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Fly Fishing in Tennessee

50 featured rivers, lakes and streams in Tennessee, each with target species, a hatch chart and a map of nearby access.

Abrams Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Great Smoky Mountains stream with wild rainbow trout. Beautiful Cades Cove area fishing.
Bald River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Trophy trout waters with catch and release section. Beautiful waterfall scenery.
Big South Fork Cumberland (Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass, Musky)
Scenic gorge river with excellent smallmouth bass. National River and Recreation Area.
Boone Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Catfish)
Northeast Tennessee reservoir with good bass and crappie. Family-friendly fishing.
Buffalo River (Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill)
Scenic middle Tennessee river. Excellent smallmouth bass and bluegill fishing.
Caney Fork River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Central Tennessee tailwater with excellent trout fishing. Brown and rainbow trout in scenic canyon.
Center Hill Lake (Striped Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye)
Clear reservoir with excellent striped bass. Good walleye and bass fishing.
Cherokee Lake (Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie)
Northeast Tennessee reservoir with excellent bass fishing. Good crappie in spring.
Chickamauga Lake (Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Crappie)
Chattanooga area reservoir famous for largemouth bass. Tournament fishing destination.
Citico Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Cherokee National Forest stream with wild trout. Remote wilderness fishing experience.
Clear Fork River (Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass)
Big South Fork tributary with excellent smallmouth. Remote canyon fishing.
Clinch River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Excellent tailwater fishery below Norris Dam. Large brown trout and consistent hatches year-round.
Collins River (Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass)
Scenic middle Tennessee stream with smallmouth bass. Good float fishing.
Cosby Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Eastern Smokies stream with wild rainbow trout. Less pressured fishing.
Dale Hollow Lake (Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Walleye)
Clear highland reservoir famous for smallmouth bass. World record smallmouth caught here.
Doe River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Northeast Tennessee mountain stream. Wild trout fishing near Roan Mountain.
Douglas Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Catfish)
Near Sevierville with excellent bass and crappie. Good family fishing destination.
Duck River (Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Rock Bass)
One of the most biodiverse rivers in North America. Excellent smallmouth bass fishing.
Elk River (Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass)
Middle Tennessee stream with smallmouth bass and some trout. Scenic float fishing.
Fort Loudoun Lake (Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Catfish)
Knoxville area reservoir with excellent bass and striper fishing. Good access.
French Broad River (Smallmouth Bass, Musky, Walleye)
Large river with excellent smallmouth bass and musky. Float fishing popular.
Greenbrier Creek (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Less crowded Smokies stream with wild trout. Remote fishing near Greenbrier area.
Harpeth River (Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass)
Nashville area stream with smallmouth bass. Good urban fishing opportunity.
Hiwassee River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Southeast Tennessee tailwater with excellent wade fishing. Good populations of brown and rainbow trout.
Holston River (North Fork) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Mountain stream in northeast Tennessee with wild trout. Remote and scenic fishing.
Holston River (South Fork) (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Above South Holston Lake with wild trout. Less crowded than the famous tailwater below.
Kentucky Lake (TN) (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Catfish)
Large TVA reservoir with excellent bass and crappie. Western Tennessee fishing destination.
Laurel Fork (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Wild trout stream near Hampton. Scenic fishing in Cherokee National Forest.
Little River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout)
Great Smoky Mountains stream with wild rainbow and brown trout. Beautiful freestone fishing.
Lynn Camp Prong (Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Small Smokies stream with native brook trout in headwaters. Beautiful wilderness fishing.
Middle Prong Little River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Tremont area stream with wild trout. Popular but quality fishing in the Smokies.
Nolichucky River (Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout)
Mountain river with excellent smallmouth bass. Whitewater section offers unique fishing.
Norris Lake (Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Walleye)
TVA reservoir with excellent striped bass and walleye. Clear water and scenic shoreline.
North River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Cherokee National Forest stream. Wild trout in beautiful mountain setting.
Obey River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Tailwater below Dale Hollow Dam. Excellent trout fishing in scenic upper Cumberland area.
Ocoee River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Famous whitewater river with trout in upper sections. Olympic venue for kayaking.
Old Hickory Lake (Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, Crappie)
Nashville area reservoir with excellent bass fishing. Good striper runs.
Parksville Lake (Ocoee #1) (Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Walleye)
Mountain reservoir with trout and bass. Scenic fishing in Cherokee National Forest.
Percy Priest Lake (Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Catfish)
Nashville area reservoir with good largemouth bass. Popular recreational destination.
Pigeon River (Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout)
Recovering river with improving trout and bass populations. Near Great Smoky Mountains.
Reelfoot Lake (Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill)
Natural lake formed by 1811 earthquake. Excellent crappie and bass fishing in cypress trees.
South Holston Lake (Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow Trout)
Clear reservoir above famous tailwater. Excellent smallmouth and walleye.
South Holston River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
World-class tailwater with trophy brown trout. Famous sulphur hatches make it a premier dry fly destination.
Stones River (Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass)
Middle Tennessee river near Murfreesboro. Smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing.
Tellico Lake (Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass)
Clear TVA reservoir with excellent bass fishing. Connected to Fort Loudoun Lake.
Tellico River (Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout)
Cherokee National Forest stream with wild trout. Scenic mountain fishing with good access.
Watauga Lake (Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow Trout)
Clear mountain reservoir with excellent smallmouth and walleye. Scenic northeast Tennessee.
Watauga River (Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout)
Northeast Tennessee tailwater below Wilbur Dam. Quality trout fishing with good access.
Watts Bar Lake (Largemouth Bass, Sauger, Catfish)
Large TVA reservoir with diverse fishery. Bass, sauger, and catfish.
West Prong Little Pigeon (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout)
Gatlinburg area stream with wild trout. Good access from Newfound Gap Road.

Fly Fishing in Tennessee

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