Date	Lake	Event	Winner	Winning weight	Big fish
Sep 26–27, 2026	Old Hickory Lake	BFL Music City Division finalMLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League	Clint Knight	30 lb 8 oz15.2 lb a day	Big fish: Clint Knight 5 lb 3 oz	Source
Jun 27–28, 2026	Reelfoot Lake	Reelfoot Lake Ultimate Crappie ChallengeReelfoot Lake Ultimate Crappie Challenge	Chase Petty and Max Boone	16.30 lb	Big fish: John Ratcliff 1.97 lb	Source
May 3, 2026	Watts Bar Lake	BFL Volunteer Division eventMLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League	Billy Joe Wheat	21 lb 14 oz	Big fish: Tim Smiley 8 lb 12 oz	Source
Apr 25, 2026	Watts Bar Lake	6th Annual Big Crappie BashBig Crappie Bash	Darryl Bolton and Steve Mobley	2.32 lb (single big-fish format)	Big fish: Darryl Bolton and Steve Mobley 2.32 lb	Source
Apr 11, 2026	J. Percy Priest Lake	BFL Music City Division eventMLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League	Mark Condron	19 lb 4 oz	Big fish: Jarod Shelton 5 lb 10 oz (co-angler); Mark Condron 4 lb 15 oz (boater)	Source
Apr 9–11, 2026	Kentucky Lake	Toyota Series Plains DivisionMLF Toyota Series	Matteo Turano	64 lb 2 oz21.4 lb a day	Big fish: Matteo Turano 6 lb 12 oz	Source

All results

Buy your gear

Tournament gear for fishing in Tennessee

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.

Culling beam scaleWeigh and cull on the water so the five you bring to the scale are your heaviest.Buy on Amazon →Livewell treatmentKeeps fish healthy for weigh-in and release, which most trails score.Buy on Amazon →Culling clipsNumbered clips so you know which fish to swap out.Buy on Amazon →Fish finderSide imaging and live sonar win most Tennessee River events now.Buy on Amazon →Tournament rod and reelA 7 ft medium heavy casting combo covers jigs, worms and crankbaits.Buy on Amazon →Fluorocarbon line15 lb fluorocarbon for offshore ledges and clear highland lakes.Buy on Amazon →

Bass fishing checklist Fish finders compared All fishing gear

Lake pages

Schedule and results by lake

Chickamauga Lake Dale Hollow Lake Douglas Lake Kentucky Lake Pickwick Lake Cherokee Lake Watts Bar Lake Old Hickory Lake Lake Barkley South Holston Lake Tims Ford Lake Center Hill Lake Nickajack Lake Norris Lake J. Percy Priest Lake Reelfoot Lake

Common questions

Tennessee fishing tournament questions

Where can I find fishing tournaments in Tennessee?

This page lists the upcoming events launching on Tennessee lakes from Major League Fishing (Bass Pro Tour, Toyota Series, Phoenix Bass Fishing League, college and high school), B.A.S.S., Big Bass Tour and local clubs, with the launch ramp and a link to each event.

Which Tennessee lakes host the most tournaments?

Chickamauga Lake (5), Douglas Lake (4), Cherokee Lake (3), Dale Hollow Lake (3) have the most upcoming events on this list.

Do I need a fishing license to fish a tournament in Tennessee?

Yes. Every angler 13 and older needs a Tennessee fishing license, tournament or not. Non-residents can buy a three-day or ten-day license.

Can I launch at a ramp during a tournament?

Public ramps stay open, but tournament launches and weigh-ins make them busy early in the morning and in the afternoon. The launch site for each event is listed on this page.

Does Tennessee require tournaments to register?

TWRA does not publish a tournament registry. Some ramps are booked through local tourism offices, such as Jefferson County for the Douglas and Cherokee dam ramps.

How do I enter a bass tournament?

Through the organizer. Each listing links to the event page, which has the entry fee, rules and sign-up.

Are there crappie and catfish tournaments in Tennessee?

Yes, but the major crappie and catfish trails had no Tennessee dates posted for this period when this list was checked on 30 September 2026. They will be added when they post.

How often is this list updated?

The list was last checked against each organizer’s schedule on 30 September 2026. Past events drop off the day after they end.

Every listing links to the organizer’s own event page.

Dates and launch sites come from each organizer’s published schedule. Organizers move dates and launch sites; 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.

Guides by water Licence and limits

Tennessee Fishing Tournaments

Fishing tournaments near me

Upcoming tournaments on Tennessee lakes

October 2026

November 2026

December 2026

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

October 2027

November 2027

Tennessee tournaments by lake

Events on border lakes launching outside Tennessee

Recent Tennessee tournament winners