TWRA Fishing Lakes

Eighteen TWRA managed lakes, located in Middle and West Tennessee, are open year-round. Some of these lakes are operated by private concessionaires under contract and offer complete services for the fishing public.

• » Hours

The lakes are open to fishing all week. Lakes will open one-half hour before sunrise and close one-half hour after sunset, except Garrett Lake which is open 24 hours a day. Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day the following lakes are closed: Carroll, Gibson Co., Glenn Springs, Herb Parsons, and Lake Graham.

• » Permits

A daily lake permit of $5.00 (available at most lakes), in addition to the regular fishing license, is required to use these lakes, with the exception of Garrett and Whiteville lakes. All residents 16 through 64 years of age, except holders of a Sportsman License and Lifetime Sportsman license, and nonresidents 16 years of age or older must have this permit. Resident anglers 65 years of age and older do not need a lake permit, but do need a fishing license. A $40.00 Annual Lake Permit may also be purchased at the individual lakes, and is good at all TWRA fishing lakes. Coy Gaither-Bedford Lake daily lake permit should be purchased from a license agent in the surrounding area before going to the lake.

Alcoholic beverages are prohibited at all Agency lakes.

Speed boating, personal water craft, water skiing and swimming are prohibited. Houseboats, sailboats and inboard cruisers are prohibited. On Coy Gaither-Bedford, Marrowbone, VFW, and Williamsport lakes, only trolling motors can be used.

Boats may be rented for$8.00 per day at some lakes. There is no charge for boat cushions or paddles.

• » Tackle

Only rods and reels, poles, hand-held lines, and jugs may be used (see Methods Other Than Rod & Reel for jug fishing rules at TWRA lakes). Cast nets, trotlines and limblines are illegal on Agency lakes.

TWRA Fishing Lakes

• Statewide regulations apply for any species not listed.
• PLR is a Protected Length Range. Fish in this length range may not be harvested and only one (1) fish longer than the listed range may be harvested. To promote growth of bigger bass, anglers are encouraged to harvest their daily limit of bass shorter than the listed PLR.
• » Brown’s Creek Lake

Black Bass: 5 per day, 18–24 inch PLR. Only one (1) fish longer than 24 inches may be harvested.

Bluegill: no creel or length limit

Redear: 20 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 30 per day, 10 inch minimum length limit

Blue/Channel Catfish: 5 per day in combination, no length limit

• » Carroll Lake

Black Bass: 5 per day, no length limit

Bluegill: no creel or length limit

Redear: 20 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 30 per day, 10 inch minimum length limit

Blue/Channel Catfish: 5 per day in combination, no length limit

• » Coy Gaither-Bedford Lake

Largemouth Bass: 5 per day, 14–18 inch PLR.
Only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested.

Bluegill/Redear: 20 per day in combination, no length limit

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

Blue/Channel Catfish: 5 per day in combination, 14 inch minimum length limit

• » Davy Crockett Lake (Crockett Co.)

Black Bass: 10 per day, no length limit

Bluegill: no creel or length limit

Redear: 20 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 30 per day, 10 inch minimum length limit

Blue/Channel Catfish: 5 per day in combination, no length limit

• » Garrett Lake

Black Bass: 5 per day, no length limit

Bluegill: no creel or length limit

Redear: 20 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 30 per day, 10 inch minimum length limit

Blue/Channel Catfish: 5 per day in combination, no length limit

• » Gibson County Lake

Largemouth Bass: 10 per day, 18–24 inch PLR. Only one (1) fish longer than 24 inches may be harvested.

Bluegill/Redear: 20 per day in combination, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 30 per day, 10 inch minimum length limit

Blue/Channel Catfish: 5 per day in combination, no length limit

• » Glenn Springs Lake

Black Bass: 10 per day, 14–18 inch PLR. Only one (1) fish longer than the listed range may be harvested.

Bluegill/Redear: 20 per day in combination, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 30 per day, 8 inch minimum length limit

Blue/Channel Catfish: 5 per day in combination, no length limit

• » Herb Parsons Lake

Black Bass: 10 per day, 14–18 inch PLR. Only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested.

Bluegill: no creel or length limit

Redear: 20 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 30 per day, 8 inch minimum length limit

Blue/Channel Catfish: 5 per day in combination, no length limit

• » Lake Graham

Black Bass: 10 per day, 14–18 inch PLR. Only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested.

Bluegill: no creel or length limit

Redear: 20 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 30 per day, 10 inch minimum length limit

Blue/Channel Catfish: 5 per day in combination, no length limit

Trout: 7 per day, no length limit.

• » Laurel Hill Lake

One embayment is for juvenile fishing, only youths 16 and under may fish. Nursery ponds may be closed as posted.

Largemouth Bass: 10 per day, 13–18 inch PLR. Only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested.

Bluegill/Redear: 20 per day in combination, no length limit

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

Blue/Channel Catfish: 5 per day in combination, 14 inch minimum length limit

• » Maples Creek Lake

Black Bass: 5 per day, no length limit

Bluegill: no creel or length limit

Redear: 20 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 30 per day, 10 inch minimum length limit

Blue/Channel Catfish: 5 per day in combination, no length limit

• » Marrowbone Lake

Black Bass: 5 per day, 14–18 inch PLR. Only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested.

Bluegill: no creel or length limit

Redear: 20 per day, no length limit

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

Blue/Channel Catfish: 5 per day in combination, no length limit

Trout: 7 per day, no length limit

• » VFW Lake

Largemouth Bass: 5 per day, no length limit

Bluegill/Redear: 20 per day in combination, no length limit

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

Blue/Channel Catfish: 5 per day in combination, 14 inch minimum length limit

• » Whiteville Lake

Black Bass: 5 per day, no length limit

Bluegill: no creel or length limit

Redear: 20 per day, no length limit

Crappie (all species): 30 per day, 8 inch minimum length limit

Blue/Channel Catfish: 5 per day in combination, no length limit

• » Williamsport Lakes (4 lakes)

Whippoorwill Lake is for juvenile fishing, only youths 16 and under and an accompanying adult may fish. Two wetland ponds, Egret and Heron, are closed to fishing.

Largemouth Bass: 1 per day, 20 inch minimum length limit

Bluegill/Redear: 20 per day in combination, no length limit

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

Blue/Channel Catfish: 5 per day in combination, 14 inch minimum length limit