Waterbody · Tennessee
Caney Fork River Fishing Regulations 2026
Caney Fork River fishing regulations in 2026: top targets are striped bass, trout. 153 current rules across 14 species from TWRA.
Rules (153)
TWRA regulates 153 rules across 14 species at this water.
Trout
Acorn LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Season opens
- Dec 1
- Season closes
- Mar 31
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
April 1–Nov. 30
All StreamsCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
From Dec. 1 through March 31: All trout caught must be immediately returned to the water. From Dec. 1 through March 31: 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.
Bald River
- Daily bag
- 5
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Use or possession of bait or multi-ple hook lures is prohibited.
Beaverdam Creek
- Daily bag
- 5
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Use or possession of bait or multi-ple hook lures is prohibited.
Chilhowee Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 7 fish/day
only two (2) may be lake trout.
Dudley Creek From Highway 441 Bridge To West Prong Little Pigeon River
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
From April 1 through Nov. 30: Children’s Streams
Green Cove Pond
- Daily bag
- 7 trout
Daily creel limit of seven (7) trout, with no length limit.
Laurel Fork
- Daily bag
- 5
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Use or possession of bait or multi-ple hook lures is prohibited.
Leconte Creek From Painters Branch Upstream To Park Boundary
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
From April 1 through Nov. 30: Children’s Streams
Left Prong
- Daily bag
- 5
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Use or possession of bait or multi-ple hook lures is prohibited.
Little Stony Creek
- Daily bag
- 5
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Use or possession of bait or multi-ple hook lures is prohibited.
Montgomery Bell State Park: Acorn LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Catch-and-release season from Dec. 1– March 31
North River
- Daily bag
- 5
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Use or possession of bait or multi-ple hook lures is prohibited.
Paint Creek
- Daily bag
- 5
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Use or possession of bait or multi-ple hook lures is prohibited.
Rocky Fork
- Daily bag
- 5
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Use or possession of bait or multi-ple hook lures is prohibited.
Rough Ridge Creek
- Daily bag
- 5
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Use or possession of bait or multi-ple hook lures is prohibited.
South Holston (Tn + Va Rules)
- Daily bag
- 7 fish/day
only two (2) may be Lake Trout.
Sycamore Creek
- Daily bag
- 5
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Use or possession of bait or multi-ple hook lures is prohibited.
Tellico
- Daily bag
- 7 fish/day
- Possession
- 2 fish/day
only two (2) may be Lake Trout.
Tellico River
- Daily bag
- 7 trout
Daily creel limit of seven (7) trout, with no length limit.
Watauga Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 7 fish/day
only two (2) may be Lake Trout.
West Prong Little Pigeon River From North Park Lane Bridge (Herbert Holt Park) Downstream To Gatlinburg Bypass Bridge
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
From April 1 through Nov. 30: Children’s Streams
Tennessee statewideOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 5 trout/day
From April 1 through Nov. 30: Bait and artificial lures permitted. From April 1 through Nov. 30
Striped Bass
Cordell Hull
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 32"
- Slot max
- 42"
Only one (1) fish may be over 42 inches.
Melton Hill
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 32"
- Slot max
- 42"
only one (1) fish may be over 42 inches PLR
Melton Hill Reservoir
- Slot min
- 32"
- Slot max
- 42"
32–42 inch PLR; only one (1) fish may be over 42 inches.
South Holston Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 36"
Nov. 1–March 31
Watts BarOut of season
- Season opens
- Nov 1
- Season closes
- Mar 31
- Min size
- 36"
Nov. 1–March 31: 36 inch minimum length limit.
Rainbow Trout
Caney Fork River: Center Hill Dam To Cumberland River, Including Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
longer than 20 inches may be harvested
Caney Fork River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
only one longer than 20 inches may be harvested. PLR
Clear Creek: Tributary To Clinch River (Anderson County)
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
in combination
Doe River (Carter Co.)Open
- Status
- Permitted
Trout harvested in these waters shall only be used as bait in the water from which the trout were harvested
Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir: Boone Dam Downstream To Louis Milhorn Bridge On Beulah Church Drive
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 22"
North River (Monroe Co.)Open
- Status
- Permitted
Trout harvested in these waters shall only be used as bait in the water from which the trout were harvested
South Fork Holston River From South Holston Dam To Boone DamOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Trout harvested in these waters shall only be used as bait in the water from which the trout were harvested
Watauga River From Watauga Dam To Boone DamOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Trout harvested in these waters shall only be used as bait in the water from which the trout were harvested
Brown Trout
Caney Fork River: Center Hill Dam To Cumberland River, Including Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 24"
Clear Creek: Tributary To Clinch River (Anderson County)
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
in combination
Elk River: Tims Ford Dam To I-65 Bridge, Including Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir: Boone Dam Downstream To Louis Milhorn Bridge On Beulah Church Drive
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 22"
Hiwassee River
- Daily bag
- 2 trout
March 1 through Sept. 30: only two (2) may be Brown Trout.
Hiwassee River: Appalachian Powerhouse Downstream To L&N Railroad Bridge
- Daily bag
- 2 fish
March 1 through Sept. 30
Brook Trout
Caney Fork River: Center Hill Dam To Cumberland River, Including Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
longer than 20 inches may be harvested
Caney Fork River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
only one longer than 20 inches may be harvested. PLR
Clear Creek: Tributary To Clinch River (Anderson County)
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
- Min size
- 7"
in combination
Walleye
Caney Fork River (Headwaters Of Center Hill Reservoir)Out of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Possession
- 3 rods and reels or poles
- Gear
- Single Pointed Hooks
Anglers restricted to use of one (1) hook having a single barb or lure containing a single hook with one barb from Jan. 1–April 30. No more than three (3) rods and reels or poles may be used.
Caney Fork RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- Jan 1
- Season closes
- Apr 30
- Possession
- 3 rods and reels or poles
- Gear
- Barbless
Anglers restricted to use of one (1) hook having a single barb or lure containing a single hook with one barb from Jan. 1–April 30 No more than three (3) rods and reels or poles may be used
Cutthroat Trout
Caney Fork River: Center Hill Dam To Cumberland River, Including Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
longer than 20 inches may be harvested
Caney Fork River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 20"
only one longer than 20 inches may be harvested. PLR
All Species
Caney Fork River In Cumberland CountyClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Crayfish harvested from this stream and its tributaries shall not be possessed away from the watershed from which they were harvested
Caney Fork RiverClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
- Season opens
- Apr 1
- Season closes
- Sep 30
- Daily bag
- 10 jugs/day
- Possession
- 10 jugs/day
Fishing with jug lines is prohibited. Memorial Day, July 3rd through July 5th, and Labor Day Fishing with jug lines will be prohibited on Fridays after 12 noon until 12 midnight on Sundays. April 1 through Sept. 30 On days open to jug fishing, each boat is limited to 10 jugs per day
Muskellunge
Caney Fork River (Above Center Hill Dam) And Tributaries Including Collins River, Calfkiller River, Rocky River, Cane Creek, And Their Tributaries
- Min size
- 50"
Crayfish
Caney Fork River In Cumberland CountyClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
The harvest, use, and possession of crayfish is prohibited in the following streams, in all of their tributaries, and on all adjacent banks
Crappie (All Species)
Trout (All Species)
Caney Fork River: Center Hill Dam To Cumberland River, Including Tributaries
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
in combination
Plus 2 more species. See the Tennessee pillar page for the full list.
FAQ
Who regulates fishing on Caney Fork River?
TWRA regulates fishing on Caney Fork River.
What species can I target on Caney Fork River?
Caney Fork River is best known for striped bass, trout. Other species are present and tracked in the rule tables below.
Where should I verify these rules?
These rules summarize TWRA's published content. Always confirm with the official source before keeping a catch.
Reference only. Regulations change mid-season. Always verify with the official source before keeping a catch.