Best Fishing in Tennessee 2025: Top 15 Trophy Bass & Trout Spots

Tennessee is a fishing paradise for anglers of all skill levels, known for its diverse waters ranging from expansive reservoirs to mountain streams. Whether you’re chasing trophy bass, crappie, or native trout, this guide covers the best fishing spots in Tennessee for 2025. Along with up-to-date techniques, seasonal tips, and important regulations, you’ll find everything you need to enjoy a successful and legal fishing experience in the Volunteer State.

1. Dale Hollow Lake: Smallmouth Bass Heaven

Dale Hollow Lake is famous worldwide for producing trophy smallmouth bass, including the world record catch of 11 lbs 15 oz. Clear waters and scenic bluffs provide an ideal habitat for these prized fish.

How to Fish Dale Hollow

• March: Use 3-inch shad-pattern swimbaits on ¼ oz jigheads along Hurricane Creek.
• Summer Night: Fish lighted docks at 12-18 feet depth with live alewives.
• Fall: Troll #9 Rapala Tail Dancers at 28-32 feet over main lake humps for walleye.

Licensing and Regulations

• Smallmouth bass: 5 per day, minimum size 15-18 inches (season-dependent).
• Striped bass: 1-2 per day, size limits vary by season.
• 2025 stockings include 50,000 walleye fry and 103,000 striped bass fingerlings.

2. Chickamauga Lake: Trophy Largemouth Bass

Chickamauga offers thick vegetation perfect for largemouth bass, making it one of the top bass lakes in the nation.

Tips to Catch Bass Here

• Fish early mornings with topwater frogs along grassy edges.
• Best fishing during spring and fall pre/post-spawn periods.

Regulations: 5 bass daily, 15-inch minimum.

3. Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Trout Fishing Spotlight

Pristine mountain streams here host rainbow, brown, and brook trout, offering some of the best trout fishing in the country.

Fly Fishing Tips

• Use dry flies, nymphs, and streamers depending on season.
• Spring and fall are prime trout seasons.

Permits required. Check both National Park Service and TWRA rules.

4. Reelfoot Lake: Panfish Paradise

Known for crappie and bluegill, Reelfoot Lake is a top early-spring spot to target panfish.

Angling Techniques

• Use minnows or small jigs around submerged cypress trees for crappie.
• For bluegill, try worms or soft plastics near shallow waters.

Creel limits: 30 crappie/day (10-inch minimum), bluegill limits vary regionally.

5. Center Hill Lake: Variety Fishing

Home to walleye, smallmouth, and striped bass, Center Hill Lake offers clear waters and scenic fishing spots.

How to Fish

• Troll or jig vertically for walleye.
• Use live bait or soft plastics for striped bass.

Regulations: 3 walleye/day (15-inch minimum), 2 striped bass/day (18-inch minimum).

6. Kentucky Lake: Bass Tournament Central

Kentucky Lake is known for its ledge fishing, with many professional bass tournaments held annually.

Techniques & Seasonality

• Target main lake ledges with deep-diving crankbaits and plastic worms.
• Best during spring and summer.

Bass limit: 5 per day, 15-inch minimum.

7. Percy Priest Lake: Striper and Hybrid Bass Near Nashville

This 14,200-acre lake is popular for striped bass, hybrid bass, and largemouth bass fishing, suitable for anglers of every level.

Seasonal Approach

• Striped & Hybrid Bass: Fish deep channels in summer; troll swimbaits in spring/fall.
• Largemouth Bass: Fish soft plastics in shallow coves pre-spawn; jigs near docks in summer.
• Crappie: Vertical jigging near submerged brush piles.

Regulations: 2 striped bass/day (15” min), 5 hybrid bass/day (no size limit). License required for anglers 13+.

For more on Tennessee fishing licenses, visit our Tennessee Fishing License 2025 Guide.

8. Norris Lake: Clear Water Trophy Fishing

Norris Lake is famous for crystal-clear waters and trophy smallmouth and striped bass.

Expert Tactics

• Spring smallmouth: Fish 25-35 feet deep near bluffs with 3” swimbaits.
• Summer striped bass: Night fishing near lighted docks at 12-18 feet with live alewives.
• Fall walleye: Troll deep humps using Rapala Tail Dancers.

2025 stocking efforts continue to boost walleye and striped bass populations.

9. Tims Ford Lake: Smallmouth Trophy Spot

Tims Ford is known for consistent catches of smallmouth bass over 7 lbs.

Best Practices

• Winter deep crank with Strike King 6XD at 18-22 feet.
• Spring swimbait fishing near rock piles at 10-15 feet.
• Summer night fishing with Texas-rigged worms.

10. Pickwick Lake: Multi-Species Hotspot

This lake borders Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi, offering smallmouth, striped bass, catfish, and largemouth bass fishing.

Techniques

• Vertical jig near the dam in 20-40 feet.
• Spring striped bass near creek mouths with live shad and swimbaits.

Limits: 5 smallmouth bass/day and 2 striped bass/day (15-inch minimum).

11. Old Hickory Lake: Urban Fishing Access

Just outside Nashville, this lake is perfect for largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish.

Fishing Tips

• Bass with soft plastics in creek arms.
• Crappie near submerged timber with small jigs.
• Night catfish fishing with chicken liver or cut bait.

12. Watts Bar Lake: Diverse Angling

Watts Bar offers striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish fishing across its islands and coves.

Techniques

• Trolling large swimbaits 20-40 feet for stripers.
• Casting deep-diving crankbaits near islands for bass.

13. Douglas Lake: Bass and Crappie Tournaments

Known for tournaments, Douglas Lake has numerous coves and structure for bass and crappie fishing.

Tips

• Spring crappie near timber with jigs.
• Early morning bass fishing with topwaters and spinnerbaits.

14. Cherokee Lake: Year-Round Fishing

Clear waters and rocky points support bass, crappie, and catfish all year long.

Techniques

• Night crappie fishing with submersible lights.
• Bass fishing with Texas-rigged soft plastics.

15. Melton Hill Lake: Musky and Bass Fishing

One of the few Tennessee lakes with a thriving musky population, alongside bass.

Expert Tips

• Use large bucktail spinners or jerkbaits for musky.
• Fish Texas-rigged soft plastics for bass near rocky shorelines.

For a smooth and legal fishing experience, remember Tennessee requires all anglers aged 13 and up to carry a valid fishing license. To learn more about acquiring your fishing license and the latest fees, check out our detailed Tennessee Fishing License 2025 Guide.

Ready to head out? For more information on fishing regulations and tips, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency website is a great resource.

Happy fishing in Tennessee’s top fishing destinations this year!

Internal Links Included:

• Tennessee Fishing License 2025 Guide
• How to Get a Fishing License in Tennessee
• 2025 Kansas Fishing License Guide (for comparative licensing info)