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Tennessee claims more fishable stream miles than any state except Alaska — thousands of miles of Appalachian rivers, tailwaters, and TVA impoundments. Dale Hollow Lake on the Kentucky border shares the world smallmouth bass record (11 lbs 15 oz). The Clinch River and South Holston tailwaters below TVA dams are world-class rainbow and brown trout fisheries. Norris Lake, Cherokee Lake, and Douglas Lake hold striped bass and largemouth bass in the Ridge and Valley region.
The Hiwassee River near Reliance is a designated wild and scenic river with exceptional trout fishing. The Tennessee River mainstem and the Cumberland River hold flathead and blue catfish approaching 100 pounds.
Resident licenses cost $34. Tennessee fishing benefits from the TVA system — the chain of dams created cold-water releases that support trout fisheries in a state too far south to have them naturally. If you move to Knoxville, you are within 30 minutes of two world-class tailwater trout fisheries and within an hour of excellent smallmouth bass rivers.
Tennessee's TVA reservoir system — Dale Hollow, Norris, Cherokee, Douglas — ranks among the finest bass fisheries in the Southeast. The tailwaters below TVA dams produce exceptional trout. Tennessee has more miles of fishable streams than any state except Alaska.
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Sources: State wildlife agencies, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Bassmaster, Field & Stream, In-Fisherman, Fly Fisherman magazine. License costs reflect annual resident/non-resident fishing license only; additional stamps (trout, salmon) may apply. Updated May 2026.