Waterbody · Tennessee
Watts Bar Lake Fishing Regulations 2026
Watts Bar Lake fishing regulations in 2026: top targets are largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie. 198 current rules across 15 species from TWRA.
Rules (198)
TWRA regulates 198 rules across 15 species at this water.
Largemouth Bass
Acorn LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
no minimum length limit
Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness Wma Ponds
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 16"
only one (1) fish 16 inches or longer may be harvested
Browns Creek Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 18"
- Slot max
- 25"
only one fish longer than 25 inches may be harvested only one (1) fish longer than 25 inches may be harvested PLR
Carroll LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
no creel limit only one fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested
Coy Gaither-Bedford Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 18"
only one fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested PLR
Davy Crockett LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Max size
- 18"
No limit — no creel only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested per day.
Davy Crockett Lake (Crockett Co.)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
no creel limit only one fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested
Fall Creek Falls Lake
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 16"
Only one (1) fish longer than 16 inches may be harvested Only one (1) fish longer than 16 inches may be harvested.
Garrett LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
no creel limit only one fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested
Gibson County Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 18"
- Slot max
- 24"
only one fish longer than 24 inches may be harvested only one (1) fish longer than 24 inches may be harvested PLR
Glenn Springs LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
no creel limit only one fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested
Herb Parsons Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 20"
only one fish longer than 20 inches may be harvested only one (1) fish longer than 20 inches may be harvested PLR
Indian Boundary Lake
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 16"
only one (1) fish 16 inches or longer may be harvested
Lake GrahamOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
no creel limit only one fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested
Lake Halford
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
- Possession
- 2 fish
- Max size
- 18"
only two fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested only two (2) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested
Lake Kefauver
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 16"
only one (1) fish 16 inches or longer may be harvested
Laurel Hill Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 13"
- Slot max
- 18"
only one fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested PLR
Maples Creek LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
no creel limit only one fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested
Marrowbone LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
no length limit.
Pin Oak Lake
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
- Slot min
- 18"
- Slot max
- 25"
only one (1) fish longer than 25 inches may be harvested
Poplar Tree Lake
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 18"
only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested
Travis McNatt LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Min size
- 16"
No creel limit, only one (1) fish longer than 16 inches may be harvested only one (1) fish longer than 16 inches may be harvested
Whiteville LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Possession
- 1 fish
no creel limit only one fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested only one (1) fish longer than 18 inches may be harvested
Woodhaven Lake
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
- Slot min
- 18"
- Slot max
- 25"
only one (1) fish longer than 25 inches may be harvested
Striped Bass
Watts BarOut of season
- Season opens
- Nov 1
- Season closes
- Mar 31
- Min size
- 36"
Nov. 1–March 31: 36 inch minimum length limit.
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
Crappie
Davy Crockett LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 30 fish/day
no length limit
Forked Deer River (Includes Tributaries)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 30 fish/day
no length limit
French Broad River (From Hwy 321 Bridge At Newport Upstream To Nc State Line)
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
Hatchie River (Includes Tributaries)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 30 fish/day
no length limit
Loosahatchie River (Includes Tributaries)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 30 fish/day
no length limit
Mississippi River
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
creel limit 50, no length limit
Mississippi River (Includes Adjacent Sloughs, Bayous, And All River Runs And Chutes, That Are Accessible By Boat From The River Proper)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
no length limit
Mississippi River And Its Backwaters Within The Boundaries Of The Other State And Any Oxbow Lakes Through Which The Missouri-Tennessee Boundary Passes (Missouri Reciprocal Agreement)
- Daily bag
- 50
Obion River (Includes Tributaries)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 30 fish/day
no length limit
Region 1 - West Tennessee
- Daily bag
- 30 fish/day
unless otherwise noted for specific waters
Wolf River (Includes Tributaries)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 30 fish/day
no length limit
Tennessee statewide
- Daily bag
- 15 fish/day
- Min size
- 10"
all species combined
Paddlefish
Watts BarOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Season opens
- May 1
- Season closes
- May 15
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
Culling is prohibited.
All Species
Watts Bar Reservoir From Us-321 Bridge Upstream To Fort Loudon DamClosed
- Status
- Closed
Closed to snagging from March 15 through April 30 and May 16 through May 31.
Watts BarOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Waterfowl hunting allowed from temporary blinds only. No blinds, blind materials, boats, or decoys may be left overnight.
Emory River (Watts Bar Tributary)Closed
- Status
- Closed
Closed from Jan. 1 to April 30 from the Highway 27 Bridge at Harriman upstream to Highway 299 Bridge at Oakdale.
Striped Bass Or Hybrid Striped Bass
Watts BarOut of season
- Season opens
- Nov 1
- Season closes
- Mar 31
Nov. 1–March 31: Two (2) per day in combination, only one (1) may be a Striped Bass.
Black Bass
Sauger
Catfish (All Species)
Watts Bar
- Max size
- 34"
No creel limit for fish 34 inches and less in length
Bluegill/Warmouth And Other Sunfishes
Crappie (All Species)
White Bass
Plus 3 more species. See the Tennessee pillar page for the full list.
FAQ
Who regulates fishing on Watts Bar Lake?
TWRA regulates fishing on Watts Bar Lake.
What species can I target on Watts Bar Lake?
Watts Bar Lake is best known for largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie. 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.