Exceptions To Statewide Fishing Regulations on Small Impoundments
Allen Branch Pond (Cocke County)
- Catfish: 5 per day
Beech River Watershed Lakes
- Catfish: 5 per day, 15 inch minimum
length limit - Crappie: 30 per day, no length limit.
Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness WMA Ponds
Designated as youth fishing ponds. Fishing is permitted for youths 16 years of age or younger who are accompanied by a non–fishing adult (18 years of age or older). Youths are limited to using one (1) pole or rod while fishing. Fishing is permitted from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
- Bluegill: 10 per day, no length limit
- Channel Catfish: 5 per day
- Largemouth Bass: catch and release only
Campbell Lake (Maury County)
Special regulations apply. See regulations posted at the lake.
Casper Lake (Shelby County)
- Largemouth Bass: 2 per day, 16 inch minimum length limit
Catoosa Wildlife Management Area
All streams and ponds are open from
Apr. 1–Dec. 31, except on the dates of managed big game and turkey hunts.
Davy Crockett Lake (Greene County)
- Crappie: 30 per day, no length limit
- Smallmouth/Largemouth Bass: 5 per day in combination
- Smallmouth Bass: 13–17 inch protected length range, only one over 17 inches
- Spotted Bass: 15 per day, no length limit
Dickson City Lakes (Dickson County)
- Catfish: 5 per day
Doakes Pond (on Norris Reservoir)
The portion of Norris Reservoir known as Doakes Pond, located adjacent to Hwy. 63 approximately 9 miles NE of Lafollette, is closed to fishing.
Douglas Reservoir
Henderson Island WMA Rearing Pond is closed to fishing year-round.
Federal Refuges
Some federal wildlife refuges have closed seasons. For details contact the office of the national wildlife refuge where you wish to fish.
Gooch Unit E Lake
- Largemouth Bass: 5 per day, 15 inch minimum length limit
Hiwassee Refuge
Trespassing and fishing are prohibited in embayments and sub-impoundments from Nov. 15–Feb. 28. Boats must remain within the river channel defined by navigational buoys.
Indian Boundary Lake (Cherokee NF)
- Largemouth Bass: 2 per day, 14 inch minimum length limit
- Catfish: 5 per day
- Crappie: 30 per day, no length limit
Kingston Wildlife Refuge
Trespassing and fishing are prohibited in embayments and sub-impoundments from
Nov. 15–Feb. 28. Boats must remain within the river channel defined by navigational buoys.
Lake Kefauver
(Madisonville, Monroe County)
- Bass: 2 per day, 14 inch minimum
length limit - Catfish: 5 per day
Land Between the Lakes
All waters are open year round with the following provisions:
- Farm ponds are open to fishing unless otherwise posted.
- Bards Lake: Trotlines and limblines
are prohibited. Jugs are permitted from
Oct. 1–Mar. 21, with a limit of 10 jugs
per person.
New Lake (Lewisburg City Lake)
Open one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Only rods and reels and cane poles permitted.
- Largemouth Bass: 5 per day, 15 inch minimum length limit
- Catfish: 5 per day
- Crappie: 15 per day, no length limit
Paint Rock Refuge (on Watts Bar Reservoir)
Trespassing and fishing are prohibited in embayments and sub–impoundments from Nov. 15–Feb. 28. Boats must remain within the river channel defined by navigational buoys.
Reelfoot Watershed Lake #18
- Largemouth Bass: 5 per day, 15 inch minimum length limit
State Park Lakes are managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation (888-867-2757). Unless otherwise posted, statewide fishing regulations apply with the following exceptions:
Crappie (all species combined):
- All lakes: 15 per day, no length limit, except:
- Pin Oak Lake: 30 per day, no length limit
Channel or blue catfish or in combination:
- All lakes: 5 per day
Black bass from the following lakes must be a minimum of 15 inches:
- Lake Lindsey, David Crockett State Park
- Byrd Lake, Cumberland Mountain State Park
- Sullivan’s Pond, Ft. Pillow State Historic Area
- Indian Mt. “B” Lake, Indian Mountain State Park
- Acorn Lake, Montgomery Bell State Park
- Creech Hollow Lake, Montgomery Bell SP
- Kelly (Standing Stone) Lake, Standing Stone State Park
Black bass from:
- Lake Lajoie and Lake Placid, Chickasaw State Park: 14–18 inch protected length range (slot limit). Daily creel limit 10 bass per day, only one bass over 18 inches may be harvested.
- Big Ridge Lake, Big Ridge State Park: must be a minimum of 14 inches
- Poplar Tree Lake, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park: 14–18 inch PLR (slot limit)
- Travis McNatt Lake, Big Hill Pond
State Park: 10 bass per day, no length limit - Lake Woodhaven (Montgomery Bell State Park): catch and release only. All black bass caught must be immediately released, unharmed.
Bluegill and redear sunfish in combination:
- Poplar Tree Lake, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park: 20 per day, no length limit
- Fall Creek Lake, Fall Creek Falls State Park: 20 per day, no length limit




