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

What to Bring Fishing in Tennessee

11 gear checklists, one per kind of fishing, with the rod, line, baits and tools that work on Tennessee water. Every item links to Amazon.

Pick a checklistBait shops by county

Checklists

Gear checklists by kind of fishing

11 itemsLargemouth BassLargemouth are in every Tennessee lake and most farm ponds.Open the checklist →10 itemsSmallmouth BassDale Hollow, Pickwick and the Clinch and Elk rivers are smallmouth water, and spotted bass on Norris and Chickamauga take the same box.Open the checklist →11 itemsCrappieTennessee is a crappie state: Reelfoot, Kentucky Lake, Percy Priest and Chickamauga.Open the checklist →10 itemsBluegill and PanfishThe easiest fishing in the state and the best way to start a kid.Open the checklist →11 itemsCatfishBlues below the Cumberland and Tennessee River dams, channels in every lake and creek, flatheads at night on live bait.Open the checklist →10 itemsStriper and HybridStripers on Norris, Cherokee, Boone and the Cumberland tailwaters, hybrids on Cherokee and the Elk, and white bass running the rivers every spring.Open the checklist →10 itemsWalleye and SaugerSauger stack up below Pickwick, Cheatham and Old Hickory dams from December to March.Open the checklist →11 itemsTroutTailwater trout below Center Hill, Tims Ford, Norris and South Holston, stocked streams in the Smokies, and the winter trout program in city lakes.Open the checklist →11 itemsMuskyMelton Hill, Dale Hollow, the Collins and Caney Fork above Great Falls.Open the checklist →11 itemsKayak and Float TripWhat to carry on a Tennessee river float or a kayak fishing day, from the Buffalo and Harpeth to the tailwaters.Open the checklist →10 itemsBank and Pier FishingMost of the 1,000 access points on this site can be fished from the bank or a pier with no boat.Open the checklist →

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Bigger purchases

Gear compared for Tennessee boats and kayaks

The electronics, motors, boats and batteries that cost real money, compared side by side with the Tennessee water each one suits. Affiliate links.

Fish Finders
BudgetGarmin Striker 4$120MiddleHumminbird HELIX 7 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G4N$700TopGarmin LiveScope Plus LVS34 bundle$1,500
Compare all 6 →
Trolling Motors
BudgetMinn Kota Endura C2 30$150MiddleMotorGuide Xi3 55 lb Freshwater GPS$1,150TopMinn Kota Ultrex QUEST 90/115$3,500
Compare all 6 →
Fishing Kayaks
BudgetPelican Catch 110 HDII$700MiddleVibe Yellowfin 120$1,200TopOld Town Sportsman PDL 120$2,500
Compare all 6 →
All gear compared

Common questions

Tennessee fishing gear questions

What gear do I need to start fishing in Tennessee?

A medium spinning rod and reel, 8 to 10 lb line, a small box of hooks, split shot and floats, and bait from the bait shop. The bluegill and panfish checklist is the cheapest place to start and catches fish anywhere.

Which checklist should I use?

Pick by the fish you want. Each lake and river page on this site lists what swims there and links to the matching checklist in its What to bring section.

Do I need a license?

Anyone 13 or older needs a Tennessee fishing license, plus the trout privilege for trout. The license page has prices and where to buy.

Are these affiliate links?

Yes. Each link goes to Amazon with this site’s tag and pays a small commission at no cost to you. The picks are what works in Tennessee, not what pays most.

Can I buy this gear in Tennessee instead?

Yes. Every county page lists local bait shops and marinas with phone numbers, and most carry the baits on these lists.

Do I need a boat?

No. The bank and pier checklist covers fishing from shore, and every access point on this site says whether it has a pier or bank access.

What about kayak fishing?

The kayak and float trip checklist covers the life jacket, dry bag and rigging, and the paddling pages give live river levels for 19 Tennessee rivers.

How often are these lists updated?

When something stops being available or something better comes along. The products are standard tackle that has been sold for years.

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 waterLicence and limits