Tennessee · USA
Watts Bar Lake
- Region
- Tennessee, USA
- Regulation zone
- Tennessee statewide regulations
Species in Watts Bar Lake
Striped Bass
Black Crappie
Walleye
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Flathead Catfish
Blue Catfish
Channel Catfish
White Bass
Yellow Bass
Paddlefish
Rock Bass
Redear Sunfish
Muskellunge
Tap a species for Bump Board's full tactics guide.
Seasons & limits — Tennessee statewide regulations
| Species | Season | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crappie (all species) | Year-round unless otherwise noted | 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum length limit. Region 1 exception: 30 per day, no minimum length limit unless otherwise noted for specific waters | — |
| Rock Bass or Redeye and Shadow Bass | Year-round unless otherwise noted | 20 per day, no minimum length limit | — |
| Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass | Year-round unless otherwise noted | 2 per day in combination, 15 inch minimum length limit | — |
| White Bass | Year-round unless otherwise noted | 15 per day, no minimum length limit | — |
| Muskellunge | Year-round unless otherwise noted | 1 per day, 36 inch minimum length limit | — |
| Sauger or Sauger/Walleye hybrids | Year-round unless otherwise noted | 10 per day, 15 inch minimum length limit | — |
| Walleye | Year-round unless otherwise noted | 5 per day, 16 inch minimum length limit | — |
| Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker) | Year-round unless otherwise noted | 20 per day, no minimum length limit | — |
| Catfish | Year-round unless otherwise noted | Only 1 catfish over 34 inches may be harvested per day; no harvest limit on catfish under 34 inches | — |
| Paddlefish | April 24-May 31 only | 2 per day, no size limit; culling prohibited. Exceptions apply on Center Hill, Cherokee and Watts Bar reservoirs | — |
| Yellow Bass, Bluegill, Warmouth, Bream, Bullheads, Pickerel, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch and nongame species | Year-round unless otherwise noted | No creel or length limit | — |
Always confirm regulations with the official state regulations before fishing — rules change, and waterbody-specific exceptions apply.
Waterbody-specific rules
- Black bass: 5 per day in combination, 15 inch minimum
- Crappie: 15 per day in combination, 10 inch minimum
- Striped bass or hybrid striped bass: 2 per day in combination; Apr 1-Oct 31 striped bass 15 inch minimum; Nov 1-Mar 31 striped bass 36 inch minimum and only 1 of the 2 may be a striped bass; hybrid striped bass 15 inch minimum
- Walleye: 5 per day, 16 inch minimum
- Sauger: 10 per day, 15 inch minimum
- Paddlefish: 1 per day, season May 1-15 only, culling prohibited; Emory River closed to snagging/taking paddlefish from its mouth upstream to Hwy 299 bridge at Oakdale
- Muskellunge: 1 per day, 36 inch minimum
- Catfish: no creel limit at 34 inches or less; only 1 over 34 inches per day
More Tennessee lakes
Species: Tennessee state fisheries lake records, via the Bump Board dataset.