Trout Regulations

Statewide Regulations

Any combination of trout species:

• Daily Limit: Seven (7)
• Minimum Length Limit: None

Exceptions:

• Only two (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.

Big Soddy Creek: Upstream of Back Valley Road

• Catch-and-release season Oct. 1–Feb. 28.

Buffalo Creek: Mill dam downstream to Buffalo Springs WMA boundary

• Catch-and-release season Oct. 1–Jan. 31.

Doe River: Roan Mountain State Park boundaries

• Catch-and-release season is Oct. 1–Feb. 28.

Hiwassee River: Appalachian Powerhouse downstream to L&N Railroad Bridge

• Catch-and-release season is Oct. 1–Feb. 28.

Montgomery Bell State Park: Acorn Lake

• Trout: Catch-and-release season from Dec. 1– March 31. See Exceptions to Statewide Regulations for more info.

Paint Creek: Paint Creek Campground downstream to mouth at French Broad River

• Catch-and-release season is Oct. 1–Feb. 28.

Piney River: Cumberland Trail State Park downstream to Highway 27 Bridge

• Catch-and-release season is Nov. 1–Feb. 28.

Tellico River: Mouth of North River upstream to the Tennessee - North Carolina state line

• Catch-and-release season is Oct. 1–Feb. 28.

Special Trout Regulations

Caney Fork River: Center Hill Dam to Cumberland River, including tributaries

• Total daily creel of all trout (Rainbow, Brown, Brook and Cutthroat) in combination is five (5) fish.
• Rainbow Trout: Five (5) per day, 14–20 inch PLR, only one longer than 20 inches may be harvested.
• Brook Trout: Five (5) per day, 14–20 inch PLR, only one longer than 20 inches may be harvested.
• Brown Trout: One (1) per day, 24 inch minimum length limit.
• Cutthroat Trout: Five (5) per day, 14–20 inch PLR, only one longer than 20 inches may be harvested.

Elk River: Tims Ford Dam to I-65 bridge, including tributaries

• Brown Trout: 20 inch minimum length limit, One (1) per day.
• Total daily creel limit of all trout species in combination is seven (7) trout.

Clinch River: Norris Dam downstream to Hwy. 61 bridge, including tributaries

• 14–20 inch PLR on all trout.
• Seven (7) trout creel limit, only one trout may be longer than 20 inches.

Clear Creek: tributary to Clinch River (Anderson County)

• From Highway 441 upstream to the second dam (adjacent to the City of Norris Water Tower)—closed from November 1 through March 31 to all fishing; harvest of bait and possession of bait harvesting gear is prohibited.

Buffalo Creek and tributaries within the WMA boundary: (Grainger County)

• From the mill dam upstream—closed year-round to all fishing and harvest of bait. Possession of bait harvesting gear is prohibited.
• From the mill dam downstream—open to fishing year-round by rod and reel method only. Closed year-round to all harvest of bait. Possession of seines, cast nets and minnow/crayfish traps is prohibited.

Hiwassee River: Appalachian Powerhouse downstream to L&N Railroad Bridge

• March 1 through Sept. 30: Seven (7) trout creel limit, only two (2) may be Brown Trout.

South Fork Holston River and Boone Reservoir: South Holston Dam to Boone Dam, including Boone Reservoir upstream to the Highway 11E Bridge (DeVault/Bristol Hwy. Bridge) on the Watauga arm

• 16–22 inch PLR on all trout.
• Seven (7) trout creel limit, only one trout may be longer than 22 inches.
• Nov. 1–Jan. 31: Closed to all fishing 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.

Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir: Boone dam downstream to Louis Milhorn Bridge on Beulah Church Drive

• 16-22 inch PLR for Rainbow and Brown Trout.
• Seven (7) trout creel limit (all species in combination), only one trout may be longer than 22 inches.

Watauga River: Quality Trout Fishing Area Smallings bridge downstream to CSX railroad bridges

• 14 inch minimum length limit.
• Two (2) trout creel limit.
• Use or possession of any bait is prohibited.
• Trout less than 14 inches may not be in possession.

Horse Creek: Greene County, U.S. Forest Service Boundary Line upstream to the junction of Squibb Creek

• Daily limit: seven (7) trout per day, except from May 1–Sep. 30 daily limit is two (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 seven (7) inch minimum 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.

Dillard Ponds

• Four (4) trout per day.
• Each angler limited to one rod or pole.
• Fishing permitted from 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset.

Gatlinburg (see Gatlinburg Trout Fishing section below)

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 Dry Creek, 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 270-798-9824. https://ftcampbell.isportsman.net/Permits.aspx

Gatlinburg Trout Fishing

TWRA and the City of Gatlinburg offer a variety of trout fishing opportunities in four (4) streams. All streams are closed on Thursday each week and a Gatlinburg permit is required (see License Fees). Some areas are managed especially for children 12 and under. For more information contact the Gatlinburg trout facility at (865) 436-7549.

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 (Only children 12 and under may fish, unless otherwise posted.):

• Leconte Creek from Painters Branch upstream to Park Boundary.
• West Prong Little Pigeon River from North Park Lane Bridge (Herbert Holt Park) downstream to Gatlinburg Bypass 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 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset. Fishing is permitted with one (1) hand-held rod and single hook only.

From December 1 through March 31 (all streams):

• 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.