![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Brown Trout aren't native to the state, but have been introduced in many suitable places. They can be found in moderate to steeply sloped cold water streams and rivers, reservoirs and tailraces, where temperatures stay between 33 and 75 degrees F. Their habitat is similar to that of the brook or rainbow trout, but brown trout can live in water with slightly higher temperatures. Brown trout favor mayflies, but will feed on a wide variety of animals, such as worms, snails, frogs, insects, crawfish, salamanders and smaller fishes. Brown trout are most often found in the higher elevations of eastern Tennessee and selected reservoir tailwaters. They are most common in areas where they are maintained by stocking. Contact the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for more information. The average length kept in our state is around 10 inches. Tennessee brown trout range from 8 to 20 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Rainbow Trout are also not native to Tennessee, but they've been stocked extensively in the state, particularly in the eastern region. They are usually found in cold water rivers and streams where temperatures stay cooler than 70 degrees F. They are also found in several of the cooler water reservoirs and suitable tail waters. Rainbow trout eat insects, crayfish, fishes and fish eggs. They enjoy a short, frenzied feeding period when aquatic insects begin to emerge. Rainbow trout are more numerous in the higher elevations of eastern Tennessee. They are common in most waters where trout exist. Approximately nine inches is the average length. They range between 6 and 18 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Channel Catfish are characteristic of clear, medium to large rivers, reservoirs and ponds. They will eat almost anything, preferring insects, worms, fish eggs, crayfish, amphipods and a variety of plants, such as vegetable seed and fruits, and fish (usually dead). Channel catfish are common and found generally throughout the state except in trout streams. With a state average length harvested from reservoir of approximately 16 inches, this catfish ranges from 10 to 38 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Blue Catfish are found in major rivers and reservoirs, but are also characteristic of deep areas of large rivers throughout their range. Look for them in chutes and pools with currents. The food of the blue catfish includes fishes, crayfish, aquatic insects and many other animals in comes across. Found throughout Tennessee in reservoirs and larger rivers, this catfish is common. Approximately 18 inches is the average length harvested from reservoir, with a range of 12 to 40 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Flathead Catfish live in major rivers and reservoirs, and prefer deep holes scoured by currents, such as those in eddies, adjacent to bridge pilings and in tailraces below dams. They feed mainly on live fish, taking whatever is most available. This includes gizzard shad, freshwater drum, carp, channel catfish, bullheads, bluegill and occasionally crayfish. Flathead catfish are found throughout Tennessee except in the higher elevations of the eastern mountains. They are common and those harvested average 18 inches in length in the state. The range is from 12 to 40 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Yellow Bullhead live in small shallow lakes, ponds, reservoirs and slow moving streams with various bottom types from much to gravel. They are less tolerant of poor water conditions than other bullheads. Yellow Bullhead feed on a wide variety of small, live and dead fish. They'll also eat dragonfly nymphs, crayfish, mollusks and fragments of aquatic plants. They range throughout Tennessee except higher elevations of the eastern mountains and are common. In Tennessee the average length for harvested yellow bullhead is approximately 10 inches. They range from 4 to 16 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Brown Bullhead usually inhabit still or slowly flowing warm waters such as ponds, lakes and sluggish streams and reservoirs. They are tolerant of poor water conditions including siltation and pollution. Brown Bullhead feed on mollusks, insects, leeches, sunfishes, crustaceans, worms, algae, plant material, fishes (usually dead) and fish eggs. Found throughout Tennessee except in the higher elevations of the eastern mountains, this bullhead is common. Its average length harvested is 8 inches and range is between 4 and 14 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Black Bullhead are found in ponds and lower sections of small to medium sized streams with little slope, as well as in pools and backwaters of larger streams and rivers and slity, soft bottomed areas of lakes and reservoirs. They feed on immature insects, clams, snails, crustaceans, plant material, leeches and fishes (usually dead) such as common shiners and sunfish. Black bullhead are common and found throughout the state except in the higher elevations of the eastern mountains. 8 inches is the average harvested length. The range of length is from 4 to 14 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Longnose Gar are found in larger streams and reservoirs, where they go to the warmest waters. Adult gar feed on fishes such as shiners, sunfish, shad, catfish, carp and bullheads, as well as any other available food that their throats will accommodate. They show a preference for two to three inch minnows and other small fishes that lack spiny fins. Longnose gar are found throughout the state except in the higher elevations of eastern Tennessee. They are common throughout this range. The average longnose recorded in Tennessee is around 18 inches, but the range from 12 to 36 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Shortnose Gar are found in quiet , unvegetated, often backwater areas of rivers and in lakes, and oxbows. They are more tolerant of muddy water than other gar and prefer warm water. This gar feeds on crayfish, fish and emerging aquatic insects. Shortnose gar are found mainly in the larger reservoirs and rivers in Tennessee. They are common in the western portion of the state, gradually reducing in numbers toward the eastern part of Tennessee, where they are rare. Tennessee shortnose gar average around 18 inches and range from 12 to 30 inches in length. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Spotted Gar are most abundant in quiet, clear water with a lot of aquatic vegetation. They prefer warmer waters than other gar, but also feed on fishes. In Tennessee, spotted gar are found mostly in the larger reservoirs and rivers. They are common in the western portion of the state, decreasing to rare in eastern waters. Approximate average length is 16 inches and 12 to 26 in the range. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Bigmouth Buffalo inhabit the shallow portions of larger rivers, oxbows, lakes and reservoirs. Even though they prefer clear water, they can tolerate muddy water and are well adapted to reservoirs. Bigmouth buffalo eat plankton as well as bottom organisms, including insects, mollusks, algae, many microscopic organisms and plant material. Bigmouth Buffalo are found throughout the western half of Tennessee in larger bodies of water and in the mainstream reservoirs as far east as Knoxville. Although these are seldom seen by sport fishermen, they are common throughout their range. Harvested bigmouth average approximately 24 inches in length. They range from 16 to 38 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Smallmouth Buffalo prefer the clear waters of larger rivers and reservoirs. They eat both animal and vegetable matter, and their main animal foods are aquatic larvae and sometimes microscopic forms strained from the mud. Vegetable foods are algae and small plants. Smallmouth buffalo are abundant throughout Tennessee in most larger rivers and reservoirs, except in habitat east of Knoxville and on the Cumberland Plateau, where they are rare. Approximately 22 inches in the average length of smallmouth buffalo harvested in Tennessee and they range between 14 and 34 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Black Buffalo are similar to largemouth and smallmouth buffalo, but since they prefer running water are often found in strong currents or large rivers. Although more of a vegetarian than other buffalo, black buffalo in Tennessee is similar to that of the largemouth buffalo. Harvested black buffalo average approximately 24 inches in Tennessee and range between 16 and 40 inches in length. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Golden Redhorse inhabits riffle areas and pools of small to large, clear streams and rivers, where riffles are composed of sand, gravel, boulders, and the pools are free from heavy silt and aquatic vegetation. It is also found in lakes and reservoirs, but is better adapted to river than lake habitat. Food of the golden redhorse consists of animals and algae sucked up out of bottom sediments, including immature insects, worms, mollusks, chironomids, mayflies, caddisfilies, oligochaetes, fingernail clams. They are found throughout Tennessee, except the higher elevations of the eastern mountains and the Mississippi River and its direct tributaries. It is often common in its range. The state average for golden redhorse is 14 inches. The range is 10 to 20 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
River Carpsucker prefers Tennessee's larger river systems and their reservoirs but may also be found in more moderately sized rivers. The river carpsucker's diet consists of food found on the bottom, such as insects, algae and plant material. The river carpsucker is found in all medium to large rivers and most reservoirs throughout Tennessee except for the extreme eastern portion. It is generally common and averages approximately 14 inches in length. Range is 10 to 20 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Gizzard Shad occur in schools and prefer productive, calm, warm waters, although they can also be found in rivers, streams and tailraces where currents are strong. Their habitat also includes natural lakes, ponds, pools and backwaters of low gradient streams. They feed almost entirely on microscopic organisms which are strained from water or silt. Gizzard shad will also pick through mud and organic matter on the bottom for small food. They are widely distributed in Tennessee, and are abundant in all of the larger streams and lakes. Although they are seldom caught by hook and line, gizzard shad average approximately 10 inches in length and range from 2 to 14 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Threadfin Shad live in lakes, larger rivers and reservoirs. While this fish is probably not native to any portion of Tennessee, it has been widely introduced into reservoirs as a forage species. Threadfin shad feed on plankton and are common in all major rivers and reservoirs. The range in size from 1 to 6 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Skipjack Herring prefer large rivers with usually clear, cool flowing water. They are also adapted to large mainstream reservoirs where they can be found in the fast flowing waters below dams. They feed primarily on fish, insects and plankton, and often in schools, when they force groups of small shad to the surface. Skipjack herring are found mostly in Tennessee's mainstream reservoirs and their larger tributary rivers. They are common in this habitat from Knoxville westward, excluding the Cumberland Plateau. They average approximately 12 inches in length and range from 9 to 20 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Alewife is not native to Tennessee. It was introduced into the waters of the state from the great Lakes because it can withstand the colder temperatures that often wipe out other forage species (primarily threadfin shad). They have been introduced into Dale Hollow and Watauga reservoirs, but can now be found in several reservoirs located downstream from these. Alewife feed primarily on microscopic plants and animals but occasionally on fish eggs and small fish. Most alewife average between 2 and 6 inches although they are seldom seen by fisherman. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Paddlefish prefer large, free flowing rivers rich in zooplankton, but are commonly found in reservoirs where they have adapted well but occasionally are unable to fins suitable spawning sites to maintain their populations. They feed primarily on plankton strained out of the water, and occasionally on very small fish that are inadvertently strained. Paddlefish are usually found in the mainstream reservoirs of the Tennessee and Cumberland river systems, although populations exist in a few tributary reservoirs of the state. They are common to uncommon over this range. In Tennessee paddlefish average 36 inches in length and range from 24 to 60 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Bowfin is a quiet water resident found in sluggish, swampy, clear, vegetated bays of warm lakes and rivers. It can live in hot, poorly oxygenated water that are uninhabitable to many fishes. This is because they are able to take air directly into an air bladder, a process similar to breathing. Bowfin are voracious predators that favor fish but will consume virtually any type of animal, such as crayfish, freshwater shrimp, frogs, and larger insects like water beetles and dragonfly nymphs. Habitat of the bowfin is the Tennessee River from Chattanooga downstream, the Cumberland River from Nashville downstream and the Mississippi River and its direct tributaries. They are common in the western part of their range. Changing to rare in the eastern portion. Average state length harvested is 24 inches, with a range of 16 to 34 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Carp are not native to the United States. They were imported into the northeast in the early 1830's and expanded it's range to Tennessee. Carp prefer larger, warmer waters and flourish in muddy lakes. They are found in rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, and swamps where water temperatures range from 34 to 96 degrees F. They occur over all types of bottoms and in clear or muddy waters. Carp will eat almost any plant or animal matter found on the stream or lake bottom. Important foods are plants, small crustaceans and worms. Carp are abundant throughout the state. They average 14 inches in length and range from 10 to 32 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Drum seem to prefer large impoundment's and rivers, but occur in a wide variety of habitats. They are mainly bottom feeders, eating insect larvae, crustaceans, small fish, clams, and snails. Drum are found throughout the state, excluding trout streams of eastern Tennessee and are common. Their average harvest length is 10 inches and range from 6 to 14 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
White Amur (commonly called "grass carp") is native to several large river systems in Asia and has been widely introduced into small ponds and lakes for control of algae and other aquatic vegetation. It is capable of surviving in all but the smallest pons and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. This transplant feeds on most forms of aquatic vegetation that comes in contact with the water. White amur are found in other types of waters where they have escaped from stocked pons. These are rarely caught by fishermen. Tennessee's average white amur length is approximately 20 inches. They range from 10 to 36 inches.; |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Golden Shiner is a lake species, preferring clean, clear, quiet, shallow, vegetated areas of lakes, reservoirs and sluggish stretches of rivers and streams. It eats algae, water fleas and other plankton organisms, chironomid paupae, aquatic insect larvae, dragonfly nymphs, cladocera, flying insects, midges, mollusks and occasionally small fishes. The golden shiner is found throughout Tennessee and is common to abundant. It averages approximately five inches in length and ranges between three and six inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Central Stonerroller commonly called "horny Head" is characteristic of small to medium sized streams with clear, cool water and moderate, sometimes rapid current, gravel or rubble bottom, and pools or riffles, but is also found in clear reservoirs. It is tolerant of muddy or silty waters. A vegetable feeder, the stoneroller eats algae and other minute plants found in the mud and on the surface of stones. Stonerollers can be found throughout Tennessee and are usually very common. They average about 4 inches in length and range between 2 and 10 inches. |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Home Lodging Dining Fishing Hunting Property Bait Shops Fuel/Fast Food |
|||||||||||||||||||