Photo : Forest Service - Northern Region, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
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Tennessee
State, United States. Authority : Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
2026 rules, checked on 23 September 2026.
- Licence
- US$165Resident Annual Sportsman (all fishing & hunting), ages 16-64
- Next opening
- —
- Minimum sizes
- 91.4 cmMuskellunge
Useful gear for this area
Chosen from the species and size limits regulated in this area.
Responsible gearBacklit Digital Hanging Scale 50 kgTo check the minimum size: Muskellunge 91.4 cm here.
€32.90£28.90Not shipped to the United States
Floating Feathered-Hook Lures 7.5 cm, Pack of 9For : european perch, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass · crankbait and hard-lure fishing
€35.90£21.90Not shipped to the United States
Treble Hook Covers, Pack of 150For : northern pike, zander, walleye
€26.90£12.90Not shipped to the United States
Where to fish
© OpenStreetMap
2026 season calendar
Not published by the authority: check with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Minimum sizes
| Species | Minimum size | 0–100 cm |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye2 statewide (many reservoir exceptions) | 40.6 cm | |
| Sauger2 statewide | 38.1 cm | |
| Muskellunge2 statewide (some waters 50 in) | 91.4 cm | |
| Black bass2 no statewide minimum length; many reservoir/stream exceptions (see exceptions list) | not published |
To check the minimum size: Muskellunge 91.4 cm here. Backlit Digital Hanging Scale 50 kg €32.90£28.90Not shipped to the United States
Bag limits
| Species | Fish you may keep |
|---|---|
| Black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, Alabama, Coosa, hybrids combined)2 statewide | 5 per day |
| Walleye2 statewide | 5 per day |
| Sauger2 statewide | 10 per day |
| Muskellunge2 statewide | 1 per day |
| Northern pike2 no statewide limit | not published |
| Trout (all species combined)2 only 2 may be lake trout; no minimum length statewide | 7 per day |
Licence
| Licence | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Combo Hunt/Fish (type 001, no trout)1 | annual | US$33 |
| Resident Combo Hunt/Fish (no trout), ages 16-641 | annual | US$33 |
| Resident Annual Trout Supplemental1 | annual | US$21 |
| Resident 1-Day Fishing No Trout, ages 13-641 | 1-day | US$6 |
| Resident 1-Day Fishing All Species (incl. trout), ages 16-641 | 1-day | US$11 |
| Resident Annual Sportsman (all fishing & hunting), ages 16-641 | annual | US$165 |
| Resident Junior Hunt/Fish/Trap, ages 13-151 | annual | US$9 |
| Resident Annual Senior Citizen Hunt/Fish/Trap, 65+1 | annual | US$4 |
| Resident Permanent Senior Citizen Hunt/Fish/Trap, 65+1 | lifetime | US$49 |
| Nonresident Annual Fishing - No Trout, 16+1 | annual | US$49 |
| Nonresident Annual Fishing - All Species (incl. trout), 16+1 | annual | US$98 |
| Nonresident 3-Day Fishing - All Species (incl. trout), 16+1 | 3-day | US$40 |
| Nonresident 10-Day Fishing - No Trout (079)6 | 10-day | US$30 |
| Nonresident 10-Day Fishing - All Species (incl. trout)1 | 10-day | US$61 |
| Nonresident Annual Junior Hunt/Fish, 13-151 | annual | US$10 |
Buy the licence on license.gooutdoorstennessee.com
- Ages and exemptions1
- Ages 12 and under: no license required. Resident youth 13-15 qualify for a free license (Youth Customer Application) or Junior Hunt/Fish/Trap $9. Residents 65+: Senior Citizen Hunt/Fish/Trap $4/yr or $49 permanent.
Good to know
Trout requires an all-species license or the $21 trout supplemental. Black bass: 5/day combined statewide with no statewide minimum length, but numerous water-specific length/slot exceptions. Muskie 1/day, 36 in statewide.
What the authority does not publish
Points we could not find in the official texts: check with the authority.
- tn.gov pages timed out; fees and limits read on TWRA's official guide on eRegulations and on the official license portal gooutdoorstennessee.com
- no standalone resident annual fishing-only license price found (resident base = Combo Hunt/Fish $33)
- nonresident 1-day fishing price unconfirmed (conflicting reads) - omitted
- trout season: no explicit statewide season statement found
- statewide minimum length for black bass: none per statewide table; water-specific exceptions not listed
Rules change every year and can be amended during the season. Before fishing, check the text in force with the authority listed.
Where to fish
Fishing places listed in the official sources.
- Kentucky Lake reservoir, Benton, Decatur, Hardin, Henry, Humphreys, Stewart, Wayne Counties View on the map
- Norris Lake reservoir, Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger, Union Counties View on the map
- Cherokee Lake reservoir, Grainger, Hamblen, Hawkins, Jefferson Counties View on the map
- Old Hickory Lake reservoir, Davidson, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Wilson Counties View on the map
- Watts Bar Lake reservoir, Loudon, Meigs, Rhea, Roane Counties View on the map
- Chickamauga Lake reservoir, Hamilton, Meigs, Rhea Counties View on the map
- J. Percy Priest Lake reservoir, Davidson, Rutherford, Wilson Counties View on the map
- Center Hill Lake reservoir, Dekalb, Putnam, Warren, White Counties View on the map
- Dale Hollow Lake reservoir, Clay, Fentress, Pickett Counties View on the map
- Reelfoot Lake lake, Lake, Obion Counties View on the map
- Duck River river, Bedford, Coffee, Hickman, Humphreys, Marshall, Maury Counties View on the map
- Clinch River river, Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Roane Counties View on the map
- Hiwassee River river, Bradley, Mcminn, Meigs, Polk Counties View on the map
Frequently asked questions
How much is a fishing licence in Tennessee in 2026?
The “Resident Annual Sportsman (all fishing & hunting), ages 16-64” licence costs US$165 (annual). Other options and prices are in the table above, with the official source.
What is the minimum size for muskellunge in Tennessee?
Muskellunge: 91.4 cm. Any smaller fish must be released immediately.
Official sources
- Tennessee Fishing License Fees (TWRA official guide, eRegulations) (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- Tennessee Statewide Fishing Limits & Regulations (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- Go Outdoors Tennessee - resident packages (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- TWRA License Structure and Fees (accessed on 23 September 2026)
- www.eregulations.com/tennessee/fishing
- gooutdoorstennessee.com/ViewPackage.aspx?pid=19&lrtid=2&annual=0
Last checked : 23 September 2026.