Region 3

Reservoir Regulations

Reservoir full pool elevation is the boundary between reservoir and tributary streams or rivers for harvest restrictions.

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

Center Hill

• Largemouth/Smallmouth/Spotted Bass: Five (5) per day in combination.
• Largemouth Bass: 15 inch minimum length limit.
• Smallmouth Bass: 18 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 creel limit for fish 34 inches and less in length; only one (1) fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day.
• White Bass: 15 per day, no length limit.
• Yellow Bass: No creel or length limit.
• Walleye: Five (5) per day, 16 inch minimum length limit.
• Muskellunge: One (1) per day, 50 inch minimum length limit.
• Paddlefish: reservoir and its tributaries are closed to taking or possessing Paddlefish.
• 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:

January 1–April 30: on Caney Fork River from Rock Island State Park boat ramp upstream to Great Falls Dam, anglers are restricted to the use of one (1) hook having a single point, or one (1) lure with a single hook with one (1) point. No more than three (3) rods and reels or poles per angler may be used.

Chickamauga

• Largemouth/Smallmouth/Spotted Bass/ Alabama Bass: Five (5) per day in combination, only one (1) may be a Smallmouth Bass.
• Largemouth Bass: 15 inch minimum length limit.
• Smallmouth Bass: One (1) per day, 18 inch minimum length limit.
• Spotted Bass/Alabama Bass: No length limit.
• Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit.
• Catfish (all species): No creel limit for fish 34 inches and less in length; only one (1) 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: Five (5) per day, 16 inch minimum length limit.
• Sauger: 10 per day, 15 inch minimum length limit.
• Paddlefish: Two (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.

Hiwassee Refuge is closed to all forms of use and trespass from Nov. 15 through the last day of Feb., except the wildlife viewing area. During the refuge closure, public entry and fishing are permitted while on the main river channel passing through the refuge.

Cordell Hull

• Largemouth/Smallmouth/Spotted Bass: Five (5) per day in combination.
• Largemouth Bass: 15 inch minimum length limit.
• Smallmouth Bass: 18 inch minimum length limit.
• Spotted Bass: No minimum length.
• Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit.
• Catfish (all species): No creel limit for fish 34 inches and less in length; only one (1) fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day.
• Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass: Two (2) per day in combination.
• Striped Bass: 32–42 inch PLR. Only one (1) 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: Five (5) per day, 16 inch minimum length limit.
• Sauger: 10 per day, 15 inch minimum length limit.
• Paddlefish: Two (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.

Dale Hollow

• All Species: No more than 4 rods and reels per angler may be used.
• Largemouth/Spotted/Smallmouth Bass: Five (5) per day in combination, only two may be Smallmouth Bass.
• Largemouth Bass: 15 inch minimum length limit.
• Spotted Bass: No length limit.
• Smallmouth Bass: Two (2) per day, 16–21 inch PLR. One (1) fish may be under 16 inches and one (1) may be over 21 inches. Includes Wolf River upstream to South Ford Road bridge.
• Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit.
• Catfish (all species): No creel limit for fish 34 inches and less in length; only one (1) fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day.
• White Bass: 15 per day, no length limit.
• Yellow Bass: No creel or length limit.
• Walleye: Five (5) per day, 16 inch minimum length limit.
• Rock Bass: 20 per day, no length limit.
• Redear Sunfish: 20 per day, no length limit.
• Muskellunge: One (1) per day, 50 inch minimum length limit.
• Bluegill/Warmouth and other sunfishes: No creel or length limit.
• Trout: Seven (7) per day, no length limit.

Special Restrictions:

January 1–April 15: On the east fork of the Obey from Compton boat ramp upstream to Hwy. 52 bridge, anglers are restricted to the use of one (1) hook having a single point, or one (1) lure with a single hook with one (1) point. Walleye creel limit is five (5) per day, 16 inch minimum length limit. Only one (1) Walleye over 20 inches may be harvested. No more than three (3) rods and reels or poles per angler may be used.

Great Falls

• Largemouth/Smallmouth/Spotted Bass: Five (5) per day in combination.
• Largemouth Bass: 15 inch minimum length limit.
• Smallmouth Bass: 18 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 creel limit for fish 34 inches and less in length; only one (1) fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day.
• Walleye: Five (5) per day, 16 inch minimum length limit.
• Muskellunge: One (1) per day, 50 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.

Guntersville

• Largemouth/Spotted/Alabama Bass: Five (5) per day in combination, no length limit.
• Smallmouth Bass: 1 per day, 18 inch minimum length limit.
• Crappie (all species): 30 per day in combination, 9 inch minimum length limit.
• Catfish (all species): No creel limit for fish 34 inches and less in length; only one (1) 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: Five (5) per day, 16 inch minimum length limit.
• Sauger: 10 per day, 15 inch minimum length limit.
• Paddlefish: Two (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.

Nickajack

• Largemouth/Smallmouth Bass: Five (5) per day in combination, only one (1) may be Smallmouth Bass.
• Largemouth Bass: 15 inch minimum length limit.
• Smallmouth Bass: One (1) per day, 18 inch minimum length limit.
• Spotted/Alabama Bass: From Chickamauga Dam downstream to mouth of South Chickamauga Creek, 15 per day, no length limit. Rest of reservoir: Five (5) per day, no length limit.
• Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit.
• Catfish (all species): No creel limit for fish 34 inches and less in length; only one (1) fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day.
• Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass: Two (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: Five (5) per day, 16 inch minimum length limit.
• Sauger: 10 per day, 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.

Parksville

• Largemouth/Smallmouth: Five (5) per day in combination.
• Largemouth Bass: 15 inch minimum length limit.
• Smallmouth Bass: 18 inch minimum length limit.
• Spotted/Alabama Bass: No creel or length limits.
• Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit.
• Catfish (all species): No creel limit for fish 34 inches and less in length; only one (1) fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day.
• Muskellunge: One (1) per day, 36 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: Seven (7) per day, no length limit.
• Yellow Perch: 15 per day, no length limit.

Watts Bar

• Largemouth/Smallmouth/Spotted/Alabama Bass: Five (5) per day in combination.
• Largemouth Bass: 15 inch minimum length limit.
• Smallmouth Bass: 18 inch minimum length limit.
• Spotted/Alabama Bass: No length limit.
• Crappie (all species): 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit.
• Catfish (all species): No creel limit for fish 34 inches and less in length; only one (1) fish over 34 inches in length may be harvested per day.
• Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass:
  • April 1–Oct. 31: Two (2) per day in combination.
  • Nov. 1–March 31: Two (2) per day in combination, only one (1) may be a Striped Bass.
• Striped Bass:
  • April 1–Oct. 31: 15 inch minimum length limit.
  • Nov. 1–March 31: 36 inch minimum length limit.

Hybrid Striped Bass: 15 inch minimum length limit.

White Bass: 15 per day, no length limit.

Yellow Bass: No creel or length limit.

Walleye: Five (5) per day, 16 inch minimum length limit.

Sauger: 10 per day, 15 inch minimum length limit.

Paddlefish: One (1) per day; season is open from May 1 through May 15. Culling is prohibited.

Emory River (Watts Bar Reservoir tributary) – Closed to snagging, taking, or possession of Paddlefish or any parts thereof from the mouth of the Emory River upstream to Highway 299 Bridge at Oakdale.

Rock Bass: 20 per day, no length limit.

Redear Sunfish: 20 per day, no length limit.

Muskellunge: One (1) per day, 36 inch minimum length limit.

Bluegill/Warmouth and other sunfishes: No creel or length limit.

SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS:

During January 1 through April 30: On Emory River beginning from the Highway 27 Bridge at Harriman upstream to Highway 299 Bridge at Oakdale, anglers are restricted to the use of one (1) hook having a single point or one (1) lure having no more than one (1) hook with a single point (artificial or bait), and no more than 3 rods and reels or poles may be used by each angler.