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Tennessee › Fishing › TWRA Fishing Lakes Information

TWRA Fishing Lakes Information

Nineteen 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 30 minutes before official sunrise and close 30 minutes after official sunset, except Garrett Lake which is open 24 hours a day. Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day the following lakes are closed: Gibson Co., Glenn Springs, and Lake Graham.

Permits

A daily lake permit of $6.00 (available at most lakes), in addition to the regular fishing license, is required to use these lakes. At Lake Halford, a daily or annual permit specified for Lake Halford is required for anyone using the area for recreation (available online). A lake permit is not required at Garrett and Whiteville lakes. All residents 16 through 64 years of age, and nonresidents 16 years of age or older must have a permit. Sportsman license and lifetime license holders do not need a lake permit. Resident anglers 65 years of age and older do not need a permit, but do need a fishing license. A $48.00 Annual Lake Permit may also be purchased at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com or many of the lakes with concessionaires, and is good at all TWRA fishing lakes except Lake Halford. A Lake Halford permit must be purchased by anyone using the area for recreation. For Coy Gaither-Bedford Lake, a Bedford Lake 1 Day permit should be purchased online at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com or from a license agent in the surrounding area before going to the lake.

Alcoholic beverages are prohibited at all agency lakes.

Boats used for any activity other than fishing are prohibited, except for hunting on specific lakes during the regular hunting season as listed in the Tennessee Fishing and Hunting Guide. 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. At Lake Halford recreational boating, personal watercraft, water-skiiing and swimming are allowed.

Boats may be rented for $10.00 per day at some lakes on a seasonal basis. There is no charge for 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). Snagging is prohibited.

Tennessee TWRA fishing lake locations map.

TWRA Fishing Lakes Locations and Facilities

See more details at www.tn.gov/twra/fishing/where-to-fish

Licenses Sold

Permit Required

Rental Boats

Outboards Permitted

Launching Ramp

Fishing Piers

Picnic Areas

Bait & Tackle

1

Browns Creek Lake (731-423-5725)
Henderson Co. 10 miles S of I-40 in the Natchez Trace State Park. (167 acres)

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2

Carroll Lake (731-423-5725)
Carroll Co. 4 miles E of McKenzie on Hwy 22. (100 acres)

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3

Coy Gaither-Bedford Lake (615-781-6622)
Bedford Co. 10 miles SE of Shelbyville on Hwy 269. (47 acres)

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4

Davy Crockett Lake (Crockett Co.) (731-423-5725)
Crockett Co. 5 miles W of Humboldt on Hwy 152. (87 acres)

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5

Garrett Lake (731-423-5725)
Weakley Co. 7 miles E of Dresden on Hwy 54. (183 acres)

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6

Gibson County Lake (731-423-5725)
Gibson Co. 5 miles E of Trenton off of Vaughns Grove Rd. (560 acres)

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7

Glenn Springs Lake (731-423-5725)
Tipton Co. 12 miles NE of Millington on Glenn Springs Rd. (310 acres)

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8

Lake Halford (731-423-5725) Carrol Co. 5 miles SW of Huntington Hwy 70. (985 acres)

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9

Herb Parsons Lake (731-423-5725)
Fayette Co. 15 miles N of Collierville on Collierville-Arlington Rd. (177 acres)

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10

Lake Graham (731-423-5725)
Madison Co. 9 miles E of Jackson on Cotton Grove Rd. (500 acres)

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11

Laurel Hill Lake (931-762-7200)
Lawrence Co. 15 miles W of Lawrenceburg on Hwy 64. (325 acres)

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12

Maples Creek Lake (731-423-5725)
Carroll Co. 4 miles N of I-40 in Natchez Trace State Park. (90 acres)

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13

Marrowbone Lake (615-410-6193 or 615-781-6622)
Davidson Co. 6 miles N of Joelton off of Hwy 41-A. (60 acres)

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14

VFW Lake (931-762-7200)
Lawrence Co. 12 miles W of Lawrenceburg off of Hwy 64. (22 acres)

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15

Whiteville Lake (731-423-5725)
Hardeman Co. 2 miles S of Whiteville on Hwy 64. (158 acres)

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16-19

Williamsport Lakes (4 lakes) (931-583-2477)
Maury Co. 8.5 miles NW of Columbia on Hwy 50. (164 acres total)

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Protected Length Range (PLR)

PLR is a Protected Length Range. Fish in this length range may not be harvested. To promote growth of bigger bass in these lakes, anglers are encouraged to harvest their daily limit of bass shorter than the listed PLR.

Statewide regulations apply for any species not listed.

Browns Creek Lake

  • Largemouth Bass: 10 per day, 18–25 inch PLR. Only one (1) fish longer than 25 inches may be harvested.
  • Bluegill/Redear: 10 per day, no minimum length limit.
  • Crappie (all species): no creel or minimum length limit.
  • Blue/Channel Catfish: Five (5) per day in combination, no length limit

Carroll Lake

  • Largemouth Bass: No creel or length limit, Only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested.
  • Bluegill/Redear: 20 per day in combination, no length limit.
  • Crappie (all species): No creel limit; no length limit.
  • Blue/Channel Catfish: Five (5) per day in combination, no length limit.
  • Walleye: 16 inch minimum length limit, 5 fish creel limit.

Coy Gaither-Bedford Lake

  • Largemouth Bass: Five (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: Five (5) per day in combination, 14 inch minimum length limit.

Davy Crockett Lake (Crockett Co.)

  • Largemouth 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: Five (5) per day in combination, no length limit.

Garrett Lake

  • Largemouth Bass: No creel or length limit, 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): No creel or length limit
  • Blue/Channel Catfish: Five (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: Five (5) per day in combination, no length limit.

Glenn Springs Lake

  • Largemouth Bass: No creel or length limit, Only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested.
  • Bluegill/Redear: 20 per day in combination, no length limit.
  • Crappie (all species): No creel or length limit
  • Blue/Channel Catfish: Five (5) per day in combination, no length limit.

Herb Parsons Lake

  • Largemouth Bass: 10 per day, 16–20 inch PLR. Only one (1) fish longer than 20 inches may be harvested.
  • Bluegill/Redear: 10 per day, no length limit.
  • Crappie (all species): No creel or length limit.
  • Blue/Channel Catfish: Five (5) per day in combination, 16 inch minimum length limit.
  • Hybrid Striped Bass: 16 inch minimum length limit. Two (2) fish per day creel limit.

Lake Graham

  • Largemouth Bass: No creel or length limit, 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): No creel or length limit
  • Blue/Channel Catfish: Five (5) per day in combination, no length limit.
  • Trout: Seven (7) per day, no length limit.

Lake Halford

  • Largemouth Bass: 10 fish per day, 18 inch maximum size limit. Only two (2) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested.
  • Bluegill/Redear: 10 fish per day, no length limit.
  • Crappie (all species): No creel no length limit.
  • Blue/Channel Catfish: Five (5) per day , 16 minimum length limit.
  • Jug fishing is prohibited on Lake Halford.

Laurel Hill Lake

One embayment is for youth fishing only, ages 16 and under. Nursery ponds may be closed as posted.

  • Largemouth Bass: Five (5) 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: Five (5) per day in combination, 14 inch minimum length limit.

Maples Creek Lake

  • Largemouth Bass: No creel or length limit, 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): No creel or length limit.
  • Blue/Channel Catfish: Five (5) per day in combination, no length limit.

Marrowbone Lake

  • Largemouth Bass: Five (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: Five (5) per day in combination, no length limit.
  • Trout: Seven (7) per day, no length limit.

VFW Lake

  • Largemouth Bass: Five (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: Five (5) per day in combination, 14 inch minimum length limit.

Whiteville Lake

  • Largemouth Bass: No creel or length limit, 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): No creel or length limit.
  • Blue/Channel Catfish: Five (5) per day in combination, no length limit.

Williamsport Lakes (4 lakes)

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

  • Largemouth Bass: One (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: Five (5) per day in combination, 14 inch minimum length limit.
  • Hybrid Striped Bass: Two (2) per day, 15 inch minimum length limit.

What can you do to prevent the spread of whirling disease?

  • CLEAN. DRAIN. DRY. Clean all equipment, such as waders, fishing gear, boats, trailers, and float tubes of mud before leaving an area when fishing. Careful cleaning using disinfectants such as bleach will kill this parasite and many other aquatic nuisance species. Drain water from all motor units, live wells and buckets.
  • DO NOT transport live fish from one waterbody to another.
  • DO dispose of fish parts carefully when cleaning fish (dry disposal in garbage is best).
  • CONTACT US if you observe signs of whirling disease in fish at [email protected]. Please provide a location and picture of the fish if possible.
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