95 Counties · 1,002 Public Access Points · 78 Lakes and RiversTennessee state record fish

Fish species · Morone chrysops x M. saxatilis

Hybrid Striped Bass Fishing in Tennessee

White bass crossed with striper, stocked by TWRA and hard fighting.

What to bring

Tackle for hybrid striped bass

Three picks from the striper and hybrid checklist that work for the fish here. Affiliate links: buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you.

RodUgly Stik Bigwater spinning rod, 7 ft medium-heavyHandles a 20 lb striper and a live shad on a balloon.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
ReelPenn Battle III 5000 spinning reelSealed drag, big spool, no excuses.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
TopwaterCotton Cordell Pencil PopperSchooling fish on top at daylight in summer.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:

The fish

Hybrid striped bass in Tennessee

Hybrids are a cross between a white bass and a striped bass, raised and stocked by TWRA. In Tennessee they are often called Cherokee bass. They grow faster than white bass, fight harder than their size suggests, and count toward the same 2 fish striped bass limit.

Hybrid striped bass
Hybrid striped bass. Illustration: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0.

How to tell a hybrid striped bass

Broken, uneven stripes (a striper’s are solid), a deeper body than a striper, and usually two tooth patches on the tongue. Also called Cherokee bass, wiper, hybrid.

23 lb 3 ozstate record, Stones River, 1998
6lakes and rivers on this site
70public access points on them

Through the year

When to catch hybrid striped bass in Tennessee

What hybrid striped bass are doing in each season, and where that puts them.

Season

Spring

Run up the rivers with the white bass.

Season

Summer

Schools chasing shad on the surface early and late.

Season

Fall

Surface schools again in the creek mouths.

Season

Winter

Deep, and in tailwaters below the dams.

How to catch them

How to catch hybrid striped bass

The baits and methods that catch the most hybrid striped bass in Tennessee water.

Method

Casting spoons

Thrown into breaking schools.

Method

Swimbaits

On a jig head, cast or trolled.

Method

Live shad

Fished deep in summer.

Limits

Tennessee hybrid striped bass limits

Statewide: 2 striped and hybrid combined a day, 15 in minimum. These 1 lakes and rivers have their own rules, which replace the statewide limit there.

WaterDaily limitLengthWhere or when
Wolf River, Herb Parsons Lake216 in minimumHerb Parsons Lake

From the 2026–27 Tennessee Fishing Guide (TWRA), in effect 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027, checked 25 September 2026. Rules change, so check the guide before you keep a fish.

Common questions

Questions about hybrid striped bass fishing in Tennessee

What is the hybrid striped bass limit in Tennessee?

Statewide, 2 striped and hybrid combined a day, 15 in minimum. 1 lakes and rivers have their own hybrid striped bass rules, including Wolf River, Herb Parsons Lake. The table on this page lists every one.

What is the Tennessee state record hybrid striped bass?

23 lb 3 oz, caught by Ray Pelfrey on Stones River on 17 Apr 1998.

When is the best time to catch hybrid striped bass in Tennessee?

Spring. Run up the rivers with the white bass.

Where is the best hybrid striped bass fishing in Tennessee?

J. Percy Priest Lake, Stones River, Tims Ford Lake and Douglas Lake are among the best. Each has its own page on this site with every public ramp and pier.

What bait works best for hybrid striped bass?

Casting spoons: thrown into breaking schools. Swimbaits: on a jig head, cast or trolled. Live shad: fished deep in summer.

Keep going

More hybrid striped bass water, and who fishes it

Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.