Tennessee 10-Day Fishing License Visitor Cost & Rules
A Tennessee 10-day fishing license is mainly for nonresident visitors who are staying longer than a weekend but do not need a full annual license. The key choice is simple but expensive if you get it wrong: $30 no-trout or $61 all-species including trout.
This guide explains what the 10 days mean, when the 10-day license beats the 3-day license, when annual is smarter, how trout changes the price, and which special waters may still need extra permits.
Quick answer: Tennessee’s nonresident 10-Day Fishing – No Trout license is listed at $30. The nonresident 10-Day Fishing – All Species license is listed at $61 and includes trout. Both are for 10 consecutive days from the selected start date, not 10 separate fishing days across the year.
Best use: choose the $30 10-day no-trout license if your visitor trip is 4–10 days and you will not fish for trout. Choose the $61 all-species version if trout is possible. If you may return later, compare the annual nonresident no-trout license at $49 or annual all-species at $98 before buying.
Tennessee 10-Day License Picker For Visitors
Tap the closest situation before you open checkout. This prevents buying the wrong 10-day product.
Choose your visitor trip
10-Day License Cost Compared With 3-Day and Annual Visitor Math
The 10-day product is not always the cheapest. Use this table before checkout.
| Nonresident license | Listed cost | Best for | Smart buying rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Fishing – No Trout | $20 | Short visitor trip without trout. | Use for a weekend or 1–3 consecutive days when trout is not possible. |
| 3-Day Fishing – All Species | $40 | Short visitor trip where trout may be targeted. | Better than 10-day all-species if you only fish 1–3 days. |
| 10-Day Fishing – No Trout | $30 | 4–10 consecutive visitor days without trout. | Good middle option. Compare annual no-trout if you may return. |
| 10-Day Fishing – All Species | $61 | 4–10 consecutive visitor days where trout may happen. | Right choice for longer trout trips, but special permits may still apply. |
| Annual Fishing – No Trout | $49 | Repeat visitors without trout. | Smarter than buying two 10-day no-trout licenses. |
| Annual Fishing – All Species | $98 | Repeat visitors who may fish trout. | Compare if you will make two longer trout trips. |
What “10-Day” Means Consecutive Days, Not Any 10 Days
This is the detail visitors miss most often.
Starts from selected date
The license is valid for 10 consecutive days from the selected start date. Pick the first day you may actually fish.
Not 10 random days
You cannot spread it across different weekends or separate trips. It runs in one block.
Do not start too early
If you arrive Monday but fish Thursday, do not start the license Monday unless you need those days covered.
How to Buy a Tennessee 10-Day Fishing License Online Step by Step
Use Go Outdoors Tennessee only after you know which 10-day product you need.
Decide no-trout or all-species first
Choose no-trout only if trout is not part of the trip. Choose all-species if trout is possible.
Pick the correct start date
The 10-day period runs consecutively from the selected date. Use your first real fishing day, not necessarily your arrival day.
Check special waters
Before checkout, check whether your plan includes Gatlinburg, Reelfoot, Tellico-Citico, TWRA State Lakes, Lake Halford, Bedford Lake, or South Holston VA-side fishing.
Open the official portal
Use Go Outdoors Tennessee. New customers create a TWRA customer account. Existing customers should use the same account to avoid duplicate profiles.
Open official portalReview cart details
Check license name, no-trout vs all-species, start date, customer name, date of birth, email, processing fee, and final total.
Save proof offline
The electronic license copy is legal, but visitors should screenshot it and save the email before driving to lakes, rivers, cabins, campgrounds, or tailwaters with weak signal.
10-Day No Trout vs 10-Day All Species The Decision That Matters
For Tennessee visitors, trout changes the license choice. Do not decide after you reach the river.
| Trip type | Buy this | Why | Warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-area lake trip for bass, crappie, catfish or bluegill | 10-Day No Trout, if trip is 4–10 days | No-trout license can fit normal warmwater fishing. | Still check waterbody-specific limits. |
| Smoky Mountains / East Tennessee trout streams | 10-Day All Species | All-species includes trout. | Special areas may still need extra permits. |
| Tailwater where trout may be caught | 10-Day All Species | Trout possibility should push you to all-species. | Check generation schedule and special rules. |
| Gatlinburg trout waters | Check Gatlinburg license/permit rules | Gatlinburg has special trout products. | Streams are closed Thursdays due to stocking. |
| Tellico River / Citico Creek / Green Cove Pond | All-species plus Tellico-Citico permit where required | Trout and special permit rules can stack. | Tellico-Citico permit can be required for all ages. |
Real Visitor Scenarios What to Buy
Use these examples to avoid overpaying or underbuying.
Nashville visitor, 5 lake days, no trout
Buy 10-Day Fishing – No Trout for $30 if the trip is one continuous block. Compare annual no-trout only if you will return later.
Smoky Mountains visitor, trout possible
Buy 10-Day Fishing – All Species for $61. Then check whether the exact water has special trout, park, Gatlinburg or permit rules.
Weekend visitor, 2 fishing days
Do not default to 10-day. Compare 3-Day No Trout at $20 or 3-Day All Species at $40.
Two Tennessee trips this year
Annual may be smarter. Two 10-day no-trout purchases cost $60, while annual no-trout is $49.
Reelfoot trip
Check Reelfoot Preservation Permit rules. A base fishing license does not automatically cover every Reelfoot requirement.
TWRA State Lake trip
TWRA State Lakes may require a daily or annual State Lake Fishing Permit in addition to the base fishing license.
Special Permits That Can Still Apply Even With a 10-Day License
The 10-day license gives fishing privileges, but some places have extra permit layers.
| Special place / product | Cost signal | Who should check it | Practical warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tellico-Citico Trout 1-Day Permit | $6 | Tellico River, Citico Creek, Green Cove Pond anglers. | Required for all ages where applicable. |
| TWRA State Lake Fishing Permit – Daily | $6 | Visitors fishing TWRA State Lakes. | Required in addition to base license for listed age groups. |
| TWRA State Lake Fishing Permit – Annual | $48 | Repeat TWRA State Lake users. | Compare if fishing multiple state-lake days. |
| Bedford Lake 1-Day Fishing Permit | $6 | Bedford Lake anglers. | Specific location product. |
| 1-Day Gatlinburg Trout License | $11 | One-day Gatlinburg trout anglers. | Only requirement for one day in Gatlinburg; streams closed Thursdays due to stocking. |
| Gatlinburg Trout Permit | $3 one-day / $9 three-day | Gatlinburg anglers using base license. | Required in addition to appropriate fishing license unless using the 1-day Gatlinburg trout license. |
| Lake Halford Permit | $6 daily / $48 annual | Lake Halford recreation users. | Check exemption and age rules before assuming. |
| Reelfoot Preservation Permit | $3 one-day / $10 three-day / $16 annual | Reelfoot WMA users. | Required for many users except certain exempt groups. |
| South Holston Reservoir Supplemental | $20 | TN residents fishing Virginia side. | Mostly a resident issue, but visitors should still confirm boundary rules. |
Visitor Checklist Before You Fish 60-Second Legal Check
Run this before you cast, especially if you bought the license from your phone while traveling.
Correct product?
Confirm the license says 10-Day No Trout or 10-Day All Species exactly as intended.
Correct start date?
Make sure the 10 consecutive days cover your actual fishing days, not just your vacation dates.
Trout covered?
If trout is possible, your proof should show all-species coverage.
Special permit?
Check Gatlinburg, Reelfoot, Tellico-Citico, TWRA State Lakes, Lake Halford and Bedford Lake.
Rules checked?
Check statewide and local rules before keeping fish.
Proof saved?
Save email, screenshot and customer lookup access before leaving signal.
Tennessee Fishing Rules Visitors Must Know After Buying
A 10-day license lets you fish. It does not override seasons, size limits, creel limits, bait rules, private property or safety restrictions.
Local exceptions matter
Many Tennessee waters have special creel and length limits. Check the exact water before keeping fish.
Inspection required
Be ready to show license proof and follow officer inspection requests.
Measure before keeping
Use a measuring board. Do not guess fish length from memory.
Hook and method rules
Legal methods can vary. Check rod, hook, jug, trotline, limblines and bait rules before using anything beyond normal rod and reel.
Do not move live fish
Do not intentionally release live fish, crayfish or salamanders into Tennessee waters away from where harvested.
Do not dump bait
Drain bait buckets on land or dispose of bait in trash. Do not dump unused bait into the water.
Phone Proof, Reprint and Low-Signal Backup For Visitors
Go Outdoors Tennessee states the electronic copy received by email is a true and legal copy. Still, visitors should prepare for dead batteries and weak signal.
| Problem | Best action | Visitor tip |
|---|---|---|
| License email is missing | Use Customer Lookup and select reprint my license. | Try the same name, date of birth and identifier used at purchase. |
| No signal at water | Use screenshot or saved PDF. | Save proof before driving into mountain, river or campground areas. |
| Phone battery dies | Carry printed backup or portable charger. | One paper copy in the tackle bag saves stress. |
| Wrong product bought | Do not fish until corrected through official system. | No-trout proof is not all-species proof. |
| Login problem | Call Go Outdoors login assistance. | 1-888-891-8972. |
Helpful Tennessee Fishing License Guides Next-Step Internal Links
These links are useful only when they match the visitor’s next question. They are not random SEO links.
Full cost guide
Use this for all resident, nonresident, senior, youth, trout and permit costs.
Tennessee fishing license costGo Outdoors login
Use this if the user needs portal help, account lookup or checkout steps.
Go Outdoors Tennessee guidePermit guide
Use for Gatlinburg, Reelfoot, Tellico-Citico, TWRA State Lakes and special locations.
Tennessee fishing permit guideApp guide
Use for TWRA On the Go app, phone proof, storage and downloads.
Tennessee fishing license appRenewal guide
Use when the user is comparing active, expired or near-expired license status.
Renew Tennessee fishing licenseTWRA Address, Map and Help Numbers For Visitor Support
Use Go Outdoors Tennessee for payment. Use TWRA contacts when the issue needs a person.
TWRA central office
5107 Edmondson Pike, Ellington Agricultural Center, Nashville, TN 37211
Main: 615-781-6500
Email: Ask.TWRA@tn.gov
License help
License Section & Agency Sales: 615-781-5270
Go Outdoors login help: 1-888-891-8972
Fisheries and enforcement
Fisheries Division: 615-781-6575
Law Enforcement Division: 615-781-6580
Official Tennessee Links Use After You Know What to Buy
The article should answer the decision. The official site should be used for final purchase, reprint, fee verification or live regulation checks.
Buy 10-day license
Use the official Go Outdoors Tennessee portal for purchase, account creation and checkout.
Go Outdoors TennesseeVerify fee table
Use TWRA’s official license fee page to confirm costs before publishing or paying.
TWRA license feesFind in-person agent
Use this if the visitor prefers buying in person from a TWRA licensed agent.
Find license agentRecover proof
Use Customer Lookup to access, reprint or resend an active license copy.
Customer lookupCheck regulations
Use before keeping fish, using special gear, fishing tailwaters or transporting bait.
Fishing regulationsFishing in Tennessee
Use for TWRA fishing overview, maps, reports, stocking and fishing resources.
TWRA fishing pageTennessee 10-Day Fishing License FAQ
How much is a Tennessee 10-day fishing license for nonresidents?
The nonresident 10-Day Fishing – No Trout license is listed at $30. The nonresident 10-Day Fishing – All Species license is listed at $61 and includes trout. Processing fees may apply.
Does the Tennessee 10-day fishing license include trout?
Only the 10-Day Fishing – All Species version includes trout. The 10-Day Fishing – No Trout license does not include trout.
Is the Tennessee 10-day fishing license valid for any 10 days?
No. It is valid for 10 consecutive days from the selected start date, not 10 separate fishing days spread across the year.
Should I buy a 3-day or 10-day Tennessee fishing license?
For 1–3 consecutive fishing days, compare the 3-day product first. For 4–10 consecutive fishing days, the 10-day license usually fits better.
When is annual cheaper than a 10-day license?
Annual No Trout is $49, while 10-Day No Trout is $30. If you may make two longer non-trout trips, annual can be cheaper. Annual All Species is $98, while 10-Day All Species is $61.
Can visitors buy a Tennessee 10-day fishing license online?
Yes. Visitors can buy through the official Go Outdoors Tennessee portal, at a TWRA licensed agent, or through other official TWRA purchase routes.
Do kids need a Tennessee 10-day fishing license?
Children under 13 do not need a regular fishing license in Tennessee. Nonresident youth ages 13–15 should check the junior license options.
Do I need extra permits with a 10-day license?
Possibly. Gatlinburg trout waters, Reelfoot WMA, TWRA State Lakes, Tellico-Citico, Lake Halford and Bedford Lake can require special permits or special products.
Can I show my Tennessee 10-day fishing license on my phone?
Yes. The official electronic copy received by email is a legal license copy. Still save a screenshot or printed backup for weak signal or dead battery situations.
What if I bought no-trout but now want to fish trout?
Do not fish for trout until you have the correct all-species or trout-valid product. Use the official portal or license help to correct the issue before fishing.
Does the 10-day all-species license include Gatlinburg or Reelfoot permits?
It includes trout as part of the fishing license, but specialty locations can still require separate permits. Always check Gatlinburg, Reelfoot, Tellico-Citico and TWRA State Lake rules.
Who do I call for Tennessee 10-day fishing license help?
For Go Outdoors login assistance, call 1-888-891-8972. For TWRA License Section & Agency Sales, call 615-781-5270.
Final Visitor Advice
For most visitors, the 10-day Tennessee fishing license is a good middle option only when the trip lasts more than 3 days and less than a full repeat-visit season. The correct choice depends on trout first, then trip length, then special waters.
Best path: choose no-trout or all-species → set the first actual fishing day as the start date → check special permits → buy through Go Outdoors Tennessee → save proof offline → check local rules before keeping fish.