February at a glance
Tennessee fishing in February
Walleye runs start late in the month, sauger spawn, and crappie begin moving into the creeks.
What to bring for February:
Species by species
What to fish for in Tennessee in February
Walleye
Walleye in TennesseeWalleye spawn at 45–50°F and make their runs late February into March.
Where: The East Fork Obey above Dale Hollow Lake in late February and early March, and below Watts Bar Dam on Chickamauga Lake, where the spawn runs from late February through March.
Rules: Single-hook run rules apply on the East Fork Obey from January 1 to April 15.
Source: TWRA: Dale Hollow · TWRA: Chickamauga · TWRA regulation exceptions
Sauger
Sauger in TennesseeSauger spawn at roughly 40–45°F, peaking in February and March on Chickamauga.
Where: Below the Tennessee River dams, and the forks of the river on Fort Loudoun Lake in late winter.
Source: TWRA: Cordell Hull · TWRA: Chickamauga · TWRA: Fort Loudoun
Crappie
Crappie in TennesseeCrappie start moving into the creeks ahead of the spawn.
Where: Defeated, Martin and Indian creeks on Cordell Hull Lake in February, and Flat, Muddy and McGuire creeks on Douglas Lake from February to early May.
Source: TWRA: Cordell Hull · TWRA: Douglas
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass in TennesseeLate winter is one of the best times for smallmouth.
Where: Tims Ford Lake, which TWRA calls the best reservoir smallmouth fishery in Middle Tennessee, and doll flies on Melton Hill Lake.
Source: TWRA: Tims Ford · TWRA: Melton Hill
Musky
Musky in TennesseeMusky are often caught by walleye anglers in February and March.
Where: Near Rock Island on Center Hill Lake, and Dale Hollow Lake from December to March.
Source: TWRA: Center Hill · TWRA: Dale Hollow
Where to go
Tennessee lakes and rivers to fish in February
Common questions
Tennessee fishing in February: questions
What is biting in Tennessee in February?
In February, Tennessee anglers mostly target walleye, sauger, crappie, smallmouth bass and musky. Walleye runs start late in the month, sauger spawn, and crappie begin moving into the creeks.
Where is the best fishing in Tennessee in February?
TWRA names Dale Hollow Lake, Chickamauga Lake, Fort Loudoun Lake, Cordell Hull Lake, Douglas Lake, Tims Ford Lake among the waters for this time of year.
Where do you catch walleye in Tennessee in February?
Walleye spawn at 45–50°F and make their runs late February into March. The East Fork Obey above Dale Hollow Lake in late February and early March, and below Watts Bar Dam on Chickamauga Lake, where the spawn runs from late February through March.
Where do you catch sauger in Tennessee in February?
Sauger spawn at roughly 40–45°F, peaking in February and March on Chickamauga. Below the Tennessee River dams, and the forks of the river on Fort Loudoun Lake in late winter.
Where do you catch crappie in Tennessee in February?
Crappie start moving into the creeks ahead of the spawn. Defeated, Martin and Indian creeks on Cordell Hull Lake in February, and Flat, Muddy and McGuire creeks on Douglas Lake from February to early May.
Where do you catch smallmouth bass in Tennessee in February?
Late winter is one of the best times for smallmouth. Tims Ford Lake, which TWRA calls the best reservoir smallmouth fishery in Middle Tennessee, and doll flies on Melton Hill Lake.
Do any Tennessee fishing rules change in February?
Single-hook run rules apply on the East Fork Obey from January 1 to April 15.
Do I need a license to fish in Tennessee in February?
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
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