Trout Regulations
Statewide Regulations
Any combination of trout species:
Daily Limit 7
Minimum Length Limit None
Exceptions:
- Only 2 trout in a creel may be lake trout
- See the following specific regulations
- » Delayed Harvest Areas
In the areas listed below, the harvest or possession of trout is prohibited during the catch-and-release season. During the catch-and-release season, only artificial lures are permitted and the use or possession of bait is prohibited.
Hiwassee River: Appalachian Powerhouse downstream to L&N Railroad Bridge
- Catch-and-release season is October 1 through last day of February.
- From March 1 through September 30, trout creel limit is 7 trout of all species combined and only 2 may be brown trout.
Paint Creek: Paint Creek Campground downstream to mouth at French Broad River
- Catch-and-release season is October 1 through last day of February.
Piney River: Cumberland Trail State Park downstream to Highway 27 Bridge
- Catch-and-release season is November 1 through last day of February.
Tellico River:Mouth of Turkey Creek upstream to the mouth of North River
- Catch-and-release season is October 1 through March 14.
Caney Fork River:Center Hill Dam to Cumberland River, including tributaries
- Total daily creel of all trout (rainbow, brown and brook) in combination is 5 fish
- Rainbow Trout: 5 per day, 14–20 inch protected length range, only one fish over 20 inches may be harvested
- Brook Trout: 5 per day, 14–20 inch protected length range, only one fish over 20 inches may be harvested
- Brown Trout: 1 per day, 24 inch minimum length limit
Clinch River:Norris Dam. downstream to Hwy. 61 bridge, including tributaries
- 14–20 inch protected length range on all trout
- 7 trout creel limit, only one trout may be greater than 20 inches
Clear Creek:tributary to Clinch River—Anderson Co.
- Closed to fishing and minnow seining from Hwy. 441 upstream to the second dam (adjacent to the city of Norris water tower), as posted from Nov. 1–Mar. 31.
Hiwassee River:Apalachian Powerhouse downstream to L&N Railroad Bridge
- March 1 through September 30: 7 trout creel limit, only 2 may be brown trout.
- October 1 through last day of February: see delayed harvest areas.
South Holston River:South Holston Dam to Hwy. 37 Bridge at Bluff City
- 16–22 inch protected length range on all trout
- 7 trout creel limit, only one trout may be greater than 22 inches
- Closed to all fishing Nov. 1–Jan. 31 in the following areas:
- Hickory Tree Bridge upstream to the confluence with Bottom Creek
- downstream point of Boy’s Island (first island downstream of Weaver Pike Bridge) upstream to the top of the first island above Webb Road Bridge
Watauga River: Quality Trout Fishing Area Smallings bridge downstream to CSX
railroad bridges
- 14 inch minimum length limit
- 2 trout creel limit
- Use or possession of any bait is prohibited.
- Trout less than 14 inches may not be in possession
Polk County:Big Lost Creek, Goforth Creek, Spring Creek, and their tributaries in
Polk County
- Closed to fishing on Fridays from Mar. 1–Jul. 1 except for state and federal holidays
- Only one single hook lure or baited single hook is permitted
- The use or possession of lures or baits with multiple hooks is prohibited
- Fishing is permitted from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset
- Fishing equipment or tackle is prohibited on the stream banks except during legal fishing hours
Horse Creek:Greene County, US Forest Service Boundary Line upstream to the junction of Squibb Creek
- Daily limit: 7 trout per day, except from May 1–Sep. 30 daily limit is 2 trout
Slickrock Creek: That portion of Slickrock Creek which constitutes the boundary between the states of Tennessee and North Carolina.
- Appropriate licenses from TN or NC are valid
- Rainbow, Brown and Brook Trout: Daily limit of 4 in combination with a 7 inch minimum length limit
- Fishing permitted 1⁄2 hour before sunrise to 1⁄2 hour after sunset
- Only single-hook artificial lures are permitted. Use or possession of bait or multiple hook lures is prohibited. One single-hook artificial lure separated from a legal lure by a length of line (for example, a dropper fly) is also permitted.
- Each angler permitted only one rod or pole
- » Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Most of the streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park provide trout fishing opportunities. For detailed fishing information and regulations, contact: Park Headquarters, Gatlinburg, TN 37738; phone (865) 436-1200.
- » Fort Campbell Military Reservation
Several streams on Fort Campbell Military Reservation including Noah’s Spring Branch, Little West Fork and Fletcher’s Fork are stocked with rainbow and brown trout. Special fishing regulations apply and a Post Fishing Permit is required in addition to a valid Tennessee fishing license and trout stamp. For details, contact the Community Recreation Division, Hunting and Fishing Unit, Fort Campbell, KY 42223-5000; phone (270) 798-2175.
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Regulations |
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Tellico River from its confluence with Turkey Creek upstream to the Tennessee-North Carolina state line. |
Tellico-Citico Permit required March 15 through September 15. Closed on Thursday and Friday during the period March 15 through September 15 (except when national or state holidays fall on Thursday and Friday). From September 16 through March 14 fishing is allowed every day and Tellico-Citico Permit is not required. Daily creel limit of 7 trout, with no size limit. Fishing permitted from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset. The possession of fishing equipment and/or tackle is prohibited on stream banks except during legal fishing hours. Each angler permitted only one rod or pole. |
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Citico Creek from its confluence with Little Citico Creek upstream to the confluence of North and South Forks of Citico Creek. |
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Green Cove Pond Handicapped – any person who is mentally impaired or physically impaired (including blindness) because of injury or disease, congenital or acquired, which permanently renders him/her so severely disabled as to be unable to move without aid of crutches or a wheelchair, or a person who has 80% permanent impairment of a hand or arm as determined by a physician using the standards outlined in the “Guide to Evaluations of Permanent Rating,” published by the AMA or other acceptable rating system. |
Fishing limited to handicapped individuals, children under age 13 and adults 65 years of age and older. Tellico-Citico Permit required year-round. Closed on Thursday and Friday year-round (except open on all state and national holidays and scheduled special organized handicapped or children’s fishing events). Hours open – ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset. Daily creel limit of 7 trout, with no length limit. Bait restriction – no minnows. Each angler permitted only one rod or pole. |
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Regulations |
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North River and tributaries (Monroe County). Bald River and tributaries (Monroe County). Sycamore Creek (tributary to Tellico River in Monroe County) and tributaries. Laurel Fork and tributaries beginning at the cable crossing ½ mile upstream from the USFS Dennis Cove Recreation Area and extending upstream (Carter County). Beaverdam Creek and tributaries from its confluence with Birch Branch downstream to Tank Hollow Road (USFS Rd. 300) (Johnson County). Paint Creek and tributaries from USFS campground upstream to USFS Boundary line south of Highway 70 near Munday Gap (Greene County). Rocky Fork and tributaries upstream of the main entrance gate (Greene/Unicoi Counties). Left Prong (tributary to Hampton Creek in Carter County). |
Daily creel limit of 5 trout with no length limit. Only single-hook artificial lures are permitted. Use or possession of bait or multiple hook lures is prohibited. One single-hook artificial lure separated from a legal lure by a length of line (for example: a dropper fly) is also permitted. Fishing permitted from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset. Each angler permitted only one rod or pole. |
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All Streams in Cherokee Wildlife Management Area |
Each angler permitted only one rod or pole. |
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Tailwater Trout TWRA stocks fingerling and adult trout into coldwater tailwaters below dams to provide fishing opportunities. In many tailwaters trout fishing can be good year-round. Trout are stocked routinely during the following months. Use caution below dams. Call TVA at 1-800-238-2264 to check dam discharge and generation schedules. |
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River |
Below |
Trout Species |
Stocking Schedule |
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Elk River |
Tims Ford Dam |
rainbow and brown |
March through November |
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Duck River |
Normandy Dam |
rainbow |
November through June* |
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Stones River |
J. Percy Priest Dam |
rainbow |
December through March* |
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Caney Fork River |
Center Hill Dam |
rainbow, brown, and brook |
March through December |
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Obey River |
Dale Hollow Dam |
rainbow, brown, and brook |
January through December |
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Hiwassee River |
Appalachian Dam |
rainbow and brown |
January through December |
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Ocoee River |
Ocoee Dam #1—Parksville |
rainbow |
March and April* |
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Clinch River |
Norris Dam |
rainbow, brown, and brook |
March through September |
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Holston River |
Cherokee Dam |
rainbow and brown |
November through April |
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S. Holston River |
Fort Patrick Henry Dam |
rainbow and brown |
March and April |
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S. Holston River |
S. Holston Dam |
rainbow |
March through September |
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Watauga River |
Wilbur Dam |
rainbow and brown |
March through September |
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Wilbur Reservoir |
Watauga Dam |
rainbow |
February through June |
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*Seasonal fishery – only productive during stocked months. |
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Gatlinburg Trout Fishing
TWRA and the City of Gatlinburg offer a variety of trout fishing opportunities in four streams. All streams are closed on Thursday each week and a Gatlinburg permit is required (see License Information). Some areas are managed especially for children 12 and under. For more information contact the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce, (800)568-4748 or the Gatlinburg trout facility at (865)436-4558.
The taking of trout using a Gatlinburg Permit is allowed only within the designated streams, designated times, and under the restrictions listed in the following paragraphs.
- » General Streams
- West Prong Little Pigeon River from Park Boundary to Gnatty Branch except those sections set aside as Children’s Streams.
- Dudley Creek from Park Boundary to West Prong Little Pigeon River, except those sections set aside as Children’s Streams.
- Roaring Fork from the Park Boundary to West Prong Little Pigeon River.
- Leconte Creek from Painter Branch to West Prong Little Pigeon River.
- » Children’s Streams
(May only be fished by children 12 and under, unless otherwise posted.) - Leconte Creek from Painters Branch upstream to Park Boundary.
- West Prong Little Pigeon River from 100 yards above entrance of Herbert Holt Park downstream to Gatlinburg By-pass Bridge.
- Dudley Creek from Highway 441 Bridge to West Prong Little Pigeon River.
- » Season and Creel Limits
Fishing permitted year-round, except on Thursday, from ½ hour before official sunrise to ½ hour after official sunset. Fishing is permitted with one hand-held rod and single hook only.
From December 1 through March 31:
- Possession of any trout shall be prohibited.
- All trout caught must be immediately returned to the water.
- Use or possession of bait is prohibited. Use or possession of any artificial lures other than single hook artificial flies, spinners, and spoons is prohibited. The use of one dropper fly having a single hook which is separated from a legal lure by a length of line is permissible.
From April 1 through November 30:
- General Streams: The creel limit is five (5) trout per day. Bait and artificial lures permitted.
- Children’s Streams: The creel limit is two (2) per day.
- Total possession limit shall not exceed twice the daily creel limit.
- While fishing or when afield, possession of more than the daily creel limit shall be prohibited, regardless of whether the trout are fresh, stored in an ice chest, in a vehicle, or otherwise preserved.
Regulations in red are new this year.
Purple text indicates an important note.
