April at a glance
Tennessee fishing in April
Peak spawn. Largemouth and crappie are shallow across the state.
What to bring for April:
Species by species
What to fish for in Tennessee in April
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass in TennesseeLargemouth spawn at 68–72°F over several weeks from March to May, with the peak in April and May, on stumps and fallen trees in 2–8 ft.
Where: Old Hickory Lake, J. Percy Priest Lake and Normandy Lake in early spring, particularly April, Cheatham Lake from mid-April to early May, and Douglas Lake, best from March to June.
Source: TWRA: Watts Bar · TWRA: Cordell Hull · TWRA: Old Hickory · TWRA: Percy Priest · TWRA: Normandy · TWRA: Cheatham · TWRA: Douglas
Crappie
Crappie in TennesseeCrappie are shallow on structure in 2–5 ft by early April.
Where: Dale Hollow Lake (peak in April), Old Hickory Lake, J. Percy Priest Lake, and Reelfoot Lake, where spider rigging around the April and May full moons at Moultrie Field is a local tradition.
Source: TWRA: Dale Hollow · TWRA: Old Hickory · TWRA: Percy Priest · TWRA: Reelfoot · TWRA: Chickamauga
White bass
White bass in TennesseeWhite bass runs continue.
Where: The Stones River below Priest Dam on Cheatham Lake, and the Caney Fork mouth up to Cordell Hull Dam on Old Hickory Lake in April and May.
Source: TWRA: Cheatham · TWRA: Old Hickory
Musky
Musky in TennesseeMusky spawn at roughly 49–59°F.
Where: The Calfkiller and Collins rivers above Great Falls Lake, best in April and May.
Source: TWRA: Great Falls · TWRA: Dale Hollow
Trout
Trout in TennesseeApril is the best month to keep big trout in Gatlinburg.
Where: Gatlinburg streams, the tailwaters and the Tellico River’s weekly stockings.
Rules: Gatlinburg harvest reopens April 1 at 5 per day. Walleye-run rules end April 30 (April 15 on the East Fork Obey).
Source: TWRA Trout Fishing Forecast · TWRA trout regulations · TWRA regulation exceptions
Where to go
Tennessee lakes and rivers to fish in April
Common questions
Tennessee fishing in April: questions
What is biting in Tennessee in April?
In April, Tennessee anglers mostly target largemouth bass, crappie, white bass, musky and trout. Peak spawn. Largemouth and crappie are shallow across the state.
Where is the best fishing in Tennessee in April?
TWRA names Old Hickory Lake, J. Percy Priest Lake, Normandy Lake, Cheatham Lake, Douglas Lake, Dale Hollow Lake among the waters for this time of year.
Where do you catch largemouth bass in Tennessee in April?
Largemouth spawn at 68–72°F over several weeks from March to May, with the peak in April and May, on stumps and fallen trees in 2–8 ft. Old Hickory Lake, J. Percy Priest Lake and Normandy Lake in early spring, particularly April, Cheatham Lake from mid-April to early May, and Douglas Lake, best from March to June.
Where do you catch crappie in Tennessee in April?
Crappie are shallow on structure in 2–5 ft by early April. Dale Hollow Lake (peak in April), Old Hickory Lake, J. Percy Priest Lake, and Reelfoot Lake, where spider rigging around the April and May full moons at Moultrie Field is a local tradition.
Where do you catch white bass in Tennessee in April?
White bass runs continue. The Stones River below Priest Dam on Cheatham Lake, and the Caney Fork mouth up to Cordell Hull Dam on Old Hickory Lake in April and May.
Where do you catch musky in Tennessee in April?
Musky spawn at roughly 49–59°F. The Calfkiller and Collins rivers above Great Falls Lake, best in April and May.
Do any Tennessee fishing rules change in April?
Gatlinburg harvest reopens April 1 at 5 per day. Walleye-run rules end April 30 (April 15 on the East Fork Obey).
Do I need a license to fish in Tennessee in April?
Yes. Anyone 13 or older needs a Tennessee fishing license all year, and a trout license is needed to fish for or keep trout unless the license already includes it.
Patterns, spawning temperatures and named waters come from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s reservoir pages, regulations and trout forecast, linked on each species. Fish follow the water temperature, not the calendar, so a warm or cold year shifts everything by a few weeks. For this week’s conditions see TWRA’s weekly fishing report.
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.