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Fishing in Tennessee

Click a region to explore top fishing spots, species, and local tips.

Tennessee offers exceptional fishing from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Mississippi River. The state has more than 20 major reservoirs including Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Dale Hollow, and Norris Lake — famous for bass, crappie, catfish, and muskie. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park features 800 miles of wild trout streams, and the Tennessee River provides excellent smallmouth bass and sauger fishing.

Topographic map — click to view full size

East Tennessee & Smoky Mtns

Great Smoky Mountains, Little River, South Holston Lake -- Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye

Middle TN & Cumberland

Percy Priest Lake, Center Hill Lake, Caney Fork River -- Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Smallmouth Bass

West TN & Mississippi

Mississippi River, Reelfoot Lake, Chickasaw NWR -- Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Catfish, Duckbill

Tennessee River Valley

Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Pickwick Lake -- Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Sauger, Blue Catfish, Smallmouth Bass

Plateau & Highland Rim

Dale Hollow Lake, Lake Cumberland area, Tims Ford -- Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Muskie, Crappie