What to bring
Tackle for rainbow trout
Three picks from the trout checklist that work for the fish here. Affiliate links: buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:
The fish
Rainbow trout in Tennessee
Rainbow trout are not native to Tennessee, but TWRA stocks them in cold tailwater rivers below the big dams, in mountain streams and in some small lakes. You need a trout license or supplemental, and several tailwaters have protected slots or special rules.
How to tell a rainbow trout
A pink to red band down the side, silver sides and small black spots on the back, tail and fins. Also called rainbow, bow.
Where to catch them
Best rainbow trout water in Tennessee
Where rainbow trout fishing is strongest. Each page lists every public ramp, pier and bank access on that water, with directions.
Other lakes and rivers with rainbow trout
Limits
Tennessee rainbow trout limits
Statewide: 7 trout combined a day, no minimum. These 7 lakes and rivers have their own rules, which replace the statewide limit there.
| Water | Daily limit | Length | Where or when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boone LakeTrout | 7 | 16–22 in protected slot, one over 22 in | All trout. Applies upstream to the Hwy 11E (DeVault/Bristol Hwy) bridge on the Watauga arm |
| Caney Fork RiverTrout | 5 combined | See species limits | Tailwater: Center Hill Dam to the Cumberland River, including tributaries |
| Caney Fork River | 5 | 14–20 in protected slot, one over 20 in | Tailwater: Center Hill Dam to the Cumberland River. Same slot applies to brook and cutthroat trout |
| Clinch RiverTrout | 7 | 14–20 in protected slot, one over 20 in | Tailwater: Norris Dam downstream to Hwy 61 bridge (Clinton), including tributaries |
| Hiwassee RiverTrout | No harvest Oct 1–Feb 28; 7 Mar 1–Sep 30 (only 2 brown) | No length limit | Apalachia Powerhouse to L&N Railroad Bridge. Delayed harvest Oct 1–Feb 28: catch and release, artificial lures only, no bait |
| South Fork Holston RiverTrout | 7 | 16–22 in protected slot, one over 22 in | South Holston Dam to Boone Dam, all trout |
| South Fork Holston RiverTrout | 7 | 16–22 in protected slot (rainbow and brown), one over 22 in | Below Boone: Boone Dam to Louis Milhorn Bridge (Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir) |
| Tellico RiverTrout | No harvest Oct 1–Feb 28 | — | Delayed harvest, mouth of North River up to the NC line: catch and release, artificial lures only, no bait |
| Tellico RiverTrout | 7 | No length limit | Tellico-Citico permit area (Turkey Creek confluence to NC line): permit required and closed Thu–Fri Mar 1–Aug 15; one rod per angler; 30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset |
| Watauga RiverTrout | 2 | 14 in minimum | Quality trout area, Smallings Bridge down to the CSX railroad bridges: no bait, no possession of trout under 14 in. The rest of the tailwater uses the statewide trout limit |
| Watauga RiverTrout | 7 | 16–22 in protected slot, one over 22 in | Boone Lake trout slot, upstream on the Watauga arm to the Hwy 11E bridge |
Trout need a trout license or the trout supplemental on top of a base license. The license page has the prices.
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.