Keep the right catfish: Tennessee limits, special lakes and legal fishing methods
The statewide rule is unusually simple: only one catfish longer than 34 inches may be harvested per day, with no statewide harvest limit on fish measuring 34 inches or less. The catch is that community ponds, TWRA lakes and other designated waters can impose much stricter rules.
How many catfish can you keep in Tennessee?
The standard statewide rule imposes no daily catfish creel limit in this length category. Water-specific limits still override it.
Only one catfish measuring more than 34 inches may be harvested daily under the general rule.
A fish measuring exactly 34 inches falls on the unrestricted side of the statewide trophy threshold, unless a special rule applies.
Does the one-fish rule apply separately to blue, channel and flathead catfish?
Do not treat the limit as one trophy fish of each species. TWRA’s general catfish provision covers catfish as a group. The safer legal interpretation for a mixed-species outing is one harvested catfish longer than 34 inches in total per angler per day.
Three fish: 18, 26 and 34 inches
None exceeds 34 inches. The general statewide trophy restriction does not reduce this catch, assuming no local exception or other violation.
Two fish: 36 and 42 inches
Both exceed 34 inches. The general statewide limit permits retaining only one of these fish for the day.
How TWRA measures length
Place the fish on a ruler or measuring board, close its mouth and squeeze the tail fin. Do not push or manipulate the mouth to create a longer measurement. A rigid board is especially helpful when a catfish is close to the 34-inch threshold.
Current controlling reference: TWRA statewide creel and length limits.
Five catfish a day may be the actual limit at your fishing location
Several smaller public waters manage catfish more tightly than the main reservoir system. Check the water’s official name before deciding how many fish to keep.
| Water / program | Catfish rule | Practical consequence |
|---|---|---|
| TWRA Community Fishing Program ponds | Blue catfish, channel catfish and their hybrids: 5 per day combined; no size limit listed. | Do not apply the statewide unlimited-under-34 rule. Program waters also restrict fishing methods. |
| Beech River Watershed Lakes | Catfish: 5 per day, 15-inch minimum. | Release catfish shorter than 15 inches and stop after five legal fish. |
| Campbell Lake, Maury County | Catfish: 5 per day, 14-inch minimum. | Bring a ruler; a 13-inch fish cannot be kept under this local rule. |
| Travis McNatt Lake, Big Hill Pond State Park | Blue and channel catfish combined: 5 per day, 16-inch minimum. | The minimum length is stricter than on many other family fishing waters. |
| Pin Oak Lake, Natchez Trace State Park | Blue and channel catfish combined: 5 per day; no minimum length listed. | Check its separate trotline, limbline and seasonal jug restrictions. |
| Liberty Park Lake, Clarksville | Catfish: 5 per day; no minimum length listed. | This lake is not covered by an unrestricted statewide catfish creel. |
What counts as a Community Fishing Program water?
TWRA identifies these locations: Cameron Brown Park Pond in Germantown; Cedar Hill Pond in Nashville; Jack Dickert Pond in Chattanooga; Greenbelt Lake in Maryville; Fountain City Lake in Knoxville; and the designated Pistol Creek reach in Maryville from East Harper Avenue upstream to West Lamar Alexander Parkway.
These program locations normally allow fishing from 30 minutes before official sunrise until 30 minutes after official sunset. Fishing is limited to rod and reel, handlines and poles; trotlines, jugs, seines and cast nets are prohibited.
Open official water-specific exceptionsOn the TWRA page, search for your lake or program name and read the entire entry, not just the catfish line. Fishing hours and methods can be just as important as the harvest limit.
Which catfish rule should you check first?
Choose the fishing-water category. This tool points you to the relevant rule family; it does not replace a current TWRA water-specific search.
Do you need a Tennessee fishing license to catch catfish?
Yes, unless an exemption applies. Tennessee generally requires a fishing license starting at age 13. Catfish do not require a trout supplemental license, but the base license must be appropriate for your residency, age, duration and fishing location.
No ordinary fishing license required, although special-location requirements may still matter.
Junior Hunt/Fish/Trap annual product.
Common annual combination hunting/fishing product for ages 16–64.
Three-day no-trout fishing product; other durations available.
When your license may not be enough
TWRA State Fishing Lakes
Eligible anglers generally need a TWRA State Lake fishing permit in addition to their base license. The agency lists a $6 daily and $48 annual state-lake permit, subject to age and license exemptions.
Privately owned ponds
Do not assume a private pond automatically removes every licensing requirement. The ownership, location, access arrangement and any qualifying landowner exemption matter.
To compare the correct resident, visitor, youth or senior product before paying, read our Tennessee fishing-license cost comparison.
For exceptions and additional permits, the Tennessee permit and supplemental-license guide explains how the main license and location-specific permits work together.
- Choose the base no-trout license appropriate for your residency and number of fishing days.
- Determine whether your destination is a TWRA State Fishing Lake or another area with additional permit requirements.
- Visit Go Outdoors Tennessee, the state-authorized purchase portal; sign in or locate your customer record.
- Confirm the product, start/end dates, any extra permits and transaction fees before checkout.
- Save the license through your official account or the TWRA On the Go app before heading to the water.
Rod and reel, jugs, trotlines and limblines do not follow identical rules
Tennessee allows several recreational catfishing methods in suitable waters. A lawful catfish harvest does not excuse illegal equipment placement, unmarked gear or fishing where a particular method is prohibited.
| Method | General recreational requirements | What catches people out |
|---|---|---|
| Rod and reel / hand-held line | Standard sporting-fishing license and the applicable waterbody regulations. | Special waters can restrict hooks, bait or allowable fishing hours. |
| Trotline | Sports anglers: no more than 100 hooks combined across trotlines; droplines at least 24 inches apart. | Tagging and placement rules apply; forbidden on TWRA lakes and certain other waters. |
| Limbline / yo-yo | Maximum 25 limblines; one hook on each. | Must be tagged above water level and checked at least every 24 hours. |
| Jug / block | General recreational maximum 50 jugs or blocks, each with one hook. | TWRA lakes and designated waters have much lower limits or specific closed days. |
| Slat basket | One basket per licensed sport angler with the annual TWRA slat-basket tag; used for catfish and nongame fish. | Tag costs $10, runs July 1–June 30, and basket construction/placement/checking rules apply. |
| Grabbling / noodling | TWRA regulates hand-taking and other non-rod methods separately, including location and method restrictions. | Check dam proximity, closed waters, permitted species and the current method-specific rules. |
Equipment marking and placement: six rules worth remembering
- Mark recreational trotlines, limblines and jugs with your name and address or TWRA identification number.
- Tag bank-attached trotlines within five feet of the bank. Other trotlines have position-specific end or float marking requirements.
- Run and inspect trotlines, limblines and jugs at least once every 24 hours.
- Keep trotlines out of the 100-yard area at the mouth of any river, creek or slough.
- Do not extend a trotline more than three-quarters of the way across a stream, river, chute or embayment.
- Do not set trotlines, limblines or jugs within 1,000 yards below TVA or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams.
TWRA Lake jug fishing: seasonal restrictions
On TWRA State Fishing Lakes, trotlines and limblines are prohibited. From April 1 through September 30, jug fishing is not allowed on Saturdays, Sundays, Memorial Day, Independence Day or Labor Day. On permitted days, the maximum is 10 jugs or blocks per boat. Lake Halford has its own jug prohibition.
Other notable exceptions include Beech River Watershed lakes (20 jugs per boat; no trotlines), Indian Boundary Lake (no trotlines, jugs or limblines) and parts of Norris Reservoir with seasonal gear closures.
TWRA method and equipment rulesOn the TWRA regulation page, locate “Methods Other Than Rod and Reel,” then review the method and its exceptions before setting unattended tackle.
Four Tennessee catfish destinations and what each requires
Large Tennessee reservoirs often follow the statewide 34-inch catfish rule. Even where their catfish limits match, access, fishing methods, fish-consumption advisories and reservoir boundaries can differ.
Fort Loudoun Reservoir
TWRA identifies blue, channel and flathead catfish here. Its published reservoir regulation uses no creel limit for catfish 34 inches or shorter and only one longer than 34 inches daily.
The agency identifies rocky areas, flats near channels and the backs of large hollows as catfish fishing areas. Nightcrawlers, chicken livers and shiners are among the baits it mentions.
Fort Loudoun fishery informationWatts Bar Reservoir
TWRA lists the same general 34-inch trophy catfish rule for this reservoir. Anglers using jugs or trotlines must also check method-specific regulations and any applicable navigation or dam restrictions.
Before launching, verify the specific access location and TVA operating conditions rather than assuming all reservoir ramps and tailwater areas are interchangeable.
Watts Bar regulations and reservoir informationTellico Reservoir
The published reservoir catfish provision allows unlimited harvest at 34 inches or shorter, with one longer than 34 inches per day. The waterbody description includes the Tellico River upstream to Big Creek Boat Ramp.
Consumption warning: TWRA notes a TDEC advisory against eating catfish from Tellico Reservoir due to PCB and mercury contamination.
Tellico reservoir rules and advisoryBill Dance Lake at Herb Parsons
This 177-acre TWRA fishing lake has a fishing pier, boat-launch ramp and fish attractors. TWRA lists blue, channel and bullhead catfish among its species.
TWRA suggests chicken livers and catalpa worms for catfish and identifies the period after spring dogwoods bloom through cooler weather as a productive time. Check the lake’s individual rules and permit requirements.
Herb Parsons access and lake informationBlue, channel and flathead catfish: identify the fish before applying a local rule
Some Tennessee exceptions specifically regulate blue and channel catfish together. Knowing which species you caught can prevent mistakes, especially in waters with a combined daily limit.
Look at the anal fin
Blue catfish commonly show a relatively straight-edged anal fin and a forked tail. Larger specimens may appear blue-gray, but color alone is unreliable.
Check fin shape and body
Channel catfish generally have a more rounded anal-fin margin and a forked tail. Smaller fish may show spots that fade as they grow.
Notice the broad head
Flatheads have a distinctly flattened, broad head and a tail that is not deeply forked like those of blue and channel catfish.
A catfish can be legal to keep but still fall under a fish-consumption advisory
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) issues waterbody- and species-specific advisories for contaminants such as PCBs and mercury. This matters particularly for catfish because some advisories specifically name bottom-feeding fish.
| Water | Published concern | How to use the information |
|---|---|---|
| Tellico Reservoir | TWRA identifies TDEC advice against eating catfish due to PCB and mercury contamination. | Treat catfish as catch-and-release if you plan to avoid consuming advisory-listed fish; check TDEC for the current wording. |
| Boone Reservoir | TDEC identifies a precautionary advisory involving catfish and carp, with particular concern for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children. | Review the exact population-specific advisory before deciding whether fish should be eaten. |
| Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir | TDEC identifies a precautionary catfish advisory for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children due to PCBs. | Check the state advisory directly; do not transfer advice from another reservoir. |
Read the TDEC 2026 fish-advisory announcement. Identify the named water, species and affected population before applying its guidance.
What happens if you fish multiple days or bring fish home?
TWRA distinguishes daily creel limits from possession rules. Its general fishing rules state that possession limits are normally twice the daily creel limit, while no more than the daily creel limit may be possessed afield.
That does not give an angler permission to ignore the special trophy-catfish restriction or a local five-fish daily rule. When planning multiple days of harvest, preserve records and check the current possession provisions, especially if fish will be transported or processed.
Do not alter fish before legal measurement
Fish possessed in a form that prevents officials from determining species or total length can create an enforcement problem. Check TWRA’s field-possession and transportation rules before filleting your catch.
Recreational catch is not a commercial product
A sport-fishing license does not authorize selling catfish. Commercial harvest, paid guiding and sales have separate licenses and rules.
Practical catfish trip setup without creating a bait-law problem
Rod-and-reel outings
Use tackle appropriate for the species and current. Choose an accessible fishing location where you can safely land and measure a large fish without blocking other anglers.
Using shad or other baitfish
Check Tennessee’s baitfish collection, possession and transport provisions. Do not assume a baitfish collected from one lake may be moved alive to another.
Releasing large fish
Support a large catfish’s body, minimize time out of water and return it carefully. Avoid suspending a heavy fish solely by the jaw when releasing it.
Five-minute catfish compliance checklist
- Identify your water: lake, river, TWRA fishing lake, state park pond or community fishing pond.
- Check the correct bag limit: statewide 34-inch rule or a listed five-fish/special-length exception.
- Check the license and access permit: recreational license, state lake permit or other location-specific requirement.
- Check gear legality: rod and reel, jugs, limblines, trotlines or slat baskets are not interchangeable.
- Check an applicable fish-consumption advisory: especially when intending to take catfish home for meals.
- Check dam generation: below TVA or USACE dams, water levels and flows can change rapidly.
- Carry a measuring board: especially when fishing for blue or flathead catfish approaching 34 inches.
Related guides for the parts of your trip beyond catfish limits
Which base license do you need?
Use the Tennessee fishing-license guide for resident, visitor, youth, senior and exemption decisions.
Want digital license proof?
The TWRA On the Go app guide explains license storage, purchase access and reprinting.
Check the actual TWRA rule before keeping a trophy fish
For routine trips, use the summary above. For unfamiliar waters or regulated gear, finish with the official entry covering your exact location.
Tennessee catfish regulations: frequently asked questions
What is the catfish limit in Tennessee in 2026?
Under the general statewide recreational rule, there is no daily harvest limit for catfish measuring 34 inches or less. Only one catfish longer than 34 inches may be harvested per day. Special waters can have lower limits.
Can I keep two blue catfish longer than 34 inches?
No. The general statewide trophy provision allows only one catfish longer than 34 inches to be harvested per day. It is not one oversized fish of each catfish species.
Is there a minimum size for catfish in Tennessee?
The general statewide rule does not establish a minimum catfish length. However, some waters do. Beech River Watershed Lakes have a 15-inch minimum, Campbell Lake has a 14-inch minimum, and Travis McNatt Lake has a 16-inch minimum for its regulated blue/channel catfish.
How many catfish can I keep at a Tennessee community fishing pond?
TWRA Community Fishing Program locations generally allow five blue catfish, channel catfish and their hybrids combined per day, without a listed minimum length. Those locations also impose gear and fishing-hour restrictions.
Do I need a Tennessee fishing license for catfish?
Anglers age 13 and older generally need the appropriate Tennessee recreational fishing license unless exempt. Catfish-only fishing does not normally require a trout supplemental, although special-location permits may apply.
Can I use trotlines to catch catfish in Tennessee?
Trotlines are generally permitted under Tennessee’s recreational equipment regulations, including a maximum of 100 hooks combined, tagging, checking and placement restrictions. TWRA State Fishing Lakes and certain other waters prohibit trotlines.
How many jugs can I use in Tennessee?
The general recreational limit is 50 jugs or blocks with one hook per jug or block. TWRA State Fishing Lakes and other designated waters have stricter limits or seasonal prohibitions.
Can I jug fish on a TWRA State Fishing Lake on weekends?
From April 1 through September 30, TWRA State Fishing Lakes prohibit jug fishing on Saturdays, Sundays, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. Where otherwise allowed, the limit is 10 jugs or blocks per boat. Lake-specific restrictions can be stricter.
Are Tennessee catfish safe to eat?
That depends on the waterbody and applicable TDEC consumption advisory. Tellico Reservoir, Boone Reservoir and Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir have published catfish-related contamination concerns. Check the current water- and population-specific advisory before eating the fish.
Can I sell catfish caught on a recreational license?
No. A Tennessee recreational sport-fishing license does not authorize commercial fish sales. Commercial fishing requires separate licensing and compliance with commercial regulations.