Tennessee regulations
Smallmouth Bass Regulations in Tennessee 2026
Tennessee Smallmouth Bass regulations: Daily bag 5 fish/day, Possession 1 fish, Slot min 13 inches. Sourced from TWRA.
Rules (96)
Clinch River
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
13–17 inch PLR, only one (1) greater than 17 inches
Clinch River: Hwy. 25e Upstream To State Line
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one (1) greater than 17 inches
Dale Hollow
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 21"
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. Includes Wolf River upstream to South Ford Road bridge.
French Broad River
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
13–17 inch PLR, only one (1) greater than 17 inches
French Broad River (From Hwy 321 Bridge At Newport Upstream To Nc State Line)
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one (1) greater than 17 inches
French Broad River (Hwy. 168 To Douglas Dam)
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 18"
Holston River
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
13–17 inch PLR for Smallmouth Bass, only one (1) Smallmouth Bass over 17 inches per day
Holston River (I-40 Bridge Upstream To Cherokee Dam And John Sevier Dam Upstream To North Fork Holston River)
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one (1) Smallmouth Bass over 17 inches per day
John Sevier
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one (1) Smallmouth bass over 17 inches per day PLR
John Sevier Reservoir
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
13–17 inch PLR, only one (1) Smallmouth bass over 17 inches per day.
Little Pigeon River (From Mouth Upstream To The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Boundary, Including The West Prong And East Fork Of The Little Pigeon River)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
Little River
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
13–17 inch PLR for Smallmouth Bass, only one (1) Smallmouth Bass over 17 inches per day
Little River (Rockford Dam Upstream To Great Smoky Mountains National Park Boundary)
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one (1) Smallmouth Bass over 17 inches per day
Nolichucky River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
over 17 inches
Nolichucky River (Enka Dam Upstream To State Line, Includes Davy Crockett Lake)
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one (1) Smallmouth Bass over 17 inches per day
North Fork Holston River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
over 17 inches
North Fork Holston River (Confluence With South Fork Holston River Upstream To State Line)
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one Smallmouth Bass over 17 inches per day
Pigeon River (From Hwy 321 Bridge At Newport Upstream To Nc State Line)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
Powell River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
over 17 inches
Powell River (Gap Creek Confluence Upstream To State Line)
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one (1) Smallmouth Bass over 17 inches per day
South Fork Holston River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
over 17 inches
South Fork Holston River (Confluence With North Fork Holston River Upstream To Fort Patrick Henry Dam)
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 17"
only one (1) Smallmouth Bass over 17 inches per day
South Holston Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Oct. 16–May 31
Wolf River (South Ford Road Bridge Downstream To Dale Hollow Reservoir)
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 21"
one under 16 inches and one over 21 inches
Other Tennessee fish regulations
Other regulated species in Tennessee with current rule pages — same TWRA source, same verification cadence.
- Largemouth Bass130 rules
- Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow)107 rules
- Walleye54 rules
- Bluegill (Sunfish)44 rules
- Channel Catfish39 rules
- Crappie (Black & White)23 rules
- Blue Catfish22 rules
- Muskie (Muskellunge)14 rules
- Lake Sturgeon3 rules
Also known as
Smallmouth Bass is also called smallies. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in Tennessee.
Frequently asked questions
When is Smallmouth Bass season in Tennessee?
Smallmouth Bass season in Tennessee is set by TWRA. Some zones may have specific open windows; see the rule table above.
What is the size limit for Smallmouth Bass in Tennessee?
Minimum size for Smallmouth Bass in Tennessee is 15 inches in Barkley, per TWRA. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Smallmouth Bass in Tennessee?
Daily bag limit for Smallmouth Bass in Tennessee is 5 fish/day in Cherokee, per TWRA.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/guides/25TNAB_LR_2025-08-20-170518_amcm.pdf
- https://www.eregulations.com/assets/docs/guides/25TNAB_LR.pdf
- https://www.eregulations.com/tennessee/fishing/region-4
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with TWRA before keeping a catch.