Fishing in Roane County, Tennessee

Rules and record fish

Limits and records for Roane County water

Creel and length limits in Roane County

The Emory River rule is the county’s headline and should be stated precisely. From 1 January–30 April, on the Emory River from the Highway 27 bridge at Harriman upstream to the Highway 299 bridge at Oakdale, anglers are restricted to one hook with a single point, or one lure with a single hook with one point, and to a maximum of three rods, reels or poles.

Separately and year-round, the Emory is closed to snagging, taking or possession of paddlefish or any parts thereof from the mouth of the Emory upstream to the Highway 299 bridge at Oakdale. On Watts Bar generally, paddlefish are 1 per day with the season open 1 May–15 May.

Melton Hill, at the county’s northern edge, carries largemouth 14-inch minimum, smallmouth 18-inch minimum, striped bass on a 32–42 inch protected range with only one over 42 inches, muskellunge 1 per day at a 50-inch minimum with unharvested fish released immediately, and paddlefish 2 per day 24 April–31 May. On the Clinch River from Norris Reservoir upstream to Grissom Island, walleye and sauger are 5 per day combined with a 15-inch minimum, that reach is upstream of Roane but anglers running the Clinch should know it.

TDEC advises everyone against eating catfish from Melton Hill (PCBs), and Watts Bar carries its own consumption advisories.

State record fish from Roane County water

Skipjack herring, 4 lb 3 oz, Watts Bar Reservoir, Marc A. Cooper II, 17 February 2015, credited to the reservoir, which spans Roane, Rhea, Meigs and Loudon counties.