Tennessee fishing rules change faster than the river bends
A statewide limit is only the starting point in Tennessee. TVA reservoirs, mountain tailwaters, trout streams, TWRA lakes, state park ponds and boundary waters can each replace the ordinary size, creel, bait, hook or permit rule.
Tennessee regulation dashboard — August 12, 2026
Current TWRA fishing cycle
TWRA’s current regulations page now identifies the 2026–27 rule changes and statewide fishing framework.
Permit through August 15
The special $6 Tellico-Citico permit remains required through August 15. During this period the regulated streams close on Thursdays and Fridays.
Piney River
TWRA’s 2026–27 “What’s New” notice says the Piney River delayed-harvest regulation was removed.
Big Soddy Creek
The delayed-harvest start was moved from October 1 to November 1.
What TWRA changed for this regulation year
Proclaimed Herb Parsons Refuge and Bill Dance Lake State Fishing Area.
Black bass catch-and-release only.
Black bass catch-and-release only.
2026–27 change notice removes delayed-harvest regulation.
Streams and ponds open except during deer hunts and wild hog control seasons.
Piney River exposes why anglers should not trust one saved regulation page
As checked August 12, the detailed trout page still displays Piney River in its older delayed-harvest list.
TWRA explicitly says: “Piney River — Removed delayed harvest regulations.”
Five checks before a Tennessee fish enters the livewell
Reservoir, tailwater, river reach, state park lake, Community Fishing water or TWRA lake?
Black bass aggregate, crappie, walleye, trout, catfish and hybrids have different frameworks.
Minimum length, maximum length or protected length range?
Count combined species and oversized-fish sublimits.
Hook count, bait, rod limit, special permit and seasonal gear closure.
Who needs a Tennessee fishing license?
Resident and nonresident youth 12 and younger generally fish without a fishing license, though certain special permits can apply regardless of age.
Tennessee and nonresident junior licensing rules apply.
Unless a statutory exemption applies.
A trout supplemental or license that includes trout is normally required.
Current resident fishing options
| License | Current fee | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Hunt/Fish/Trap, ages 13–15 | $9 | Resident junior fishing privilege; special-area permits can still be separate. |
| 1-Day Fishing — No Trout | $6 | Residents ages 13–64. |
| 1-Day Fishing — All Species | $11 | Includes trout privilege for qualifying resident anglers. |
| Annual Hunt/Fish Combination | $33 | Basic annual fishing privilege; trout supplemental is separate. |
| Annual Trout Supplemental | $21 | Added to qualifying base licenses when fishing for trout. |
| County of Residence Fishing — No Trout | $10 | Natural bait only in the angler’s county of residence. No minnows and no artificial lures. |
| Annual Senior Hunt/Fish/Trap | $4 | Available upon reaching age 65; WMA permits can remain separate. |
| Permanent Senior Hunt/Fish/Trap | $49 | Qualifying resident age 65+. |
| Annual Sportsman | $165 | Broad all-inclusive state privilege including sport fishing without state supplemental licenses. |
Nonresident fishing prices
A valid fishing license may still not be enough at these waters
Required for all ages March 1–August 15 in the regulated permit area.
Additional permit for qualifying anglers fishing TWRA state lakes.
Supplemental license lets qualifying Tennessee residents fish the Virginia portion under the reciprocal program.
Standalone one-day Gatlinburg fishing privilege.
Required with qualifying base licenses for ages 13–64.
Additional area-use permit for qualifying users of Reelfoot WMA.
Area recreation permit with listed age/resident-senior exemptions.
Tennessee statewide creel & minimum-length limits
Use this table only when the exact water has no listed exception.
| Species | Daily creel | Minimum / key restriction |
|---|---|---|
| Black bass | 5 combined | Includes largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, Alabama and Coosa bass. No statewide minimum, but numerous water-specific limits apply. |
| Crappie | 15 | 10-inch minimum. |
| Region 1 crappie baseline exception | 30 | No minimum unless a specific Region 1 water says otherwise. |
| Rock / redeye / shadow bass | 20 | No minimum. |
| Striped + hybrid striped bass | 2 combined | 15-inch minimum. |
| White bass | 15 | No minimum. |
| Muskellunge | 1 | 36-inch minimum. |
| Sauger / sauger-walleye hybrid | 10 | 15-inch minimum. |
| Walleye | 5 | 16-inch minimum. |
| Trout | 7 combined | No statewide minimum; only two of the seven may be lake trout. Special trout waters differ substantially. |
| Redear sunfish | 20 | No minimum. |
| Bluegill, yellow bass, bream, warmouth, bullhead, pickerel, northern pike, yellow perch & many nongame fish | No statewide limit | A special-water rule can still impose a limit. |
| Skipjack herring | 100 | No minimum. |
| Catfish | No limit under 34″ | Only one catfish over 34 inches may be harvested per day. |
| Alligator gar | NO HARVEST | Return immediately to the water. |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | NO HARVEST | Return immediately to the water. |
| Paddlefish | 2 | Sport harvest season April 24–May 31; no size minimum; culling prohibited. Center Hill, Cherokee and Watts Bar have exceptions. |
Tennessee’s fish-length method
Use an actual measuring board or ruler.
TWRA says the mouth may not be manipulated to extend the fish’s length.
Measure to the end of the compressed tail.
Tennessee has no ordinary statewide pole limit — but it does have a 3-hook rule
Unless a particular water says otherwise, TWRA does not set a statewide maximum number of active fishing poles.
A single, double or treble hook each counts as one hook. The statewide three-hook limit does not apply to a sabiki/piscatore rig used to take shad or herring.
Tennessee waters where the statewide table gives the wrong answer
| Water | Special rule | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Community Fishing Program waters | Catfish 5; bluegill/redear 20 combined; black bass 1; crappie 30; trout 5. | Rod/reel, hand line and pole only. No trotlines, jugs, seines or cast nets. |
| Dogwood Lake | Largemouth bass: 12–16″ PLR; 10/day. | Bass inside 12–16 inches may not be harvested. |
| Redbud Lake | Largemouth bass: 12–16″ PLR; 10/day. | Same PLR concept as Dogwood. |
| Davy Crockett Lake | Smallmouth/largemouth 5 combined; smallmouth 13–17″ PLR, only one over 17″; spotted bass 15/day. | Species identification matters before applying the bass rule. |
| Doakes Pond / Norris Reservoir | CLOSED TO FISHING | Do not treat it like ordinary open Norris Reservoir water. |
| Fall Creek Falls Lake | Largemouth bass 10/day; only one fish over 16″. | Also uses reduced sunfish and catfish limits. |
| Woodhaven Lake | BLACK BASS C&R ONLY | New 2026–27 rule. |
| Travis McNatt Lake | BLACK BASS C&R ONLY | New 2026–27 rule at Big Hill Pond State Park. |
| Pin Oak Lake | Largemouth bass 10/day; 18–25″ PLR; only one over 25″. | Large protected middle-size range. |
| Lake Lajoie + Lake Placid | Black bass 10/day; 14–18″ PLR; only one over 18″. | Chickasaw State Park special bass rule. |
| Poplar Tree Lake | Largemouth bass 10/day; 18″ maximum; only one fish longer than 18″. | A maximum-size concept, not a minimum. |
| Little Pigeon River | Smallmouth bass: 1/day, 20″ minimum. | Much tighter than the statewide five-black-bass framework. |
| Pigeon River | Smallmouth bass 1/day, 20″ minimum; walleye/sauger combination 5/day. | Walleye 15″ minimum; sauger has special oversized-fish limit. |
| Mississippi River reciprocal area | Black bass 10; crappie 50; sunfish 50; striped/hybrid bass 6; sauger 6; white bass 30. | Do not apply Tennessee’s ordinary statewide crappie or bass table. |
| Wolf River into Dale Hollow | Smallmouth bass: 2/day; 16–21″ PLR. | One may be under 16″ and one over 21″. |
A Tennessee PLR protects the middle — not everything below a minimum
Example: Dogwood and Redbud lakes use a 12–16 inch protected length range for largemouth bass. Bass in that protected middle range may not be harvested.
Other PLR examples
- Smallmouth in several East Tennessee rivers: 13–17″ PLR; only one over 17″.
- Caney Fork rainbow/brook/cutthroat trout: 14–20″ PLR with one over 20″.
- South Holston trout: 16–22″ PLR; only one over 22″.
- Pin Oak bass: 18–25″ PLR; only one over 25″.
Tennessee’s statewide 7-trout limit disappears quickly on special tailwaters
All trout species combined unless an exception applies.
Within the seven-trout aggregate.
Single-hook artificial lures only on listed wild trout streams.
14″ minimum; bait possession prohibited.
Major trout-water exceptions
| Water | Daily limit | Length / seasonal rule |
|---|---|---|
| Caney Fork — Center Hill Dam to Cumberland River | 5 combined | Rainbow, brook and cutthroat: 14–20″ PLR, only one over 20″. Brown trout: 1/day, 24″ minimum. |
| Elk River — Tims Ford Dam to I-65 | 7 combined | Brown trout 1/day, 20″ minimum. |
| Clinch River — Norris Dam to Hwy 61 | 7 | 14–20″ PLR on all trout; only one trout over 20″. |
| Hiwassee River | Mar. 1–Sep. 30: 7 | Only two may be brown trout. Catch-and-release Oct. 1–Feb. 28. |
| South Fork Holston | 7 | 16–22″ PLR; only one over 22″. Certain reaches closed Nov. 1–Jan. 31. |
| Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir | 7 combined | Rainbow and brown trout 16–22″ PLR; only one trout over 22″. |
| Watauga Quality Trout Area | 2 | 14″ minimum. Use or possession of bait prohibited. |
| Slickrock Creek | 4 combined | 7″ minimum. Single-hook artificial lure only. TN or NC license recognized in reciprocal boundary reach. |
| Dillards Ponds | 4 | One rod/pole per angler; daylight-style hours apply. |
Tellico-Citico permit season ends August 15
The regulated Tellico River and Citico Creek permit areas require the special Tellico-Citico permit from March 1 through August 15. During that period they are normally closed on Thursdays and Fridays, except when a state or national holiday falls on those days.
*Fishing hours and all other trout rules still apply.
No size minimum.
30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset.
Gatlinburg trout streams have a weekly closure and winter catch-and-release season
One hand-held rod and one hook.
General streams.
No trout possession; artificial single-hook restrictions.
Catch-and-release seasons require artificial lures and no bait
New 2026–27 start date.
Alternative fishing methods have owner-ID, hook-count and dam-distance rules
Maximum combination for a sport-fishing license holder.
One hook per line.
One hook each.
- Trotlines, limblines and jugs must carry the owner’s name/address or TWRA identification number as required.
- Trotline drop lines must be at least 24 inches apart.
- Trotlines may not be set within 100 yards of the mouth of a river, creek or slough.
- A trotline cannot extend more than three-quarters of the distance across a stream, river, chute or embayment.
- Trotlines, limblines and jugs are prohibited within 1,000 yards below TVA or U.S. Army Corps dams.
100 yards and 1,000 yards mean two different things
Tennessee’s special-method rules use different buffers depending on the fishing method.
- 100 yards below a dam: grabbling, gigging, grab hooks, snagging, archery, crossbow and speargun methods are generally prohibited.
- 1,000 yards below TVA/Corps dams: trotlines, limblines and jugs are prohibited.
- 1,000 yards: shad trawling is also prohibited below any dam.
SPECIAL
METHOD BUFFER
TROT / LIMB / JUG
BUFFER
“Open year-round” still contains several Tennessee closures
Grabbling, gigging, grab hooks, snagging, archery, crossbow and speargun are generally open year-round for qualifying nongame fish unless a water is specifically closed.
South Holston tailwater
Snagging prohibited year-round from South Holston Dam to the Highway 390 bridge at Bluff City.
Center Hill Reservoir
Snagging prohibited year-round.
Watts Bar reach
US-321 bridge upstream to Fort Loudoun Dam: snagging closes March 15–April 30 and May 16–May 31.
Tennessee does not allow you to freely move every live baitfish between waters
Class A
Includes certain widely used bait species such as gizzard shad, threadfin shad, fathead minnow, golden shiner and goldfish.
Class B
Includes specified species such as stoneroller, creek chub, bluntnose minnow and bullhead minnow. Sport anglers may possess up to 100 of each.
Class C
Live specimens may only be used in the water where they were harvested and may not be possessed away from that water.
Class D / invasive carp
Listed carp may be handled as dead bait through qualifying dealer rules but cannot be kept alive after harvest.
Live shad / skipjack transport trap
Skipjack herring, gizzard shad and threadfin shad may not be transported alive away from the Mississippi River, Barkley, Kentucky and Pickwick reservoirs and covered tributaries/oxbows. TWRA lists an exception for the Duck River above Normandy Dam.
Legal bait-harvest gear dimensions
| Gear | Current TWRA specification |
|---|---|
| Minnow seine | Maximum 10 feet long; mesh no larger than 3/8 inch square; must be constantly attended. |
| Cast net | Maximum 10-foot radius; mesh from 1/4 inch to 1 inch square. |
| Shad trawl | Mesh no larger than 1 inch; hoop diameter no larger than 48 inches; net no longer than 72 inches; threadfin/gizzard shad only. |
| Minnow/crayfish trap | Must be clearly labeled with owner name/address or TWRA ID. |
| Game fish used as bait | Angling is the approved harvest method; all normal creel, size, season and licensing restrictions continue to apply. |
Legal bait in one Tennessee watershed can be prohibited in another
Tennessee prohibits harvest, use and possession of crayfish in a long list of protected streams, tributaries and adjacent banks. Other waters allow harvest but prohibit moving the crayfish outside the watershed.
Examples of no-harvest/use waters
- Mill Creek — Davidson/Williamson
- East Fork Stones River — Cannon
- Hurricane Creek system
- South Chickamauga Creek
- Flint River
- Shoal Creek system
- Conasauga River system
- North Fork Obion River
Watershed-only possession examples
- French Broad River and tributaries outside GSMNP
- Holston River and tributaries
- Clinch River and tributaries
- Clear Fork and tributaries in listed counties
- Big South Fork Cumberland River in Scott County
Tennessee bans possession or transport of several live invasive species
Spring walleye fishing can reduce your hook and rod choices
Upper Center Hill / Caney Fork
Rock Island State Park boat ramp upstream to Great Falls Dam: January 1–April 30, anglers are restricted to one hook with one barb, or a lure containing one hook with one barb.
Maximum three rods/reels or poles.
East Fork Obey / Dale Hollow headwaters
Compton Boat Ramp upstream to Highway 52: January 1–April 15, one hook with one barb.
Walleye 5/day, 16″ minimum; only one walleye over 20″; maximum three rods.
Tennessee has reciprocal fishing agreements — but every agreement works differently
Pickwick — AL/MS/TN
Valid sport licenses from Tennessee, Alabama or Mississippi are recognized in the defined reciprocal impoundment.
Bear Creek and part of Yellow Creek are excluded. Follow the regulations of the state whose water you are fishing.
Mississippi River — Arkansas
Either state’s qualifying license is recognized on specified boundary waters and connected waters covered by the agreement.
Several tributaries and WMAs are excluded.
Kentucky waters
Agreements cover specified portions of Big South Fork, Dale Hollow and Kentucky Lake.
Bank anglers follow the regulations of the state where they stand.
Missouri
Reciprocal Mississippi River and backwater privileges apply, but tributaries of the other state are not included.
North Carolina
Either-state sport license recognized from boats on Calderwood Reservoir and in the Slickrock Creek boundary reach.
Virginia / South Holston
Tennessee residents can purchase the $20 South Holston supplemental to fish the covered Virginia reservoir portion.
Home-state fishing privileges are still required.
Tennessee’s 2026 free fishing event has already passed
Residents and visitors of all ages could fish Tennessee public waters without a license.
Youth age 15 and younger.
The 2026 free fishing period is no longer active.
Tennessee has fish-consumption advisories on several popular waters
TDEC maintains a separate fish-consumption advisory program. These health advisories do not automatically close the water to fishing.
Center Hill Reservoir
Precautionary mercury advisory for walleye 19 inches and larger.
Pickwick Reservoir
Precautionary PCB advisory for all catfish species in the Tennessee portion.
Fort Patrick Henry
Precautionary PCB advisory for all catfish species.
Herb Parsons Lake
Precautionary mercury advisory for largemouth bass.
Lake Lajoie
Precautionary mercury advisory for largemouth bass.
Lake Placid
Precautionary mercury advisory for largemouth bass.
Tennessee regulation pack for the morning of your fishing trip
- Exact waterbody or river reach: statewide limits are not enough for many Tennessee fisheries.
- Target fish: save daily creel, size limit and PLR if one applies.
- Special-water exception: check the current TWRA water-specific regulation.
- License + trout supplement: confirm every required privilege before leaving cell service.
- Special lake/stream permit: TWRA State Lakes, Tellico-Citico, Gatlinburg and other waters can require more than the base license.
- Hook and rod rule: statewide three-hook maximum does not mean every water allows unlimited poles.
- Alternative gear: check dam buffers, seasonal closures and identification/tag rules.
- Live bait: identify its bait class before transporting it away from the water.
- Fish consumption: check TDEC if you plan to eat fish from an unfamiliar reservoir.
Twelve Tennessee fishing-regulation mistakes that are easy to make
Region 1 generally uses 30 crappie with no minimum unless a water says otherwise.
Several managed lakes and rivers use one-fish, two-fish or C&R-only rules.
Fish inside the protected middle range must be released.
The statewide restriction is generally three hooks per rod, not three rods.
Tellico-Citico, Dillards Ponds and walleye-run reaches impose rod limits.
It must stay with the water where it was harvested.
Tennessee prohibits intentional release away from the source water.
The March 1–August 15 special period normally closes those weekdays.
TWRA’s 2026–27 change notice says it was removed.
Trotlines, limblines and jugs are prohibited within 1,000 yards below TVA/Corps dams.
Statewide only one catfish over 34 inches may be harvested per day.
Several agreements still require following the regulation of a particular state or location.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency contact
Ask.TWRA@tn.gov
“I’m fishing [exact water/reach] on [date], targeting [species] using [bait/method]. Can you confirm the current creel, length/PLR, hook or pole limit, special permit and any seasonal closure?”
The working rules are above — use these official pages for the final live check
This article intentionally converts TWRA’s working rules into practical decision tools before linking out. Use these pages when a regulation, closure, stocking event or permit needs same-day confirmation.
Quick answers to Tennessee fishing-regulation questions
What is the Tennessee black bass daily limit?
The statewide limit is five black bass in combination, including largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, Alabama and Coosa bass. Tennessee has many water-specific bass exceptions, including protected length ranges, one-fish limits and catch-and-release-only lakes.
What is the Tennessee crappie limit?
The statewide baseline is 15 crappie per day with a 10-inch minimum. In Region 1, the general exception is 30 crappie per day with no minimum length unless a particular water has another rule.
How many fishing poles can I use in Tennessee?
Unless a special water says otherwise, Tennessee does not impose a statewide maximum number of active poles. The statewide tackle rule generally limits each rod, pole or hand-held line to no more than three hooks.
What is Tennessee’s statewide trout limit?
The statewide trout limit is seven fish in any combination of trout species, with no statewide minimum. Only two of the seven may be lake trout. Special tailwaters and trout-management areas use different rules.
What is the Caney Fork trout limit?
From Center Hill Dam to the Cumberland River, the total trout creel is five. Rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout use a 14-to-20-inch protected length range with only one over 20 inches, while brown trout are limited to one fish with a 24-inch minimum.
Do I need a Tellico-Citico permit?
Yes during the special permit period from March 1 through August 15 in the designated Tellico River and Citico Creek permit areas. The current daily permit fee is $6 and is required for all ages.
Can I fish Tellico or Citico Creek on Thursday?
During the March 1 through August 15 special permit period, the designated Tellico-Citico waters are normally closed on Thursday and Friday, except when qualifying state or national holidays fall on those days.
Do children need a Tennessee fishing license?
Resident and nonresident youth age 12 and younger generally do not need a fishing license. Anglers ages 13 through 15 use junior licensing, and special permits can still apply in certain areas.
What is Tennessee’s catfish limit?
Statewide there is no creel limit on catfish shorter than 34 inches, but only one catfish over 34 inches may be harvested per day. Special waters can impose tighter rules.
Can I transport live baitfish between Tennessee lakes?
It depends on the bait classification. Class C live bait may only be used in and possessed at the water where it was harvested. Tennessee also prohibits intentionally releasing live fish, crayfish or salamanders into a different water.
What changed at Piney River for 2026–27?
TWRA’s 2026–27 What’s New notice says the Piney River delayed-harvest regulation was removed. A detailed trout subpage still displayed the older Piney delayed-harvest entry when this article was reviewed, so anglers should use the current 2026–27 change notice and verify the current proclamation before relying on the older entry.
What was Tennessee’s 2026 Free Fishing Day?
Tennessee’s 2026 Bobby Wilson Free Fishing Day was June 6. Youth age 15 and younger could fish free during Free Fishing Week from June 6 through June 12. Those 2026 dates have now passed.
Water first. Species second. Exception third.
Tennessee’s statewide fish table is useful, but the strongest regulation check always starts with the exact water. Tailwaters, state park lakes, TWRA fishing lakes, reciprocal reservoirs, mountain streams and special walleye or trout areas can completely change the ordinary statewide rule.
Regulation review completed . TWRA rules, proclamations, stocking plans, closures and special-water regulations can change after publication.