Fishing

If you’ve come to experience a taste of the outdoors…you’ve caught the right destination. Our lakes and rivers are filled with many varieties of fish including crappie, bluegill, white bass, trout, catfish, yellow bass, yellow perch and pickerel. While Spring and Summer are the most popular months for fishing, more and more fishermen are finding out how good the cooler months can be as well.

Warm and cold water fish can be found in our many reservoirs. Click on the link to be taken to a list of the Lake and Pond Fishing areas.

Nearby Dayton, Tennessee has become the number one bass fishing destination in the nation. Lake Chickamauga is producing record-breaking fish for leisure fisherman and professionals alike! Check out FishDayton.com for information about events and the great fishing just 30 miles west of Cleveland.

Maybe rivers and streams are more your angle…if so you are in the right place. Stocked trout streams provide opportunities for anglers who catch and release as well as those who wish to harvest trout for consumption. Rainbow trout averaging 8 to 12 inches are stocked in many streams, typically between March and September. The USDA site has a list of river and stream fishing areas.

Before you head to the water to fish however, be sure to stop by the nearest TWRA regional office or a license agent to buy a fishing license. Your fees go toward fisheries management programs that help ensure your future recreational fishing opportunities. Request a free copy of the Fishing Regulations Guide when you purchase your fishing license.

Remember: If you fish on private property, you must obtain permission from the owner. But whether that favorite fishing hole is on private or public land, be a responsible resource user. Please do not leave trash along our waterways, including monofilament fishing line. Also report all littering violations and any suspected illegal dumping into Tennessee’s waters. After all, water is one of our most important resources and both humans and fish depend on it for their survival. Following these simple rules also guarantees that we can all enjoy our natural resources for generations to come.

Visit the Tennesee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) for more information on fishing regulations in Tennessee, maps or brochures. Also, visit the Cherokee National Forest site for more information about fishing at Parksville Lake and other Forest Reservoirs.