Best Time to Fish in Knoxville
Tennessee · Friday, September 11
🌅
7:16 AM
Sunrise
🌇
7:51 PM
Sunset
🌙
0%
Moon
The next 7 days in Knoxville
| Day | Dawn window | Dusk window | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 6:46 AM – 8:16 AM | 6:21 PM – 8:21 PM | 🌑 New Moon · 0% |
| Sat, Sep 12 | 6:47 AM – 8:17 AM | 6:19 PM – 8:19 PM | 🌑 New Moon · 1% |
| Sun, Sep 13 | 6:47 AM – 8:17 AM | 6:18 PM – 8:18 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 5% |
| Mon, Sep 14 | 6:48 AM – 8:18 AM | 6:16 PM – 8:16 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 10% |
| Tue, Sep 15 | 6:49 AM – 8:19 AM | 6:15 PM – 8:15 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 17% |
| Wed, Sep 16 | 6:50 AM – 8:20 AM | 6:13 PM – 8:13 PM | 🌒 Waxing Crescent · 26% |
| Thu, Sep 17 | 6:51 AM – 8:21 AM | 6:12 PM – 8:12 PM | 🌓 First Quarter · 36% |
Dawn and dusk windows are computed from sunrise/sunset for Knoxville; times shown in local time. Best-window ranges are guidance, not guarantees — weather and tides matter too.
Today's best windows in Knoxville
🌅 Dawn — 6:46 AM to 8:16 AM
The first light window is the most reliable bite of the day for most species — fish move shallow to feed before the sun gets high.
🌇 Dusk — 6:21 PM to 8:21 PM
The last couple hours of light are the second prime window, especially as water cools and bait moves.
🌙 Moon — New Moon (0% lit)
Solunar feeding activity peaks around the new and full moons. Overlap a solunar period with dawn or dusk and you have the best window of the day.
Sunrise, sunset, and moon phase are computed for Knoxville (Tennessee); times shown in local time. Best-window ranges are guidance, not guarantees — weather and tides matter too.
Get the precise solunar + tide forecast for your spot
Dawn and dusk are the reliable daily answer, but the exact solunar major/minor periods and the tides for the specific water you're fishing shift day to day. The MyFishingBuds AI Trip Planner pulls live NOAA, USGS, and solunar data to score the best times for your exact Knoxville spot.
See the AI Trip Planner →Best season to fish Knoxville
Bass fishing peaks in spring (March through May) around the spawn and stays good through fall, with smallmouth especially strong on the clearer lakes like Norris and Tellico. Striped bass fishing is best in late spring and summer, particularly on Cherokee and Melton Hill, where they chase shad. Crappie fishing lights up around the spring spawn and again in fall around brush and bridge structure. The tailwater trout fisheries (the Clinch and Holston below Norris and Cherokee dams) fish year-round and are best when generation is low — always check the TVA dam-release schedule before you wade.
Best time to fish in Knoxville — FAQ
What is the best time of day to fish in Knoxville?
The most reliable windows are the low-light hours around sunrise and sunset. Today in Knoxville, sunrise is about 7:16 AM and sunset about 7:51 PM, so the dawn and dusk windows either side of those are your best bets — especially on an overcast day or a moving tide.
Does the moon affect fishing in Knoxville?
Yes. The strongest solunar feeding periods and biggest tides come around the new and full moons. The moon is currently a New Moon (0% illuminated). For the precise solunar major/minor times and tides for your exact spot, use the MyFishingBuds AI Trip Planner.
What is the best season to fish in Knoxville?
Bass fishing peaks in spring (March through May) around the spawn and stays good through fall, with smallmouth especially strong on the clearer lakes like Norris and Tellico. Striped bass fishing is best in late spring and summer, particularly on Cherokee and Melton Hill, where they chase shad. Crappie fishing lights up around the spring spawn and again in fall around brush and bridge structure. The tailwater trout fisheries (the Clinch and Holston below Norris and Cherokee dams) fish year-round and are best when generation is low — always check the TVA dam-release schedule before you wade.
Do I need a fishing license to fish in Knoxville?
Yes — most adult anglers need a Tennessee fishing license. See the Tennessee fishing license guide for 2026 resident and non-resident prices, who's exempt, and where to buy.
Plan your next Knoxville trip
Free profile, no credit card. Find a buddy, get a live conditions plan, and fish safer.
Get Started Free →