Waterbody · Tennessee
Watts Bar Lake Fishing Regulations 2026
Watts Bar Lake fishing regulations as of 2026-05-08: 198 current rules from TWRA. Anglers target largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie.
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
Barkley
- Min size
- 15"
Boone
- Min size
- 15"
Boone Reservoir
- Min size
- 15"
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
C. M. Gooch Unit E Lake
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Campbell Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 12"
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
Casper Lake
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
- Min size
- 16"
Center Hill
- Min size
- 15"
Cheatham
- Min size
- 14"
Cherokee
- Min size
- 15"
Cherokee Reservoir
- Min size
- 15"
Chickamauga Reservoir
- Min size
- 15"
Cordell Hull
- Min size
- 15"
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
Dale Hollow
- Min size
- 15"
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
Dogwood Lake
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 16"
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
Great Falls
- Min size
- 15"
Guntersville Reservoir
- Min size
- 15"
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
Kentucky Lake
- Min size
- 15"
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
Land Between The Lakes
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
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.
Melton Hill
- Min size
- 14"
Melton Hill Reservoir
- Min size
- 14"
New Lake
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Nickajack Reservoir
- Min size
- 15"
Normandy
- Min size
- 15"
Norris
- Min size
- 14"
Old Hickory
- Min size
- 14"
Parksville
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Parksville Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Percy Priest
- Min size
- 15"
Pickwick
- Min size
- 15"
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
Pine Lake
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
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
Redbud Lake
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
- Slot min
- 12"
- Slot max
- 16"
Reelfoot
- Min size
- 15"
Reelfoot Watershed Lake #18
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
South Holston
- Min size
- 14"
South Holston Reservoir
- Min size
- 14"
Tellico
- Min size
- 12"
Tims Ford
- Min size
- 15"
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
Vfw LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 5 fish/day
no length limit.
Watauga
- Min size
- 12"
Watauga Reservoir
- Min size
- 12"
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
Williamsport Lakes
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
Williamsport Lakes (4 Lakes)
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
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.
Boone
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 36"
Boone Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 36"
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.
Mississippi River
- Daily bag
- 6 fish/day
Norris
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 36"
Nov. 1–March 31
South Holston
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 36"
Nov. 1–March 31
South Holston Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 36"
Nov. 1–March 31
Tennessee statewide
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
statewide
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
- Daily bag
- 50 fish/day
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
Indian Boundary LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No creel or 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
Poplar Tree Lake
- Daily bag
- 30 fish/day
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
Watts Bar Reservoir
- Min size
- 15"
Watts Bar
- Min size
- 15"
Sauger
Watts Bar
- Daily bag
- 10 fish/day
- Min size
- 15"
Catfish (All Species)
Watts Bar
- Max size
- 34"
No creel limit for fish 34 inches and less in length
Bluegill/Warmouth And Other Sunfishes
Watts BarOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No creel or length limit.
Crappie (All Species)
Watts Bar
- Min size
- 10"
White Bass
Watts BarOpen
- Status
- Permitted
no length limit.
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.
When was this last updated?
These rules were last verified against TWRA on 2026-05-08. 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. Last verified .