Trout Fishing & Stockings
Trout stockings for Hiwassee River and Big Soddy Creek are postponed until water conditions (flow and water temperature) improve.
Trout stockings for Hiwassee River and Big Soddy Creek are postponed until water conditions (flow and water temperature) improve.
This list identifies where adult Brook, Brown, or Rainbow trout were recently stocked into Tennessee waters.
Note: The stocking report is updated bi-weekly through the stocking season. The dates listed next to the water body are representative of when the water was last stocked, as information is available. There are many factors that may impact when fish can be stocked, so the scheduled stocking dates are subject to change.
Updated 10/07/2025
| Region | Destination | Stocking Date |
|---|
(PLR) Protected Length Range Definition
PLR is a Protected Length Range. Fish in this length range may not be harvested. To promote growth of bigger bass in these lakes, anglers are encouraged to harvest their daily limit of bass shorter than the listed PLR.
Statewide Trout Regulations
Any combination of trout species:
Daily Limit: seven (7)
Minimum Length Limit: None
Exceptions:
Only two (2) trout in a creel may be Lake Trout
See the following information for specific regulations in some locations
Special Trout Regulations
Caney Fork River: Center Hill Dam to Cumberland River, including tributaries.
Total daily creel of all trout (rainbow, brown, and brook) in combination is five (5) fish.
Rainbow Trout: Five (5) per day, 14–20 inch PLR, only one (1) fish over 20 inches may be harvested.
Brook Trout: Five (5) per day, 14–20 inch PLR, only one (1) fish over 20 inches may be harvested.
Brown Trout: One (1) per day, 24-inch minimum length limit.
Cutthroat Trout: Five (5) per day, 14–20 inch PLR, only one (1) fish over 20 inches may be harvested.
Elk River: Tims Ford Dam to I-65 bridge, including tributaries.
Brown Trout: 20-inch minimum length limit, one (1) per day.
Total daily creel limit of all trout species in combination is seven (7) trout.
Clinch River: Norris Dam. downstream to Hwy. 61 bridge, including tributaries
14–20 inch PLR on all trout.
Seven (7) trout creel limit, only one (1) trout may be greater than 20 inches.
Clear Creek: tributary to Clinch River—Anderson Co.
From Hwy. 441 upstream to the second dam (adjacent to the city of Norris water tower), closed from Nov. 1–Mar. 31, all fishing, harvest of bait, and possession of bait harvest gear are prohibited.
Buffalo Creek and tributaries within the WMA boundary (Grainger County).
From the mill dam upstream — closed year-round to all fishing and harvest of bait. Possession of bait harvesting gear is prohibited.
From the mill dam downstream—open to fishing year-round by rod and reel method only. Closed year-round to all harvest of bait. Possession of seines, cast nets, and minnow/crayfish traps is prohibited.
Hiwassee River: Appalachian Powerhouse downstream to L&N Railroad Bridge.
March 1 through Sept. 30: Seven (7) trout creel limit, only two (2) may be brown trout.
Oct. 1 through Feb. 28: see delayed harvest areas.
South Fork Holston River South Holston Dam to Boone, including Boone Reservoir upstream to the Hwy 11E Bridge (DeVault/Bristol Hwy. Bridge) on the Watauga arm.
16–22 inch PLR on all trout.
Seven (7) trout creel limit, only one (1) trout may be greater than 22 inches.
Closed to all fishing Nov. 1 – Jan. 31 in the following areas:
Hickory Tree Bridge upstream to the confluence with Bottom Creek.
Downstream point of Boy’s Island (first island downstream of Weaver Pike Bridge) upstream to the top of the first island above Webb Road Bridge.
Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir: Boone Dam downstream to Louis Milhorn Bridge on Beulah Church Drive.
16-22 inch PLR for rainbow and brown trout.
Seven (7) trout creel limit (all species in combination), only one (1) trout may be greater than 22 inches.
Watauga River: Quality Trout: Fishing Area Smallings bridge downstream to CSX railroad bridges.
14-inch minimum length limit.
Two (2) trout creel limit.
Use or possession of any bait is prohibited.
Trout less than 14 inches may not be in possession.
Horse Creek: Greene County, U.S. Forest Service Boundary Line upstream to the junction of Squibb Creek.
Daily limit: Seven (7) trout per day, except from May 1– Sep. 30 daily limit is two (2) trout.
Slickrock Creek: That portion of Slickrock Creek which constitutes the boundary between the states of Tennessee and North Carolina.
Appropriate licenses from Tennessee or North Carolina are valid.
Rainbow, Brown, and Brook Trout: Daily limit of four (4) in combination with a 7-inch minimum length limit.
Only single-hook artificial lures are permitted. Use or possession of bait or multiple hook lures is prohibited. One (1) single-hook artificial lure separated from a legal lure by a length of line (for example, a dropper fly) is also permitted.
Dillards Ponds:
Four (4) trout per day.
Each angler is limited to one (1) rod or pole.
Fishing is permitted from 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset.
Wild Trout Streams and Regulations
Streams
North River and tributaries (Monroe County),
Bald River and tributaries (Monroe County).
Sycamore Creek (tributary to Tellico River in Monroe County) and tributaries.
Laurel Fork and tributaries beginning at the cable crossing ½ mile upstream from the USFS Dennis Cove Recreation Area and extending upstream to the USFS boundary (Carter County).
Beaverdam Creek and tributaries from its confluence with Birch Branch downstream to Tank Hollow Road (USFS Rd. 300) (Johnson County).
Paint Creek and tributaries from the USFS campground upstream to the USFS Boundary line south of Highway 70 near Munday Gap (Greene County).
Rocky Fork and tributaries upstream of Rocky Fork Rd. and State Park Entrance Rd. junction. (Greene/Unicoi Counties).
Left Prong (tributary to Hampton Creek in Carter County).
Rough Ridge Creek and tributaries.
Little Stony Creek and its tributaries upstream of the confluence with Plot Branch (1.3 miles upstream of Hwy 321 crossing).
Regulations
Daily creel limit of five (5) trout with no length limit.
Only single-hook artificial lures are permitted. Use or possession of bait or multiple hook lures is prohibited. One (1) single-hook artificial lure separated from a legal lure by a length of line (for example: a dropper fly) is also permitted.
Gatlinburg Trout Fishing
TWRA and the City of Gatlinburg offer a variety of trout fishing opportunities in four (4) streams. All streams are closed on Thursday each week and a Gatlinburg permit is required. Some areas are managed especially for children 12 and under.
For more information contact:
Park Headquarters, Gatlinburg, TN 37738; phone 865-436-1200
The Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce, (800) 568-4748
The Gatlinburg trout facility at (865) 436-7549.
The taking of trout using a Gatlinburg Permit is allowed only within the designated streams, at designated times, and under the restrictions listed in the following paragraphs.
General Streams
- West Prong Little Pigeon River from Park Boundary to Gnatty Branch except those sections set aside as Children’s Streams.
- Dudley Creek from Park Boundary to West Prong Little Pigeon River, except those sections set aside as Children’s Streams.
- Roaring Fork from the Park Boundary to West Prong Little Pigeon River.
- Leconte Creek from Painter Branch to West Prong Little Pigeon River.
Children’s Streams (May only be fished by children 12 and under, unless otherwise posted.)
- Leconte Creek from Painters Branch upstream to Park Boundary.
- West Prong Little Pigeon River from North Park Lane Bridge (Herbert Holt Park) downstream to Gatlinburg By-pass Bridge.
- Dudley Creek from Highway 441 Bridge to West Prong Little Pigeon River.
Season and Creel Limits
- Fishing is permitted year-round, except on Thursday, from 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset. Fishing is permitted with one (1) hand-held rod and a single (1) hook only.
From December 1 through March 31 (all streams):
- Possession of any trout shall be prohibited.
- All trout caught must be immediately returned to the water.
- Use or possession of bait is prohibited. Use or possession of any artificial lures other than a single (1) hook artificial flies, spinners, and spoons is prohibited. The use of one (1) dropper fly having a single (1) hook, which is separated from a legal lure by a length of line, is permissible.
From April 1 through November 30:
- General Streams: The creel limit is five (5) trout per day. Bait and artificial lures are permitted.
- Children’s Streams: The creel limit is two (2) per day.
- Total possession limit shall not exceed twice the daily creel limit.
- While fishing or when afield, possession of more than the daily creel limit shall be prohibited, regardless of whether the trout are fresh, stored in an ice chest, in a vehicle, or otherwise preserved
Tellico - Citico Permit Areas
Tellico River from its confluence with Turkey Creek upstream to the Tennessee-North Carolina state line and Citico Creek from its confluence with Little Citico Creek upstream to the confluence of North and South Forks of Citico Creek.
- Tellico-Citico Permit required from March 1 through Aug. 15.
- Closed on Thursday and Friday during the period March 1 through Aug. 15 (except when national or state holidays fall on Thursday and Friday). From Aug. 16 through the last day of February, fishing is allowed every day, and Tellico-Citico Permit is not required.
- Daily creel limit of seven (7) trout, with no size limit.
- Fishing is permitted from 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset.
- The possession of fishing equipment and/or tackle is prohibited on stream banks except during legal fishing hours.
- Each angler is permitted only one (1) rod or pole.
- Tellico River from Sourwood Campground upstream to the dam on Tellico River from 30 minutes before official sunrise to 12 p.m. is closed to fishing for individuals 17 and older on Free Fishing Day (which is the first Saturday after the first Monday of the month of June).
Green Cove Pond
- Tellico-Citico Permit not required.
- Daily creel limit of five (5) catfish, with no length limit.
- Hours open – 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset.
- Each angler is permitted only one (1) rod or pole.
- Daily creel limit of seven (7) trout, with no size limit.
Delayed Harvest Areas
In the areas listed below, the harvest or possession of trout is prohibited during the catch-and-release season. During the catch-and-release season, only artificial lures are permitted, and the use or possession of bait is prohibited.
Big Soddy Creek: Upstream of Back Valley Road.
• Catch-and-release season Oct. 1 - Feb 28.
Buffalo Creek: Mill dam downstream to Buffalo Springs WMA boundary.
• Catch-and-release season Oct. 1– Jan. 31.
Doe River: Roan Mountain State Park boundaries.
• Catch-and-release season is Oct. 1– Feb 28.
Hiwassee River: Appalachian Powerhouse downstream to L&N Railroad Bridge.
• Catch-and-release season is Oct. 1 - Feb 28.
Montgomery Bell State Park: Acorn Lake
• Trout catch-and-release season from Dec. 1-Mar. 31.
Paint Creek: Paint Creek Campground downstream to the mouth at the French Broad River.
• Catch-and-release season is Oct. 1 - Feb 28.
Piney River: Cumberland Trail State Park downstream to Highway 27 Bridge.
• Catch-and-release season is Nov. 1 - Feb 28.
Tellico River: Mouth of North River upstream to the Tennessee - North Carolina state line.
• Catch-and-release season is Oct. 1 - Feb 28.
Fort Campbell Military Reservation
Several streams on Fort Campbell Military Reservation, including Dry Creek, Little West Fork, and Fletcher’s Fork, are stocked with rainbow and brown trout. Special fishing regulations apply, and a Post Fishing Permit is required in addition to a valid Tennessee fishing license and trout stamp. For details, contact the Community Recreation Division, Hunting and Fishing Unit, Fort Campbell, KY 42223-5000; phone 270-798-9824.
Trout Management & Fisheries Reports
Each year, TWRA biologists survey trout populations in tailwaters to evaluate current fishing regulations and stocking rates. Data collected during sampling helps TWRA biologists make informed decisions and guide future management strategies. Below you will find current reports. If you would like previous years' reports, please email Ask.TWRA@tn.gov
Trout Species in Tennessee
