Tennessee Fishing Guide and Regulations

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Regulations

Region 1 (West TN)

Lake Halford

• Crappie (all species): 20 per day, only five (5) fish over 12 inches may be harvested.

Davy Crockett Lake

• Largemouth Bass: No creel or length limit, and only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested per day.

Pickwick Reservoir

• Black Bass (all species): Five (5) fish per day, in combination; 15-inch minimum length limit.

Region 2 (Middle TN)

Marrowbone Lake

• Largemouth Bass: 10 per day. No length limit.

Region 3 (Cumberland Plateau)

Parksville Reservoir

• Largemouth Bass: Five (5) fish per day, 15-inch minimum length limit. 

• Smallmouth, Spotted, and Alabama Bass and their hybrids: no creel, no minimum length limit.

• No live transport of any black bass away from Parksville Reservoir.

Guntersville, Nickajack, & Chickamauga Reservoir

• Black Bass: Five (5) fish per day in combination.

• Largemouth: 15-inch minimum length limit.

• Smallmouth, Spotted, Alabama Bass and their hybrids: no minimum length limit. Only one (1) may be over 16” per day.

Watts Bar Reservoir

• Black Bass: Five (5) per day in combination, 15-inch minimum length limit.

Tellico River

• Black Bass: Five (5) per day in combination, no minimum length limit.

Region 4 (East TN)

Cherokee Reservoir

• Striped Bass/Hybrid Striped Bass: Closed fishing zone is in effect from July 1 through Sept. 15.

Chilhowee Reservoir

• Black Bass: Five (5) per day in combination, 15-inch minimum length limit.

Ft. Loudoun Reservoir

• Black Bass: Five (5) per day in combination, 15-inch minimum length limit.

Tellico Reservoir

• Black Bass: Five (5) per day in combination, 15-inch minimum length limit.

City of Gatlinburg

• On Bobby Wilson Free Fishing Day, the West Prong Little Pigeon River along River Road from Maples Lane upstream to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundary (.6 mile) shall be closed to anglers

Basic Laws  

• Under no circumstance shall live fish, crayfish, or salamanders be intentionally released or stocked into Tennessee waters away from the waters from which they were harvested.

• Explosives, chemicals, and electrical shocking devices are strictly forbidden, and their use carries heavy penalties. 

• Shooting with any type of firearm or air gun to injure or take fish or turtles is prohibited.

• All boaters and passengers must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket within the area designated and appropriately marked as a hazardous area below any dam and/or lock.

• It is illegal to take any fish, crayfish, salamander, or turtle that is listed as endangered, threatened, or in need of management.

• It is illegal to sell or offer to sell fish or turtles without a commercial fishing license. 

Definitions

Bait: Any living or dead organism, or prepared substance designed to attract fish by taste or odor. For the purpose of this proclamation, bait includes, but is not limited to, fish, fish eggs, crayfish, worms, grubs, crickets, corn, cheese, bread, pork rinds, putty or paste-type products, and flavors or scents applied to or inserted into artificial lures.

Culling: The removal of a fish from the creel limit and replacing it with another fish of the same species. The released fish must be a live, healthy specimen that should be expected to survive once it is returned to its natural environment.

Gigging: The taking of fish by means of a handheld pole or spear with a tip consisting of a single, sharpened point or one (1) or more sharpened barbed points. This includes, but is not limited to, gear known as the Hawaiian sling. 

Single hook: A hook with only one (1) point.

Snagging: The taking of fish using one (1) or more single, double, or treble hooks that are manipulated or jerked through the water in such a manner as to impale or hook fish. 

Spear gun: Any device designed to propel a spear through water and is drawn or held by a mechanical device.

Notice of inspection Law

It is the duty of every person participating in the privileges of taking or possessing wildlife to permit agency officers to ascertain whether the requirements of this title are being faithfully complied with, including the possession of a proper license. It is a violation of law to refuse such inspection or to interfere with an officer attempting such inspection. TCA 70-6-101(b)(1)

(PLR) Protected Length Range

PLR is a Protected Length Range. Fish in this length range may not be harvested. To promote the growth of bigger bass in these lakes, anglers are encouraged to harvest their daily limit of bass shorter than the listed PLR.

Contaminates

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s (TDEC) Division of Water Pollution Control issues advisories for the consumption of fish from certain Tennessee waters. The following information is subject to change and was copied from TDEC’s site. Concerned individuals should visit TDEC’s site for more information about these advisories, bacteriological advisories, and tips on how to reduce risks from contaminated fish.

For specific information regarding aquatic contaminants or affected waters, contact:

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Water Pollution Control website 
Call: TDEC Office 615-532-0703

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