Find a Fishing Buddy in Knoxville
Tennessee
Knoxville sits in the middle of the TVA lake system — a chain of big, fishy reservoirs on the Tennessee River and its tributaries. Fort Loudoun and Tellico run right through town, Watts Bar and Cherokee are a short drive, and Norris Lake to the north is a clear-water smallmouth and striper gem. Largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, striped bass, and catfish fill the lakes, and the cold tailwaters below the dams — the Clinch and Holston rivers — grow trophy trout in the shadow of the Smokies. MyFishingBuds connects Knoxville-area anglers so you can share a bass boat on Fort Loudoun, chase stripers on Cherokee, or float the Clinch for trout.
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When 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.
→ Today's best fishing times in Knoxville (sunrise, sunset & moon)Top species
- 🎣 Largemouth Bass
- 🎣 Smallmouth Bass
- 🎣 Striped Bass
- 🎣 Crappie
- 🎣 Rainbow & Brown Trout (tailwaters)
- 🎣 Catfish
Where to fish
- 📍 Fort Loudoun Lake
- 📍 Tellico Lake
- 📍 Norris Lake
- 📍 Watts Bar Lake
- 📍 Clinch River (tailwater)
Local tips for Knoxville
Fort Loudoun and Tellico have public ramps right around Knoxville for quick after-work trips. Norris Lake to the north is the clear-water destination for smallmouth and stripers and is worth the drive. The tailwater trout fishing on the Clinch River below Norris Dam is genuinely good, but the river rises fast and dangerously when the dam generates — never wade without checking the TVA release schedule, and go with a buddy who knows the water. Cherokee Lake is the striper hot spot in early summer.
🪪 Tennessee fishing license
Anglers fishing in Knoxville need a valid Tennessee fishing license. Resident, non-resident, and short-term options are all available — see our complete state-by-state guide for current 2026 prices and direct purchase links.
See Tennessee license prices →Knoxville fishing FAQ
Do I need a fishing license in Knoxville?▾
Yes. Tennessee requires a fishing license for anglers 13 and older, and a separate trout license or permit to fish for or keep trout in the tailwaters. See our Tennessee license guide for current resident and non-resident prices and the trout-permit details.
Where is the best bass fishing near Knoxville?▾
Fort Loudoun and Tellico lakes are the closest quality options, and Norris Lake to the north is a standout for clear-water smallmouth. Watts Bar and Cherokee add largemouth and striped bass. Spring is the best all-around window.
Can you catch trout near Knoxville?▾
Yes — the cold tailwaters below the TVA dams, especially the Clinch River below Norris Dam and the Holston below Cherokee Dam, hold rainbow and brown trout year-round, including trophy fish. Fishing is best at low, wadeable flows.
Why do I need to check dam schedules to fish the Clinch River?▾
The Clinch is a TVA tailwater — when the dam generates power, the river rises quickly and powerfully, making wading dangerous. Always check the TVA release schedule for Norris Dam before you go, and fish with a partner. Low-generation windows are both safer and better fishing.
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