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 TWRA Lake Fishing permit is required in addition to a fishing license to use these lakes. TWRA Lake Fishing permit is not required at Garrett and Whiteville Lakes. All TN residents ages 16 to 64, and nonresidents ages 16 years or older must have a TWRA Lake Fishing permit. A Daily TWRA Lake Fishing permit is $6.00, and an Annual TWRA Lake Fishing permit is $48.00 (Lake Halford has specific use permits that are required). 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. Permits may be purchase at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com or at any of the lake’s concessionaires.
At Lake Halford, a daily or annual permit specified for Lake Halford is required for fishing or any other recreational use where allowed to the area except those under 16 years of age and residents 65 years or older. At Lake Halford recreational boating, personal watercraft, water-skiing, and swimming are allowed.
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 watercraft, water skiing, and swimming are prohibited. Houseboats, sailboats and inboard cruisers are prohibited. Boats may be rented for $10.00 per day at some lakes on a seasonal basis. There is no charge for paddles. On Coy Gaither-Bedford, Marrowbone, VFW and Williamsport lakes, only trolling motors can be used.
Tackle
Only rods and reels, poles, hand-held lines, and jugs may be used (see jug fishing rules at TWRA lakes.) Snagging is prohibited.
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) |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
||
2 |
Carroll Lake (731-423-5725) |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
||
3 |
Coy Gaither-Bedford Lake (615-781-6622) |
• |
• |
• |
• |
||||
4 |
Davy Crockett Lake (Crockett Co.) (731-423-5725) |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
||
5 |
Garrett Lake (731-423-5725) |
• |
• |
• |
• |
||||
6 |
Gibson County Lake (731-423-5725) |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
7 |
Glenn Springs Lake (731-423-5725) |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
8 |
Lake Halford (731-423-5725) Carrol Co. 5 miles SW of Huntington Hwy 70. (985 acres) |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
|||
9 |
Herb Parsons Lake (731-423-5725) |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
|||
10 |
Lake Graham (731-423-5725) |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
11 |
Laurel Hill Lake (931-762-7200) |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
12 |
Maples Creek Lake (731-423-5725) |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
||
13 |
Marrowbone Lake (615-410-6193 or 615-781-6622) |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
|
14 |
VFW Lake (931-762-7200) |
• |
• |
• |
|||||
15 |
Whiteville Lake (731-423-5725) |
• |
• |
• |
• |
||||
16-19 |
Williamsport Lakes (4 lakes) (931-583-2477) |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
• |
|
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 Sunfish: 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 Sunfish: 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, five (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 Sunfish: 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: No creel limit, only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested.
- Bluegill: No creel or length limit.
- Redear Sunfish: 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 Sunfish: 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 Sunfish: 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 Sunfish: 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 Sunfish: 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 Sunfish: 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 Sunfish: 10 fish per day, no length limit.
- Crappie (all species): 20 fish per day, only five (5) fish longer than 12 inches may be harvested.
- Blue/Channel Catfish: Five (5) per day, 16 inch 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 Sunfish: 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 Sunfish: 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: 10 per day, no length limit.
- Bluegill: No creel or length limit.
- Redear Sunfish: 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 Sunfish: 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 Sunfish: 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 Sunfish: 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.
Tennessee's Lake Sturgeon Project
Lake Sturgeon are a primitive species that can grow to 8 feet in length, weigh up to 300 pounds, and live for 150 years. Since 2000, over 300,000 Lake Sturgeon have been stocked into the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. These stocking efforts are designed to restore reproducing populations of this primitive species. This species is known to travel long distances, so it is very likely that anglers could catch lake sturgeon in other waters of the state.
Angler reports are important to TWRA because they provide important information needed to monitor the success of Tennessee’s Lake Sturgeon program.
If you catch a Lake Sturgeon, please be as careful as possible not to harm the fish-avoid holding the Lake Sturgeon by their tails and remember fish cannot breathe while they are out of the water. Lake Sturgeon are threatened in Tennessee and should be released immediately. If possible, note an approximate length before the fish is released. Additionally, a photo of your catch would be appreciated if you can do so without harming the fish.
You can email details (including photos) of your catch to [email protected] or refer to your local regional office number. In gratitude of your efforts, you will receive a Certificate of Appreciation from the TWRA.
tn.gov/twra/wildlife/fish/sturgeon.html
Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers
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.
[email protected]
Please provide a location and picture of the fish if possible.
