Fishing in
Tennessee
11,415 named waters · 13 stocked in the last 30 days
Reelfoot Lake in the northwest corner of the state, formed by an earthquake in 1811, is one of the best crappie lakes in the country, fished from flat-bottom boats threading through standing cypress trees. The Tennessee River reservoir system carries smallmouth bass fishing at places like Norris Lake alongside strong walleye and striper populations throughout the chain.
Tennessee holds 11,415 fishable waters on the books. TWRA has logged 388 stockings in the last year, led by channel catfish. The biggest water in the state is Kentucky Lake at 144,086 acres.
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When does Tennessee stock?
Stocking peaks in May, going by every record on the books.
What you'll catch here
- Channel Catfish13 waters
- Blue Catfish11 waters
- Bluegill11 waters
- Rainbow Trout6 waters
- Redear Sunfish5 waters
- Golden Shiner3 waters
- Walleye2 waters
- Florida Largemouth Bass2 waters
Freshest stockings
Full report →- Watts Bar LakeStriped BassJul 17, 2026
- Watts Bar LakeStriped BassJul 16, 2026
- Chickamauga LakeStriped BassJul 16, 2026
- Watts Bar LakeStriped BassJul 16, 2026
- Tims Ford LakeHybrid Striped BassJul 16, 2026
Most-stocked waters, last 12 months
- Watts Bar Lake28× stocked
- Cherokee Lake18× stocked
- Norris Lake13× stocked
- Tims Ford Lake12× stocked
- Center Hill Lake11× stocked
- Chickamauga Lake10× stocked
- Kentucky Lake10× stocked
- Browns Creek Lake9× stocked
- Fall Creek Falls7× stocked
- Davy Crockett Lake7× stocked
Biggest waters
- Kentucky Lake144,086 ac
- Watts Bar Lake33,441 ac
- Douglas Lake29,661 ac
- Cherokee Lake29,437 ac
- Dallas Lake27,237 ac
- Dale Hollow Lake25,511 ac
- Norris Lake23,595 ac
- Center Hill Lake17,267 ac
Major rivers
- Lower Forked Deer Riverorder 10 · ~9 cfs
- French Broad Riverorder 8 · ~8,902 cfs
- Clinch Riverorder 8 · ~7,359 cfs
- Obion Riverorder 8 · ~6,779 cfs
- Holston Riverorder 8 · ~5,222 cfs
- South Fork Holston Riverorder 8 · ~3,028 cfs
- Little Tennessee Riverorder 7 · ~7,158 cfs
- Hiwassee Riverorder 7 · ~6,431 cfs
Waters by county
All counties →Sevier (360) · Cumberland (323) · Monroe (288) · Hardin (276) · Polk (271) · Blount (270) · Scott (250) · Morgan (244) · Cocke (240) · Carter (234) · Williamson (231) · Maury (194) · Shelby (194) · Johnson (190) · Lawrence (186) · Greene (185) · Fentress (181) · Hickman (178) · Wayne (166) · Hamilton (158) · Campbell (156) · Marion (156) · Sullivan (154) · Hardeman (149) · Decatur (146) · Benton (145) · Giles (144) · Stewart (141) · Dickson (138) · Humphreys (137)
Seasons, limits, and rules are Tennessee's call — read the official regulations and buy your license from the state, not a middleman. We link the source; we never restate the rules.
Explore nearby states
Tennessee fishing — FAQ
Where does Tennessee stock fish?+
TWRA logged 388 stockings across Tennessee in the last year, led by channel catfish, blue catfish, bluegill and rainbow trout. Browse the map and most-stocked waters above for exact locations.
When does Tennessee stock fish?+
Stocking in Tennessee peaks in May, going by every record on the books. See each water's page for its own seasonality.
Do I need a license to fish in Tennessee?+
Yes — Tennessee requires a fishing license for most anglers. Buy one from the state agency and check current seasons and limits before you go.
How many fishable waters are in Tennessee?+
Tennessee has 11,415 named fishable waters mapped on FishableWaters, from stocked reservoirs to wild streams.