May at a glance
Tennessee fishing in May
Bream bed, stripers run up the Cumberland, and catfish start moving shallow.
What to bring for May:
Species by species
What to fish for in Tennessee in May
Bluegill and redear
Bluegill and redear in TennesseeRedear spawn at 68–72°F a few days before bluegill, which spawn at 70–75°F, the first spawn in May. Both are shallow from late April to early June.
Where: Kentucky Lake, Pickwick Lake and Lake Barkley, where April to June are the prime months, and Reelfoot Lake around the cypress trees on the May to July full moons.
Source: TWRA: Dale Hollow · TWRA: Watts Bar · TWRA: Kentucky · TWRA: Pickwick · TWRA: Barkley · TWRA: Reelfoot
Striped bass
Striped bass in TennesseeStripers run up the Cumberland to Cordell Hull Dam at low to mid 60s°F. TWRA sees fish over 50 lb every year.
Where: Old Hickory Lake near Carthage, where TWRA says May is a great month.
Source: TWRA: Old Hickory
Walleye
Walleye in TennesseeAfter the spawn walleye feed on moonlit nights.
Where: Dale Hollow Lake in April and May.
Source: TWRA: Dale Hollow
Catfish
Catfish in TennesseeCatfish move shallow in late May and early June. Channel cats use big rock banks from mid-May to mid-June on Percy Priest.
Where: J. Percy Priest Lake, Center Hill Lake (April to June) and Great Falls Lake (May and June).
Source: TWRA: Nickajack · TWRA: Percy Priest · TWRA: Center Hill · TWRA: Great Falls
Lake trout
Lake trout trolling starts on Dale Hollow.
Where: Dale Hollow Lake, with June the best month, at 30–50 ft.
Source: TWRA: Dale Hollow
Where to go
Tennessee lakes and rivers to fish in May
Common questions
Tennessee fishing in May: questions
What is biting in Tennessee in May?
In May, Tennessee anglers mostly target bluegill and redear, striped bass, walleye, catfish and lake trout. Bream bed, stripers run up the Cumberland, and catfish start moving shallow.
Where is the best fishing in Tennessee in May?
TWRA names Kentucky Lake, Pickwick Lake, Lake Barkley, Reelfoot Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Dale Hollow Lake among the waters for this time of year.
Where do you catch bluegill and redear in Tennessee in May?
Redear spawn at 68–72°F a few days before bluegill, which spawn at 70–75°F, the first spawn in May. Both are shallow from late April to early June. Kentucky Lake, Pickwick Lake and Lake Barkley, where April to June are the prime months, and Reelfoot Lake around the cypress trees on the May to July full moons.
Where do you catch striped bass in Tennessee in May?
Stripers run up the Cumberland to Cordell Hull Dam at low to mid 60s°F. TWRA sees fish over 50 lb every year. Old Hickory Lake near Carthage, where TWRA says May is a great month.
Where do you catch walleye in Tennessee in May?
After the spawn walleye feed on moonlit nights. Dale Hollow Lake in April and May.
Where do you catch catfish in Tennessee in May?
Catfish move shallow in late May and early June. Channel cats use big rock banks from mid-May to mid-June on Percy Priest. J. Percy Priest Lake, Center Hill Lake (April to June) and Great Falls Lake (May and June).
Do I need a license to fish in Tennessee in May?
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.