November at a glance
Tennessee fishing in November
Smallmouth season on Norris, sauger back below the dams, and winter trout stocking begins.
What to bring for November:
Species by species
What to fish for in Tennessee in November
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass in TennesseeTWRA says the best smallmouth fishing on Norris is from November to April.
Where: Norris Lake, and creeks near the dam on Center Hill Lake as the shad school up in late fall.
Source: TWRA: Norris · TWRA: Center Hill
Sauger
Sauger in TennesseeSauger gather below the dams.
Where: Below Old Hickory Dam on Cheatham Lake, prime from November to March.
Source: TWRA: Cheatham
Striped bass
Striped bass in TennesseeStripers move up to the steam plant.
Where: The John Sevier Steam Plant area of Cherokee Lake in late fall.
Rules: On Norris Lake the striper limit becomes 1 per day at 36″ from November 1.
Source: TWRA: Cherokee · TWRA: Norris
Trout
Trout in TennesseeWinter trout stocking begins late in the month, and the Holston below Cherokee is stocked from November to April.
Where: Over 40 winter sites statewide, and the Holston River tailwater.
Rules: Two South Holston spawning areas close November 1 to January 31. Piney River and Big Soddy go catch and release from November 1.
Source: TWRA winter trout program · TWRA Trout Fishing Forecast · TWRA trout regulations · TWRA South Holston tailwater plan
Crappie
Crappie in TennesseeCrappie go to deeper water on the main channel as it cools.
Where: Woods Reservoir at 20–30 ft in winter.
Source: TWRA: Woods
Where to go
Tennessee lakes and rivers to fish in November
Common questions
Tennessee fishing in November: questions
What is biting in Tennessee in November?
In November, Tennessee anglers mostly target smallmouth bass, sauger, striped bass, trout and crappie. Smallmouth season on Norris, sauger back below the dams, and winter trout stocking begins.
Where is the best fishing in Tennessee in November?
TWRA names Norris Lake, Center Hill Lake, Cheatham Lake, Cherokee Lake, Woods Reservoir among the waters for this time of year.
Where do you catch smallmouth bass in Tennessee in November?
TWRA says the best smallmouth fishing on Norris is from November to April. Norris Lake, and creeks near the dam on Center Hill Lake as the shad school up in late fall.
Where do you catch sauger in Tennessee in November?
Sauger gather below the dams. Below Old Hickory Dam on Cheatham Lake, prime from November to March.
Where do you catch striped bass in Tennessee in November?
Stripers move up to the steam plant. The John Sevier Steam Plant area of Cherokee Lake in late fall.
Where do you catch trout in Tennessee in November?
Winter trout stocking begins late in the month, and the Holston below Cherokee is stocked from November to April. Over 40 winter sites statewide, and the Holston River tailwater.
Do any Tennessee fishing rules change in November?
On Norris Lake the striper limit becomes 1 per day at 36″ from November 1. Two South Holston spawning areas close November 1 to January 31. Piney River and Big Soddy go catch and release from November 1.
Do I need a license to fish in Tennessee in November?
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.
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More Tennessee water, and who fishes it
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