Coming up
Upcoming Cherokee Lake tournaments
Every scheduled event on Cherokee Lake we have found, soonest first, with the launch site and the organizer’s page for entry and rules.
MLF College Fishing
Oct 23, 2026 · Major League Fishing
Launch: TVA Dam Boat Launch, 2805 TN-92, Jefferson City
MLF High School Open
Oct 24, 2026 · Major League Fishing
Launch: TVA Dam Boat Launch, 2805 TN-92, Jefferson City
Phoenix Bass Fishing League Team/Solo
Apr 24, 2027 · Major League Fishing
Launch: TVA Dam Boat Launch, Jefferson City
Results
Cherokee Lake tournament results
Winners and winning weights from 3 events on Cherokee Lake since 2024, newest first. Each row links to the report it came from.
| Date | Event | Winner | Winning weight | Big fish | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 10–12, 2025 | Bassmaster College National ChampionshipB.A.S.S. College | Garrett Smith and Andrew Blanton (Lander University) | 43 lb 3 oz (won fish-off)14.4 lb a day | – | Source |
| May 18, 2025 | BFL Volunteer Division eventMLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League | Dale Pelfrey | 17 lb 2 oz | Big fish: Dustin Dyer 4 lb 14 oz | Source |
| May 29–31, 2024 | 41st BFL All-AmericanMLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League | Paul Marks Jr. | 38 lb 6 oz12.8 lb a day | – | Source |
What wins here
What it takes to win on Cherokee Lake
Across the 3 five-bass-limit events here, the winner averaged 14.8 lb a day. The heaviest was Dale Pelfrey at 17.1 lb a day in the BFL Volunteer Division event (May 2025).
Winning weight divided by days fished. Length, big-fish, three-bass and Bass Pro Tour formats are left out because they are not comparable.
Garrett Smith and Andrew Blanton (Lander University), July 2025: Bank grass early with buzzbait, then offshore boulders in 25-35 ft with jig and drop shot
Dale Pelfrey, May 2025: Shad spawn around marinas, then drop-shot
Paul Marks Jr., May 2024: Smallmouth on rocky structure about 15 ft, finesse swimbait
Plan the day
Launching for a Cherokee Lake tournament
Launch sites used
- TVA Dam Boat Launch
- Cherokee Dam ramp
Who runs events here
- Major League Fishing (3)
- MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (2)
- B.A.S.S. College (1)
Buy your gear
Tournament gear for fishing on Cherokee Lake
What tournament anglers carry on weigh-in day. Each links to Amazon; buying through these links pays this site a small commission at no extra cost.
Other lakes
Tournaments near Cherokee Lake and across Tennessee
Common questions
Cherokee Lake tournament questions
When is the next fishing tournament on Cherokee Lake?
The next posted event is the MLF College Fishing on Oct 23, 2026, run by Major League Fishing, launching from TVA Dam Boat Launch.
How much weight does it take to win a bass tournament on Cherokee Lake?
In the 3 five-fish events listed here the winner averaged 14.8 lb a day, from 12.8 to 17.1 lb.
Who won the last tournament on Cherokee Lake?
Garrett Smith and Andrew Blanton (Lander University) won the Bassmaster College National Championship (Jul 10–12, 2025) with 43 lb 3 oz (won fish-off).
Where do tournaments launch on Cherokee Lake?
Recent events used TVA Dam Boat Launch, Cherokee Dam ramp. Ramps get busy at launch and weigh-in.
Which organizations hold tournaments on Cherokee Lake?
Major League Fishing, MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League, B.A.S.S. College.
How do I enter a tournament on Cherokee Lake?
Through the organizer. Each scheduled event links to its own page with entry fees, rules and the sign-up.
Do I need a Tennessee fishing license to fish a Cherokee Lake tournament?
Yes, every angler 13 and older needs a valid Tennessee fishing license, plus any permit the lake requires.
How often is this Cherokee Lake page updated?
Schedules were last checked on 30 September 2026 and results on 8 October 2026. Past events move off the schedule the day after they end.
Every event and result for Cherokee Lake links to its source.
Schedules and results come from each organizer’s published pages and news reports, linked on each row. Check the event page before you go. Tennessee Fishing Spots is not affiliated with any tournament organization.
Keep going
More Tennessee 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.
Know a tournament that is not listed?
Send it here with a link to the organizer’s event page or schedule. Weekly and monthly ones only need to go in once. If that page shows the name and the date (or the day of the week), it goes on this page right away. If not, we check it by hand within a week.
We keep what you send so we can check the event. Your email is never published.