Tennessee Fishing Regulations
Managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Summary below verified 2026-07-27.
⚠️ This is a planning summary, not the law. Rules change mid-season and many waters carry special regulations. Verify with the official Tennessee rules before keeping fish.
License fees
Anglers 13+ need a license. Keeping trout requires the trout supplement. Agency-lake permits apply on some TWRA lakes.
| Resident annual (fish + hunt combo) | ≈$34 |
| Non-resident annual (all species) | ≈$99 |
| Resident trout stamp | ≈$22 |
Fees approximate as of 2026-07-27; agency fees pages have exact current pricing.
Season, size & bag limits — popular species
| Species | Waters | Season | Daily bag | Size limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth bass | Statewide | Open year-round | 5 | Varies by reservoir (12–16") | Statewide default 5/day; check your lake |
| Smallmouth bass | Statewide | Open year-round | 5 | 18" on several trophy waters; varies | |
| Crappie | Statewide | Open year-round | 15 combined on most reservoirs | 10" on most reservoirs | |
| Walleye | Statewide | Open year-round | 5 | 16" on most waters | |
| Catfish | Statewide | Open year-round | No limit under 34"; 1 over 34" | — | |
| Trout | Tailwaters & mountain streams | Open year-round (most waters) | 7 (2 brown trout on some tailwaters) | Varies by water |
Reservoir-by-reservoir differences are the rule in Tennessee — verify your lake in the TWRA Fishing Guide.
Plan your Tennessee trip
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