TWRA Managed 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 (except in the recreational zone of Gibson County Lake). 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 page 30 for jug fishing rules at TWRA lakes). Jugging is not allowed on Gibson County Lake. Cast nets, trotlines and limblines are illegal on Agency 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 the listed range 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 the listed range 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: 5 per day, 18–24 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, 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 the listed range 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
Lake Graham
Black Bass: 10 per day, 14–18 inch PLR. Only one (1) fish longer than the listed range 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
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 the listed range 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 the listed range 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
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, 10 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
