What is the deepest lake in Tennessee?

Of the lakes with a published depth, Watauga Lake is the deepest at about 265 ft.

Deepest lakes in Tennessee: 10 lakes ranked by depth

The deepest lakes in Tennessee with a published depth, deepest first. Deep lakes stay cold below the surface all summer, which is what trout and big predators want.

Deepest first

#	Lake	Deepest	Size
1	Watauga Lake	about 265 ft	6,430 acres
2	South Holston Lake	about 250 ft	7,580 acres
3	Norris Lake	about 210 ft	34,500 acres
4	Center Hill Lake	about 190 ft	18,200 acres
5	Nickajack Lake	about 145 ft	about 9,650 acres
6	Dale Hollow Lake	about 130 ft	27,700 acres
7	Watts Bar Lake	about 108 ft	39,000 acres
8	J. Percy Priest Lake	about 100 ft	14,200 acres
9	Cordell Hull Reservoir	about 90 ft	12,000 acres
10	Chickamauga Lake	about 72 ft	36,200 acres

1. Watauga Lake

Watauga Lake is a reservoir of some 6,430 acres. You will find it within an easy drive of Johnson City (about 12 miles). Watauga Dam holds it on the Watauga. The usual Tennessee mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. The deepest water is around 265 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Watauga Lake is a deep TVA reservoir in the Appalachian mountains of upper East Tennessee noted for unusually clean, clear water. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

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

2. South Holston Lake

At some 7,580 acres, South Holston Lake is a good-sized lake. The lake is within an easy drive of Johnson City (about 18 miles). South Holston Dam holds it on the South Fork Holston. Bluegill, crappie, walleye and catfish are the draw. The deepest water is around 250 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. 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

3. Norris Lake

At 34,500 acres of water, Norris Lake is a big lake. It holds striped bass, smallmouth bass, walleye and crappie. At about 210 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look.

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

4. Center Hill Lake

At 18,200 acres, Center Hill Lake is a big lake. It lies near Smithville. The usual Tennessee mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. It goes down to about 190 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Center Hill Lake is a deep U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Caney Fork River in Middle Tennessee.

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

5. Nickajack Lake

Nickajack Lake spreads over about 9,650 acres. The lake is next to Chattanooga. Nickajack Dam holds it on the Tennessee. The usual Tennessee mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. At about 145 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Nickajack Lake is a TVA reservoir on the Tennessee River below Chickamauga Dam near Chattanooga.

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

6. Dale Hollow Lake

Dale Hollow Lake spreads over some 27,700 acres. It holds smallmouth bass, trout, walleye and crappie. It goes down to about 130 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start.

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

7. Watts Bar Lake

At 39,000 acres, Watts Bar Lake is a big lake. It lies right by Kingston. It is the Tennessee behind Watts Bar Dam. The fish here are crappie, largemouth bass and spotted bass. It goes down to about 108 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. 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

8. J. Percy Priest Lake

J. Percy Priest Lake is a reservoir of 14,200 acres of water. It lies near Rural Hill. J. Percy Priest Dam holds it on the Stones. The usual Tennessee mix applies: largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. It goes down to about 100 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

J. Percy Priest Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Cordell Hull Reservoir

Cordell Hull Reservoir is a reservoir of 12,000 acres of water. It lies about 1.2 miles east of Gainesboro. It is the Cumberland behind Cordell Hull Dam. Like most lakes its size in Tennessee, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, white bass and catfish. At about 90 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. 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

10. Chickamauga Lake

At some 36,200 acres, Chickamauga Lake is a big lake. Expect largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and white bass. The deepest water is around 72 ft.

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

The clearest of them

Watauga Lake is known for clear water. On a clear lake fish see a long way: lighter line, natural colours and longer casts make the difference.

Fishing deep water

In summer a deep lake splits into a warm top layer and a cold bottom; fish hold near the line between them, often 20 to 40 ft down. A depth finder, a slow troll or a jig dropped straight down finds them.