Region 4 Reservoir Regulations

Full pool elevation is the reservoir/stream boundary for harvest restrictions unless otherwise noted.

Statewide regulations apply for any species not mentioned under each listed reservoir section.

Region 4

• » Boone

Reservoir defined as from dam upstream to Hwy. 37 Bridge at Bluff City on South Fork Holston arm and upstream to new Austin Springs Bridge on Watauga arm.

Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass: 5 per day in combination.

Largemouth Bass: 15 inch minimum length limit

Smallmouth Bass: 15 inch minimum length limit

Spotted Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit

Catfish (all species): no harvest limit for fish under 34 inches in length; only one fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day

Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass:

April 1–October 31:2 per day in combination
November 1–March 31: 2 per day in combination, only one may be a striped bass

Striped Bass:

April 1–October 31:15 inch minimum length limit
November 1–March 31: 36 inch minimum length limit

Hybrid Striped Bass:15 inch minimum length limit

White Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Rock Bass: 20 per day, no length limit

Redear Sunfish: 20 per day, no length limit

Bluegill/Warmouth and other sunfishes: no creel or length limit

Trout: 7 per day, no length limit

• » Calderwood

Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass: 5 per day in combination

Largemouth Bass: no length limit

Smallmouth Bass: 18 inch minimum length limit

Spotted Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit

Catfish (all species): no harvest limit for fish under 34 inches in length; only one fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day

Walleye: 5 per day, 16 inch minimum length limit

Sauger: 10 per day, 15 inch minimum length limit

Rock Bass: 20 per day, no length limit

Redear Sunfish: 20 per day, no length limit

Bluegill/Warmouth and other sunfishes: no creel or length limit

Trout: 7 per day, no length limit

• » Cherokee

Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass: 5 per day in combination. Size restrictions apply from the dam upstream to the John Sevier Dam.

Largemouth Bass: 15 inch minimum length limit

Smallmouth Bass: 18 inch minimum length limit

Spotted Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit

Catfish (all species): No harvest limit for fish under 34 inches in length; only one fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day

Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass: 2 per day in combination, 15 inch minimum length limit

White Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Walleye, Sauger, and Saugeye: 10 per day in combination, 15 inch minimum length limit

Paddlefish: 1 per day. Season is open from March 1–15. Culling is prohibited.

Rock Bass: 20 per day, no length limit

Redear Sunfish: 20 per day, no length limit

Bluegill/Warmouth and other sunfishes: no creel or length limit

Special Restrictions: A closed fishing Zone will be in effect from July 15 through September 15. This Zone is enclosed by lines from the boat ramp at the south end of the dam across the lake to Point 2, from Point 2 to Point 3, and from Point 3 back across the lake to the TWRA boat ramp at the north end of the dam. All bank fishing will be open and the coves along the southeast shoreline will be open to boat fishing, but no fishing for any species will be allowed by boat in the described Zone from July 15 through September 15.

• » Chilhowee

Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass: 5 per day in combination

Largemouth Bass: 14 inch minimum length limit

Smallmouth Bass: 18 inch minimum length limit

Spotted Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit

Catfish (all species): no harvest limit for fish under 34 inches in length; only one fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day

Walleye/Sauger: 10 per day in combination, 15 inch minimum length limit

Rock Bass: 20 per day, no length limit

Redear Sunfish: 20 per day, no length limit

Bluegill/Warmouth and other sunfishes: no creel or length limit

Trout: 7 per day, no length limit, only two may be lake trout

• » Douglas

Restrictions extend from Douglas Dam upstream to the ENKA Dam on the Nolichucky River and the mouth of the Pigeon River on the French Broad. Restrictions on WalleyeandSauger also include Pigeon and French Broad Rivers upstream to NC state line.

Largemouth/Smallmouth/Spotted Bass: 5 per day in combination, only one may be smallmouth bass

Largemouth Bass: no length limit

Smallmouth Bass: 20 inch minimum length limit

Spotted Bass: no length limit

Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit

Catfish (all species): no harvest limit for fish under 34 inches in length; only one fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day.

White Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Walleye/Sauger: 5 per day in combination.

Walleye: 15 inch minimum length limit

Sauger: no minimum length limit but only one sauger may be over 16 inches per day

Rock Bass: 20 per day, no length limit

Redear Sunfish: 20 per day, no length limit

Muskellunge: 1 per day, 36 inch minimum length limit

Bluegill/Warmouth and other sunfishes: no creel or length limit

• » Ft.Loudoun

Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass: 5 per day in combination

Largemouth Bass: 14 inch minimum length limit

Smallmouth Bass: 18 inch minimum length limit

Spotted Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit

Catfish (all species): no harvest limit for fish under 34 inches in length; only one fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day

Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass: 2 per day in combination, 15 inch minimum length limit

White Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Yellow Bass: no creel or length limit

Walleye/Sauger: 10 per day in combination, 15 inch minimum length limit.

Paddlefish: 2 per day; season is open from April 24 through May 31. Culling is prohibited.

Rock Bass: 20 per day, no length limit

Redear Sunfish: 20 per day, no length limit

Bluegill/Warmouth and other sunfishes: no creel or length limit

• » Ft.Patrick Henry

Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass: 5 per day in combination.

Largemouth Bass: no length limit

Smallmouth Bass: 18 inch minimum length limit

Spotted Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit

Catfish (all species): no harvest limit for fish under 34 inches in length; only one fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day

Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass: 2 per day in combination, 15 inch minimum length limit

White Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Walleye: 5 per day, 18 inch minimum length limit

Rock Bass: 20 per day, no length limit

Redear Sunfish: 20 per day, no length limit

Bluegill/Warmouth and other sunfishes: no creel or length limit

Trout: 7 per day, no length limit

• » John Sevier

Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass: 5 per day in combination

Largemouth Bass: no length limit

Smallmouth Bass: 13–17 inch protected length range, only one Smallmouth bass over 17 inches per day

Spotted Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit

Catfish (all species): no harvest limit for fish under 34 inches in length; only one fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day

White Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Rock Bass: 20 per day, no length limit

Redear Sunfish: 20 per day, no length limit

Bluegill/Warmouth and other sunfishes: no creel or length limit

• » Melton Hill

Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass: 5 per day in combination

Largemouth Bass:14 inch minimum length limit

Smallmouth Bass:18 inch minimum length limit

Spotted Bass: 15 per day, no minimum length limit

Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit

Catfish (all species): no harvest limit for fish under 34 inches in length; only one fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day

Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass: 2 per day in combination, including Clinch River upstream to Highway 61 bridge in Clinton.
Striped Bass: 32–42 inch PLR; only one fish may be over 42 inches
Hybrid Striped Bass: 15 inch minimum length limit

White Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Yellow Bass: no creel or length limit

Walleye/Sauger: 10 per day in combination, 15 inch minimum length limit

Paddlefish: 2 per day; season is open from April 24 through May 31. Culling is prohibited.

Rock Bass: 20 per day, no length limit

Redear Sunfish: 20 per day, no length limit

Muskellunge: 1 per day, 50 inch minimum length limit. Muskellunge that are not intended to be harvested must be released immediately in a manner that promotes survival of the fish. Culling is not allowed.

Bluegill/Warmouth and other sunfishes: no creel or length limit

Trout: 7 per day, no length limit

• » Norris

Extends from the dam upstream to the Hwy. 25E bridge on the Clinch River arm and upstream to Gap Creek on the Powell River arm.

Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass: 5 per day in combination

Largemouth Bass: 14 inch minimum length limit

Smallmouth Bass:

June 1–October 15:1 per day, 20 inch minimum length limit

October 16–May 31:5 per day, 18 inch minimum length limit

Spotted Bass: no creel or length limit

Crappie (all species): 10 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit

Catfish (all species): no harvest limit for fish under 34 inches in length; only one fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day

Striped Bass:

April 1–October 31: 2 per day, 15 inch minimum length limit

November 1–March 31:1 per day, 36 inch minimum length limit

White Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Yellow Bass: no creel or length limit

Walleye/Sauger: 5 per day in combination, 15 inch minimum length limit (upstream to Grissom Island on the Clinch River)

Paddlefish: 2 per day; season is open from April 24 through May 31. Culling is prohibited.

Rock Bass: 20 per day, no length limit

Redear Sunfish: 20 per day, no length limit

Muskellunge: 1 per day, 36 inch minimum length limit

Bluegill/Warmouth and other sunfishes: 30 per day, no length limit

• » South Holston (TN + VA Rules)
• An additional South Holston Reservior License (Type 063) is available for TN residents that want to fish Virginia portion of reservoir. See General Info.
• Restricted to 15 limblines per angler.

Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass: 5 per day in combination

Largemouth Bass: no length limit

Smallmouth Bass: 15 inch minimum length limit

Spotted Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit

Catfish (all species): 20 per day in combination. Only one fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day

White Bass: No harvest allowed.

Walleye: 5 per day, 18 inch minimum length limit. Includes tributaries.

Rock Bass: 20 per day, no length limit

Redear Sunfish: 20 per day, no length limit

Bluegill: 50 per day, no length limit

Warmouth and other sunfishes: no creel or length limit

Trout: 7 per day, only two may be lake trout.

• » Tellico

Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass: 5 per day in combination

Largemouth Bass: 14 inch minimum length limit

Smallmouth Bass: 18 inch minimum length limit

Spotted Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit

Catfish (all species): no harvest limit for fish under 34 inches in length; only one fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day

Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass: 2 per day in combination, 15 inch minimum length limit

White Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Yellow Bass: no creel or length limit

Walleye/Sauger: 10 per day in combination but no more than 5 may be walleye. 15 inch minimum length limit. One walleye may be 24 inches or larger. Includes tributaries.

Paddlefish: 2 per day; season is open from April 24 through May 31. Culling is prohibited.

Rock Bass: 20 per day, no length limit

Redear Sunfish: 20 per day, no length limit

Bluegill/Warmouth and other sunfishes: no creel or length limit

Trout: 7 per day, no length limit

• » Watauga

Largemouth/SmallmouthBass: 5 per day in combination

Largemouth Bass:12 inchminimum length limit

Smallmouth Bass: 15 inch minimum length limit

Spotted Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit

Catfish (all species): no harvest limit for fish under 34 inches in length; only one fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day

White Bass: 15 per day, no length limit

Walleye: 5 per day, 18 inch minimum length limit. Walleye run regulation from Jan. 1–Apr. 30, anglers are restricted to the use of one hook having a single point or one lure having no more than one hook with a single point (artificial or bait) on the following waters: Elk River from the Hwy. 321 Bridge downstream to RM 3.0 (Pt. 11) on the Elk River Arm of Watauga Reservoir, Doe Creek (Old Cabin Private Road downstream to Roan Creek), Roan Creek (Mountain Lake Estates Bridge downstream to Doe Creek), and Watauga River (NC line downstream to the end of Cownstown Road).

Rock Bass: 20 per day, no length limit

Redear Sunfish: 20 per day, no length limit

Bluegill/Warmouth and other sunfishes: no creel or length limit

Trout: 7 per day, no length limit, only two may be lake trout