Tennessee jug fishing rules: how many jugs, which lakes, and when weekends are closed
Tennessee generally allows sport anglers to use up to 50 properly marked jugs or blocks, with one hook on each. But that statewide allowance changes dramatically at TWRA Fishing Lakes, Pin Oak Lake, Beech River watershed lakes, designated river arms and waters where jugs are prohibited altogether.
The six Tennessee jug-fishing rules that apply before local exceptions
Jugs or blocks per sport angler on waters where the general jug-fishing rule applies.
One hook per jug or block. Multiple hooks on one jug do not satisfy the rule.
Jug lines must be run—checked—at least once during every 24-hour period.
Mark the jug with the owner’s name and address, or TWRA identification number.
No jugs, trotlines or limblines within 1,000 yards below TVA or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams.
A lake can reduce the jug count, restrict dates or prohibit jug fishing completely.
Can you jug fish on Saturdays and Sundays in Tennessee?
Yes on many ordinary Tennessee reservoirs when no additional closure applies. However, the most important exceptions are TWRA-managed fishing lakes and Pin Oak Lake at Natchez Trace State Park. These use different summer weekend rules.
April 1 – September 30
Saturday and Sunday: no jug fishing. Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day are also closed. Otherwise, jug fishing may be permitted on open weekdays, subject to lake hours and other restrictions.
Limit on open days: 10 jugs or blocks per boat.
October 1 – March 31
The summer weekend closure is not in effect. Jug fishing is generally permitted on days the lake is legally open, including weekends.
Limit: 10 per boat. Separate lake closures and operating hours still apply.
April 1 – September 30
Friday after 12 noon through midnight Sunday: closed to jug fishing. Memorial Day, July 3–5 and Labor Day are also closed.
Limit on open days: 10 jugs per boat.
October 1 – March 31
The special April–September Friday-to-Sunday jug closure does not apply. Observe the lake’s general access rules and other applicable restrictions.
Limit on open days: 10 jugs per boat.
Check the likely rule for your lake and planned fishing date
Select the water category and date. The checker applies TWRA’s published general and named-water jug restrictions. Confirm lake identification, posted access hours and any newer proclamation before setting gear.
The checker uses the calendar date at the fishing location, including TWRA’s holiday closures. It does not independently verify the day’s weather, lake gates, private access rights or last-minute legal changes. Norris Reservoir results apply only to the two specified restricted river-arm sections.
Why Tennessee jug-fishing weekends change during the year
The statewide rules are not built around a single Tennessee jug-fishing season. Instead, summer weekends are restricted on certain heavily used managed lakes.
General jug rules
Up to 50 jugs per sport angler may be allowed. No statewide Saturday/Sunday jug closure applies across all reservoirs.
Summer weekends closed
April–September Saturdays, Sundays and specified holidays are prohibited. Maximum 10 per boat on open days.
Friday afternoon included
April–September restriction starts after Friday noon, continues through Sunday, and includes specified holidays.
Tennessee jug-fishing lake restrictions and limits
Use the exact lake or restricted river-arm location. The general 50-jug limit is not the controlling number on many of these waters.
| Lake or location | Jug rule | Limit / closed period |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Tennessee waters | Allowed where no specific prohibition applies | 50 jugs or blocks per sport angler; one hook each |
| TWRA-managed Fishing Lakes | Permitted on eligible open days; summer weekend/holiday restrictions | 10 per boat; no Saturdays/Sundays Apr. 1–Sept. 30 or specified holidays |
| Lake Halford | Jug fishing prohibited | 0 |
| Pin Oak Lake | Seasonal Friday-to-Sunday and holiday closures | 10 per boat on allowed days; Friday after noon through Sunday prohibited Apr.–Sept. |
| Beech River Watershed Development Authority waters | Jugs permitted subject to local rules; trotlines prohibited | 20 jugs or blocks per boat |
| New Johnsonville Steam Plant Harbor | Jugs permitted subject to local rules; trotlines prohibited | 10 jugs or blocks per angler |
| Indian Boundary Lake | Jugs, trotlines and limblines prohibited | 0 |
| Allen Branch Pond and Chilhowee (McKamy) Pond | Jugs and trotlines prohibited | 0; located within Cherokee WMA |
| TWRA Community Fishing Program waters | Jugs prohibited; rod/reel, poles and handlines are the approved methods | 0 |
| Norris Reservoir: specified Powell and Clinch arms | Jug, trotline and limbline closure | Jan. 1–Apr. 30 within the defined restricted stretches |
For a named-water final check, open TWRA’s Methods Other Than Rod and Reel section, then inspect statewide fishing exceptions for the exact lake or park.
Not every Tennessee lake follows the same weekend rules
TWRA operates a network of managed fishing lakes intended for family fishing and other recreational opportunities. The agency’s Family Fishing Opportunities directory identifies those lakes and their facilities.
Agency Fishing Lakes
These use the specific April–September weekend restrictions and 10-per-boat rule. Individual exceptions, such as Lake Halford’s ban, still take priority.
State park lakes
Managed under separate park and TWRA regulations. Pin Oak Lake has a more restrictive summer Friday-afternoon closure. Do not treat every state park lake as a TWRA Fishing Lake.
Large reservoirs
Reservoirs such as Kentucky Lake, Douglas, Cordell Hull or Chickamauga do not automatically inherit the TWRA Fishing Lake weekend schedule. Check any reservoir or designated-area exception.
How to set up a legal Tennessee jug line
A jug is floating fishing gear rather than a rod or a trotline. The current TWRA rule requires clear identification and limits each jug or block to one hook.
1. Use a visible float
Use a float or jug that remains identifiable and can be recovered. Avoid gear that can become boat-navigation debris.
2. Mark the owner
Write the owner’s name and address, or TWRA identification number. Marking only the boat or storing identification at home does not meet the requirement.
3. Attach one hook
Each jug or block may have only one hook. The jug limit and hook limit are separate requirements.
4. Check at least daily
Run each jug at least once every 24 hours. Plan how you will recover gear before launching it.
5. Respect dams and other anglers
Remain outside the 1,000-yard prohibited area below TVA and Corps of Engineers dams and avoid obstructing navigation or access.
6. Retrieve every jug
Remove all gear at the end of the trip. Abandoned lines can entangle wildlife and boat propellers.
Do not combine jug, trotline and limbline limits into one imagined allowance
| Method | Statewide sport-fishing rule | Important difference |
|---|---|---|
| Jugs / blocks | 50 per angler; one hook each | Specific lakes may impose 10 per boat, 20 per boat or a total prohibition. |
| Limblines / yo-yos | 25 limblines per sport angler; one hook each | Must be tagged above water; prohibited on TWRA Fishing Lakes. |
| Trotlines | 100 hooks combined across sport angler’s trotlines | Drop lines at least 24 inches apart; other location, identification and placement restrictions apply. |
Three restrictions anglers sometimes mistake for jug regulations
Some gear restrictions in the TWRA guide apply specifically to trotlines, not identically to every floating jug. Read the appropriate method heading rather than combining every line of the law.
Trotline drop spacing
Drop lines on a trotline must be separated by at least 24 inches.
Trotline mouth setback
Trotlines may not be set within 100 yards of the mouth of a river, creek or slough.
Cross-water reach
A trotline may not extend more than three-quarters of the way across the specified stream, river, chute or embayment.
These trotline requirements are distinct from the statewide 50-jug, one-hook-per-jug rule.
How many catfish can you keep while jug fishing?
The statewide catfish rule is based mainly on fish length, but some smaller lakes and park lakes have stricter daily limits.
For catfish measuring 34 inches or less, there is no statewide daily creel limit unless a named-water exception applies.
Only one catfish longer than 34 inches may be harvested per day under the statewide rule.
Some managed lakes specify five catfish per day or a minimum size. Those rules override the statewide default.
TWRA requires anglers to identify fish and measure them correctly. Lay the fish on a measuring board, close its mouth and compress its tail fin. Avoid altering fish while afield in a way that prevents species or length identification.
Which bait is legal on Tennessee jug lines?
Jug fishing does not create an exemption from Tennessee’s live-bait rules. The legal answer depends on the bait species, how it was collected and whether it crossed waterbody boundaries.
Purchased legal bait
Use bait supplied by a lawful bait dealer and follow any species or waterbody restrictions. Keep the bait’s source in mind.
Catch your own bait
TWRA classifies baitfish and sets different transport restrictions for Classes A, B and C. Harvesting a fish for bait does not erase applicable limits.
Transport live shad carefully
TWRA restricts taking live skipjack herring, gizzard shad and threadfin shad away from certain waters, including the Mississippi River and Barkley, Kentucky and Pickwick reservoirs.
Before collecting or moving bait, open the official TWRA live-bait regulations, identify the species class, then check its possession, harvest and transport restrictions.
Do you need a fishing license or additional permit for Tennessee jug fishing?
Jug fishing is a sport-fishing method. An angler must have the appropriate Tennessee fishing license unless a specific legal exemption applies. Managed waters can have their own supplemental access or fishing-permit requirements.
Base fishing license
Check your residency, age and trip length. Our Tennessee fishing license guide explains the common resident and visitor choices, exemptions and official buying route.
TWRA State Lake permits
Some anglers fishing TWRA-managed lakes need an additional State Lake Fishing Permit. See the Tennessee fishing permit guide to distinguish base licenses from location-specific permits.
License cost planning
Use the Tennessee fishing license cost guide to check daily and annual fishing options, special-area permit fees and other checkout considerations.
Carry proof on the water
The TWRA On the Go app guide explains how to access and store your fishing license, including preparing electronic proof before entering weak-signal areas.
Three practical trip examples
TWRA Fishing Lake
Jug fishing is closed. Switch to permitted rod-and-reel fishing, choose another lawful location or plan a legal weekday jug trip.
Pin Oak Lake
Jug fishing is prohibited after noon Friday through the weekend during the April–September period. Do not deploy jugs expecting to check them on Sunday.
TWRA Fishing Lake
The summer weekend ban is no longer in effect, but the lake’s operating hours, ten-per-boat limit, weather and access closures still matter.
Set jugs only where you can safely and lawfully recover them
Floating gear can drift in wind or current. A legal jug count does not mean every part of a reservoir is a sensible or safe place to deploy one.
Dam release areas
Stay outside the required 1,000-yard downstream exclusion. Do not enter dangerous generation currents or restricted areas to recover lost gear.
Navigation routes
Avoid heavily trafficked approaches, marked channels, active boat ramps and locations where jug lines could interfere with passing boats.
Weather and drifting
Check wind and current before deploying. Identify all the jugs you release and plan time to retrieve them without leaving abandoned gear.
For public access locations, use the TWRA fishing and boating access maps. Select the water, inspect public launching locations and confirm any site restrictions before towing a boat there.
Seven-step legal jug-fishing checklist
- Identify your exact lake or river section. Confirm whether it is a TWRA Fishing Lake, state park lake, watershed authority lake or ordinary public reservoir.
- Check whether jug fishing is allowed. Review TWRA’s general alternative-method rules and any named-water prohibition.
- Check the planned date and local time. Apply TWRA Fishing Lake summer weekend/holiday closures, Pin Oak’s Friday-noon restriction or another applicable date rule.
- Calculate the correct jug maximum. Use 50 per angler only where the general rule applies; observe lower per-boat or per-angler limits at special waters.
- Inspect and mark every jug. Use one hook per jug and mark the owner name/address or TWRA identification number.
- Confirm license, bait and harvest rules. Carry required licenses and permits, check live-bait transport and apply the water’s catfish creel/size rules.
- Plan safe checking and retrieval. Run all jugs at least every 24 hours, stay clear of prohibited dam areas and retrieve all deployed equipment.
Common Tennessee jug-fishing violations
- Using 50 jugs on a TWRA Fishing Lake where the actual allowance is only 10 per boat.
- Fishing Saturday or Sunday on a TWRA Fishing Lake during the April–September prohibited period.
- Setting jugs at Pin Oak after Friday noon in summer and assuming the weekend restriction begins Saturday.
- Using any jug at Lake Halford or a Community Fishing Program pond where jug fishing is prohibited.
- Using two hooks on a jug when TWRA permits only one.
- Failing to mark each jug with the owner’s legally accepted identification.
- Leaving jugs unchecked beyond the 24-hour requirement.
- Fishing within 1,000 yards below a TVA or Corps of Engineers dam.
- Applying statewide unlimited-under-34-inch catfish harvest to a lake with a stricter local creel limit.
- Assuming a fishing license also supplies a required TWRA State Lake permit or unrestricted lake access.
Where to confirm the current TWRA jug-fishing rule
Contact TWRA about an unclear jug-fishing boundary or exception
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Main office: 615-781-6500
Address: 5107 Edmondson Pike, Ellington Agricultural Center, Nashville, TN 37211
Explain the exact lake or reservoir arm, date, number of jugs, whether fishing from a boat and the type of bait planned.
When to request clarification
Contact the responsible TWRA regional office if a reservoir’s mapped boundary, special managed area, posted lake rule or other regulation leaves the legal jug-fishing status unclear.
For immediate emergencies or dangerous water conditions, use 911 rather than a routine agency information contact.
Tennessee jug-fishing rules FAQ
How many jugs can you legally use in Tennessee?
The statewide limit is 50 jugs or blocks per sport angler, with one hook per jug. Special waters can have lower limits, including 10 jugs per boat at TWRA Fishing Lakes and 20 per boat at Beech River Watershed Authority waters.
Can you jug fish on weekends in Tennessee?
Weekend jug fishing is generally allowed on waters without a specific weekend closure. TWRA Fishing Lakes prohibit jug fishing on Saturdays and Sundays from April 1 through September 30. Pin Oak Lake has a separate restriction beginning after noon Friday through Sunday during that period.
Is jug fishing allowed at TWRA Fishing Lakes on summer weekdays?
Yes, on eligible open days. From April 1 through September 30, jug fishing at TWRA Fishing Lakes is prohibited on Saturdays, Sundays, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. On permitted days, each boat may use no more than 10 jugs or blocks, and lake operating hours still apply.
Can you jug fish on Friday afternoon at Pin Oak Lake?
Not between April 1 and September 30. At Pin Oak Lake, jug fishing is prohibited after 12 noon Friday through midnight Sunday. Memorial Day, July 3 through July 5 and Labor Day are also closed. The open-day maximum is 10 jugs per boat.
Is jug fishing legal at Lake Halford?
No. TWRA specifically prohibits jug fishing at Lake Halford. Having a valid fishing license or Lake Halford permit does not remove that prohibition.
How many hooks can one Tennessee jug have?
One hook per jug or block. TWRA’s statewide sport-fishing rule also requires each jug to be marked with the owner’s name and address or TWRA identification number.
How often must Tennessee jug lines be checked?
Jug lines must be run at least once every 24 hours. Anglers should plan to check and recover all floating gear, subject to lake hours and any fishing-method closures.
Can you jug fish below a TVA dam?
Not within 1,000 yards below a TVA or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dam. TWRA prohibits jugs, trotlines and limblines within that downstream distance.
How many catfish may I keep when jug fishing in Tennessee?
Under the general statewide catfish rule, there is no daily creel limit for catfish 34 inches or less, but only one catfish longer than 34 inches may be harvested per day. Some lakes have stricter catfish limits, so verify the named water.
Do I need a separate permit to jug fish at a TWRA Fishing Lake?
A valid fishing license or lawful exemption is required, and a TWRA State Lake Fishing Permit may also be required depending on the angler’s eligibility. The permit does not authorize jug fishing on prohibited dates or at lakes where jugs are banned.
Tennessee jug fishing is legal only when the lake, date, gear and harvest all match
Start with the statewide 50-jug and one-hook rules, then apply the named water’s limits. TWRA Fishing Lakes, Pin Oak, Beech River waters, designated Norris arms and jug-prohibited waters do not all follow the same calendar or maximum.
TennesseeFishingLicense.website is an independent informational website, not TWRA or an official fishing-license issuer. Current Tennessee law, TWRA proclamations and applicable local restrictions control. Check official requirements before fishing.
Verify official jug-fishing regulations