Lake Graham in Tennessee
General Description
Lake Graham can be found approximately 9 miles east of Jackson TN, on Cotton Grove Road.
From Nashville, take I-40, to exit 93, to U.S. Highway 412, and follow Hwy. 412 to Cotton Grove Road.
From Memphis, take I-40, to exit 85, turn right to Parkway, left on Bendix, left on Cotton Grove Road, then follow signs.
The lake is 500 acres and has public restrooms, a picnic area, and a concessions area. The fishing facilities include a boat launching ramp, fish attractors, and a fishing pier, and you can buy your fishing license, bait and tackle or rent a boat or motor trolling at the lake.
For more information call (731) 424-4800.
Watch for Belted Kingfishers, Great Blue Herons, and other water birds. Pine stands and deciduous woods will yield a nice variety of woodland birds year-round.
Largemouth Bass: No creel limit for fish 18 inches and less in length, only one fish over 18 inches in length may be harvested per day.
Bluegill: no creel or length limit.
Redear: 20 per day, no length limit.
Crappie (all species): 30 per day, 10 inch minimum length limit.
Blue/Channel Catfish: 5 per day in combination, no length limit.
Trout: 7 per day, no length limit.
TWRA Family Fishing Lakes
Hours
The lakes are open to fishing all week. Lakes will open one‑half hour before official sunrise and close one‑half hour after official sunset, except Garrett Lake which is open 24 hours a day. Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day the following lakes are closed: Gibson Co., Glenn Springs, Herb Parsons, and Lake Graham.
Permits
A daily lake permit of $6.00 (available at most lakes), in addition to the regular fishing license, is required to use these lakes. At Lake Halford, a daily or annual permit is required for anyone using the lake or facilities for any type of recreation. A lake permit is not required at Garrett and Whiteville lakes. All residents 16 through 64 years of age, and nonresidents 16 years of age or older must have a permit. Sportsman license and lifetime license holders do not need a lake permit. Resident anglers 65 years of age and older do not need a permit, but do need a fishing license. A $48.00 Annual Lake Permit may also be purchased at many of the lakes with concessionaires, and is good at all TWRA fishing lakes. For Coy Gaither-Bedford Lake, a daily lake permit should be purchased from a license agent in the surrounding area before going to the lake. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited at all agency lakes. Boats used for any activity other than fishing are prohibited, except for hunting on specific lakes during the regular hunting season as listed in the Tennessee Hunting Guide. Speed boating, personal water craft, water skiing, and swimming are prohibited. Houseboats, sailboats and inboard cruisers are prohibited. On Coy Gaither-Bedford, Marrowbone, VFW and Williamsport lakes, only trolling motors can be used. At Lake Halford recreational boating, personal watercraft, water-skiiing and swimming are allowed. Boats may be rented for $10.00 per day at some lakes on a seasonal basis. There is no charge for paddles.
Tackle
Only rods and reels, poles, hand-held lines, and jugs may be used. Snagging is prohibited. Trotlines and limblines are prohibited.
From April 1 through Sept. 30, jug fishing is prohibited on Saturdays, Sundays, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. On days open to jug fishing, each boat is limited to 10 jugs or blocks per day.
Fish Species Found
Largemouth bass - crappie - bluegill - redear sunfish - blue & channel catfish
Fishing Tips:
In calm water, use top-water lures that make very little noise or disturbance in the water. In windy or choppy water use lures that do make noise.
