covered permit area.
Wildlife Management Area
The WMA contains roughly 24,000 acres of fields, bottomland hardwoods, cypress swamps and other wetland habitat. Covered activities include fishing, boating, hunting and trapping.
Federal refuge jurisdiction
Parts of Reelfoot Lake and Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge fall under U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service management. A preservation permit does not override federal closures.
Washout and tailwaters
TWRA’s rule includes the washout and downstream tailwaters where marked. Check posted boundaries rather than assuming the open-water shoreline is the only affected area.
Reelfoot WMA access near Tiptonville
TWRA’s published WMA entrance is off Ernie Pierce Road, east of Highway 78, approximately three miles north/northeast of Tiptonville. Eagle Nest Road and Choctaw-McCutcher Road are additional routes into portions of the management area. These are area access roads, not a promise of a usable boat ramp at every point.
Map marker: TWRA’s published Reelfoot WMA entrance vicinity, 36.44052, -89.41579. Confirm the correct ramp, parking entrance and seasonal closure before driving.
The permit does not open every Reelfoot area year-round
Reelfoot’s wildlife management and refuge system includes seasonal protections. Some roads, shorelines, backwaters and waterfowl habitat are managed differently from the main open lake.
| Area | Published access restriction | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Reelfoot WMA | Generally open year-round during daylight hours, subject to hunting seasons and posted rules. | Review the specific section of WMA regulations for the date and activity. |
| Black Bayou Refuge | Closed to most use and trespass November 15 through the last day of February; designated observation areas remain open. | Use only signed public observation access during the closure. |
| Grassy refuge unit | TWRA lists November 14 through February 15 as a seasonal closure. | Confirm the active USFWS boundary and dates at the signs. |
| Long Point refuge unit | TWRA lists November 15 through March 15 as a seasonal closure. | Avoid the closed unit even if you purchased the annual permit. |
| TWRA posted motor-restricted areas | Gasoline-powered boats prohibited in posted areas April 1 through May 31. | Check posted signs and plan propulsion accordingly. |
What can you catch once your permit and license are correct?
Reelfoot is a shallow, cypress-filled lake especially known for crappie and bluegill. The published TWRA lake regulations include different limits for bass, crappie, sunfish and catfish.
| Fish | Daily creel | Length requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Crappie, all species | 20 combined | 10-inch minimum |
| Largemouth and spotted bass | 5 combined | Largemouth: 15-inch minimum; spotted: no minimum |
| Catfish, all species | No limit for fish 34 inches or less; one fish longer than 34 inches | Special trophy threshold |
| Redear sunfish | 20 | No minimum |
| Bluegill, warmouth and other sunfish | No listed creel limit | No listed minimum |
| Yellow bass | No listed creel limit | No listed minimum |
| Paddlefish | 2 daily in published open season | Seasonal rules, April 24–May 31; culling prohibited |
The lake’s middle basins have limited public bank access. Crappie anglers often focus on the Lower Blue Basin, while the Grassy and Long Point refuge areas need separate seasonal-access checks. Do not confuse an accessible waterbody on a map with permission to enter a closed unit.
Official Reelfoot fishing and rules pageOn the TWRA page, review the reservoir’s Regulations section first, then the seasonal fishing and navigation information for your planned basin.
Three Reelfoot trips, three different permit decisions
Fishing from a boat
A 35-year-old nonresident with no exemption generally needs an appropriate fishing license plus the $3 one-day Reelfoot Preservation Permit. Boating safety and registration laws may also apply.
Two adults and children
Adults without exemptions normally need their own permits and qualifying fishing licenses. Children younger than 16 do not need the preservation permit, but Tennessee fishing-license requirements begin at age 13.
Birding and fishing visits
For repeated covered WMA use, compare the $16 annual product with separate short-term products. Even with an annual permit, check refuge closure dates each time.
What the Reelfoot Preservation Permit does not include
A Tennessee fishing license
The permit is an addition to required fishing licenses, not a replacement. Learn more from the Tennessee special fishing permits guide.
Any hunting permit you might need
Hunters may need a hunting license, WMA permit, federal duck stamp, waterfowl products or blind-specific authorization. The preservation fee alone does not authorize hunting or reserved-blind use.
Access to closed refuge habitat
Seasonal refuge closures and sign-posted restrictions still apply, including rules on federal land.
Boat registration or safety compliance
A preservation permit is not a boat registration, launch guarantee, boating examination credential or substitute for required safety equipment.
For storing your documents on a phone, see our TWRA On the Go app guide.
If the permit is missing from your TWRA account
- Check the purchased product name: confirm it specifically says Reelfoot Preservation Permit, not merely a general fishing license or TWRA State Lake Fishing Permit.
- Check start and expiration dates: a three-day permit may be valid on dates different from your longer-term base license.
- Use your original customer record: return to the Go Outdoors Tennessee account associated with the transaction.
- Review issued documents: use the official view/print license route and check your purchase-confirmation email.
- If payment succeeded but nothing appears: contact TWRA or official licensing support before attempting another purchase.
TWRA Region 1
731-423-5725
800-372-3928 (toll-free)
TWRA.ASKRegion1@tn.gov
Reelfoot Lake State Park
731-253-9652
Use the state park office for park visitor facilities and park-specific access questions.
Reelfoot trip checklist
- Confirm the correct fishing license and Reelfoot Preservation Permit, unless exempt.
- Check that the permit is valid for every planned day of covered activity.
- Check the exact refuge or WMA unit and any seasonal closures.
- Confirm whether the route uses a signed public access road or park entrance.
- Look for posted gasoline-motor restrictions during April and May.
- Check wind conditions before crossing shallow, stump-filled open water.
- Review the species’ current creel and length limits.
- Carry digital or printed permit proof and any applicable boating documents.
Use the responsible government sources for the final decision
These primary resources provide current product prices, WMA boundaries, refuge conditions and actual purchase access.
Reelfoot Preservation Permit FAQs
How much is the Reelfoot Preservation Permit?
TWRA currently lists a $3 one-day permit, a $10 three-day permit and a $16 annual permit. The published preservation permit fee is the same for residents and nonresidents. Processing fees may apply.
Does a Tennessee fishing license include the Reelfoot Preservation Permit?
An ordinary fishing license does not include it automatically. Covered Reelfoot anglers generally need both a valid fishing license and the preservation permit unless a specific exemption applies.
Who is exempt from the Reelfoot Preservation Permit?
People younger than 16, Tennessee residents age 65 or older, and qualifying Annual or Lifetime Sportsman license holders are exempt. Other licenses and activity rules may still apply.
Does a nonresident senior age 65 or older need the permit?
Yes, unless another exemption applies. The age-based exemption is specifically for Tennessee residents age 65 or older, not all visitors over 65.
Is the preservation permit required just for boating?
No. TWRA’s Reelfoot WMA provision covers fishing, boating, hunting and trapping in the defined area. The broader access guidance also directs users of the covered WMA and refuge areas to check preservation requirements.
Does the permit cover Black Bayou Refuge?
Yes, TWRA identifies Black Bayou Refuge as covered by the Reelfoot Preservation Permit. The refuge has its own seasonal closure to most uses from November 15 through the end of February, with designated observation areas remaining open.
Do children need the Reelfoot Preservation Permit?
Children younger than 16 are exempt from this preservation permit. That is separate from Tennessee’s general fishing-license requirements, which ordinarily begin at age 13.
Is a three-day Reelfoot permit cheaper than three one-day permits?
Not on published base prices alone. Three $3 one-day permits total $9, compared with $10 for a three-day permit. Convenience, transaction fees and exact validity dates can change the best purchase choice.
Can I use a gas-powered boat anywhere on Reelfoot Lake?
No. TWRA prohibits gasoline-powered boats in posted areas from April 1 through May 31. Additional refuge and boating restrictions may apply. Look for posted boundaries.
Where can I buy the Reelfoot Preservation Permit?
Buy through the official Go Outdoors Tennessee licensing portal, an authorized TWRA license agent or a TWRA regional office. Choose the Reelfoot Preservation Permit with the correct duration and retain issued proof.
Final Reelfoot access decision
If you are not exempt, select the preservation permit that covers your exact use dates, then add the fishing or hunting authorization your activity requires. Before entering a refuge unit, verify that it is open even if your permit is valid.
This is an independent fishing-information website, not the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. TWRA and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service rules, posted closures and official purchase terms control.
Official Tennessee permit checkout