What is the best fishing lake in Tennessee?

Chickamauga Lake is our first pick, with largemouth bass, crappie and catfish. Norris Lake and Dale Hollow Lake are close behind.

How many lakes in Tennessee does LakeScope cover?

26 lakes, each with a page for today's conditions.

Where can I catch walleye in Tennessee?

Try Norris Lake, Dale Hollow Lake and Cherokee Lake.

Where can I catch bass in Tennessee?

Try Chickamauga Lake, Norris Lake and Dale Hollow Lake.

Best fishing lakes in Tennessee: 12 lakes and what bites

From Chickamauga Lake to Cordell Hull Reservoir, these 12 lakes are the strongest fishing picks in Tennessee on our list of 26, with the fish, the size and where to start on each.

The lakes at a glance

Lake	Size	Main fish
Chickamauga Lake	36,200 acres	largemouth bass, crappie, catfish
Norris Lake	34,500 acres	striped bass, smallmouth bass, walleye
Dale Hollow Lake	27,700 acres	smallmouth bass, trout, walleye
Cherokee Lake	28,800 acres	largemouth bass, walleye, crappie
Watts Bar Lake	39,000 acres	crappie, largemouth bass, spotted bass
South Holston Lake	7,580 acres	bluegill, crappie, walleye
Woods Reservoir	3,600 acres	largemouth bass, crappie, white bass
Boone Lake	4,400 acres	largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass
Douglas Lake	28,400 acres	largemouth bass, crappie, white bass
Old Hickory Lake	22,500 acres	largemouth bass, crappie, white bass
Tellico Lake	14,200 acres	largemouth bass, crappie, striped bass
Cordell Hull Reservoir	12,000 acres	largemouth bass, crappie, white bass

1. Chickamauga Lake

At 36,200 acres, Chickamauga Lake is a big lake. Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and white bass are the draw. The deepest water is around 72 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Chickamauga Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Norris Lake

Norris Lake covers some 34,500 acres. Expect striped bass, smallmouth bass, walleye and crappie. The deepest water is around 210 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Norris Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. Dale Hollow Lake

At some 27,700 acres, Dale Hollow Lake is a big lake. The fish here are smallmouth bass, trout, walleye and crappie. It goes down to about 130 ft.

Dale Hollow Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Cherokee Lake

Cherokee Lake is a reservoir of some 28,800 acres. The lake is about 1.1 miles southwest of Jefferson City. It is the Holston behind Cherokee Dam. It holds largemouth bass, walleye and crappie. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Cherokee Lake is a TVA reservoir on the Holston River that is one of the most popular bass-fishing lakes in East Tennessee.

Cherokee Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Watts Bar Lake

At 39,000 acres, Watts Bar Lake is a big lake. You will find it right by Kingston. Expect crappie, largemouth bass and spotted bass. It goes down to about 108 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Watts Bar Lake is a TVA reservoir on the Tennessee River rated among the system's best lakes for crappie and bass.

Watts Bar Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. South Holston Lake

South Holston Lake covers some 7,580 acres. The lake is about 5.1 miles north of Abingdon. South Holston Dam holds it on the South Fork Holston. Expect bluegill, crappie, walleye and catfish. The deepest water is around 250 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. South Holston Lake is a deep TVA reservoir in upper East Tennessee fed by the South Fork Holston River.

South Holston Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Woods Reservoir

Woods Reservoir spreads over 3,600 acres of water. It lies near Estill Springs. Elk River Dam holds it on the Elk. Largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish are the draw. At about 50 ft at its deepest, it warms quickly in spring. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

Woods Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Boone Lake

Boone Lake spreads over 4,400 acres of water. The lake is about 6 miles southeast of Johnson City. It is the South Fork Holston behind Boone Dam. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and striped bass are the draw. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Boone Lake is a TVA reservoir near Johnson City formed where the South Fork Holston and Watauga rivers meet.

Boone Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Douglas Lake

Douglas Lake is a reservoir of some 28,400 acres. It lies about 21 miles west of Knoxville. It is the French Broad behind Douglas Dam. Like most lakes its size in Tennessee, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Douglas Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Old Hickory Lake

At some 22,500 acres, Old Hickory Lake is a big lake. The lake is right by Hendersonville. The usual Tennessee mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Old Hickory Lake is a Cumberland River reservoir near Nashville operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Old Hickory Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

11. Tellico Lake

Tellico Lake spreads over 14,200 acres of water. You will find it right by Louisville. Tellico Dam holds it on the Little Tennessee. The usual Tennessee mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, striped bass and catfish. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Tellico Lake is a TVA reservoir on the Little Tennessee River, connected to Fort Loudoun Lake.

Tellico Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

12. Cordell Hull Reservoir

Cordell Hull Reservoir is a reservoir of some 12,000 acres. It lies about 1.2 miles east of Gainesboro. Like most lakes its size in Tennessee, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. The deepest water is around 90 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Cordell Hull Lake is a Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Cumberland River in Middle Tennessee.

Cordell Hull Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

Which lake for which fish

A lake appears under a fish when it holds it, by the record or by the type of lake.

Bass: Chickamauga Lake, Norris Lake, Dale Hollow Lake and Cherokee Lake
Walleye: Norris Lake, Dale Hollow Lake, Cherokee Lake and South Holston Lake
Trout: Dale Hollow Lake
Crappie: Chickamauga Lake, Norris Lake, Dale Hollow Lake and Cherokee Lake
Catfish: Chickamauga Lake, South Holston Lake, Woods Reservoir and Douglas Lake

The fishing year

Spring: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
Summer: walleye are usually fair. Warm surface. They go deep in the day; try evenings.
Fall: walleye are usually at their best. Prime range. Low light is best, on reefs and weed edges.
Winter: walleye are usually at their best. Good cool-water bite, best at dusk and after dark.

Before you go

Buy a Tennessee fishing licence before the trip and read the state's rules for each lake: seasons, size and bag limits change from water to water. Each lake page on LakeScope shows today's water temperature, the wind, the best bite times and a 3-D view of the bed, so check it the morning you go.