Fishing in Nashville, TN: State-Record Catfish, World-Record Smallmouth, and Trophy Trout

Nashville has quietly assembled one of the most diverse fishing portfolios of any major American city. Within the metro area, Percy Priest Lake offers 14,000 acres of bass, crappie, and striper fishing with 15 free boat ramps. The Cumberland River below Old Hickory Dam produces trophy striped bass exceeding 50 pounds and state-record blue catfish. An hour east, the Caney Fork tailwater holds brown and rainbow trout year-round. Two hours northeast, Dale Hollow Lake produced the world-record smallmouth bass — a record that's stood since 1955.

All of this sits behind a city known for honky-tonks and hot chicken, which means the fishing pressure is a fraction of what you'd find near any comparably productive waters in the Ozarks, the Carolinas, or the Great Lakes.

Percy Priest Lake: Nashville's Backyard Fishery

Percy Priest is the lake that Nashville locals fish on weekday evenings and Saturday mornings. Eight miles from downtown, 14,200 acres of water spread across the Stones River valley with 260 miles of shoreline. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, striped bass, walleye, and catfish — it's a full-menu fishery with year-round access.

Bass: The main draw. Largemouth hold along the upper reservoir embayments — Spring Creek, Fall Creek, and Stewart Creek are the marquee coves. Smallmouth concentrate near Hamilton Creek on rocky structure. In spring, work shallow spawning banks with lipless crankbaits and white spinnerbaits near brushy shorelines. Summer pushes fish deeper — Ned rigs and shaky heads along bluff walls. Fall is topwater season: schooling bass chase shad on the surface, and a Heddon One Knocker Spook across the boils produces explosive strikes.

TWRA has placed fish attractors — engineered brush piles — throughout the lake, designed so you can run spinnerbaits and crankbaits through them without snagging. These hold bass year-round, particularly from November through April in 6-15 feet of water.

Crappie: Percy Priest is a top Tennessee crappie destination, and the spring spawn (mid-April through May) is the main event. Crappie move shallow to spawn, and a single long panfish rod with a curly-tail grub or Roadrunner jig is all you need. When fish are scattered, spider rigging — slow-trolling multiple rods to cover water — is the go-to technique. TWRA brush piles at 14-20 feet hold fish year-round for vertical jigging with minnows or small jigs.

Stripers and hybrids: Percy Priest holds both striped bass and hybrid stripers. Guides run trolling and downlining patterns, but casting artificials near dam structures and bluff walls produces too.

Access: 15 free public boat ramps (no launch fees). Five marinas offer gas, boat rentals, and food. Popular shore-fishing spots at Stewart Creek, Vivrett Creek, and Cook Recreation Areas. You don't need a boat to catch fish here.

Cumberland River: Trophy Stripers and State-Record Catfish

The Cumberland River below Old Hickory Dam is serious trophy water. This is not suburban pond fishing — this is big fish in big current.

Striped bass: Stripers stack up in the boils and eddies below the dam, holding in current seams and behind breaks. Live bait is the preferred method for trophies — skipjack herring, gizzard shad, and even rainbow trout on heavy gear (50-pound test, titanium hooks). Spoons and jigs produce too. Fish regularly exceed 40-50 pounds. The peak run is late April through early June when stripers push upriver to spawn, but they're catchable year-round.

Blue catfish: The Cumberland River is a legitimate trophy blue catfish destination. Angler Micka Burkhart caught a 118.7-pound blue cat in September 2022 — then broke his own state record with a 122.3-pound blue in June 2023. Both fish came from the Cumberland in Stewart County. On the day of his first record, he also landed 72-pound and 69-pound blues. The technique is simple: cut bait (skipjack, shad) in deep holes and pools on 30-pound test. Channel cats and flatheads are also present throughout the system.

Old Hickory Lake: The Other Nashville Lake

Old Hickory covers 22,500 acres northeast of Nashville with 450 miles of shoreline. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and hybrid stripers are the primary targets. Smallmouth work the dam riprap on crankbaits and grubs in 3-10 feet. The lake doesn't get the attention that Percy Priest does, which works in your favor — less pressure, more room.

Dale Hollow Lake: The Smallmouth Capital of the World

Two hours northeast of Nashville, straddling the Tennessee-Kentucky border, Dale Hollow holds a distinction no other water on earth can match: the world-record smallmouth bass. David L. Hayes caught an 11-pound, 15-ounce smallmouth here on July 9, 1955. Six of the top ten smallmouth bass ever recorded came from Dale Hollow. The record has stood for seventy years.

Modern anglers routinely catch 20-40 smallmouth per day, with fish in the 3-5 pound range common. The lake's exceptional water clarity — visibility often exceeds 15 feet — makes it ideal for sight-fishing along rocky points and bluffs. Crayfish-imitating jigs, drop-shot rigs, and topwater poppers are the standard approaches.

Dale Hollow also holds walleye, trout (stocked in deeper sections), largemouth bass, and catfish. It's worth a multi-day trip.

Caney Fork River: Tailwater Trout

An hour east of Nashville, the Caney Fork below Center Hill Dam is a year-round tailwater trout fishery — cold, clean water holding brown and rainbow trout with fish regularly reaching 20 inches. This is primarily a fly fishing destination (see our detailed Caney Fork guide), but spin anglers catch plenty of trout on small Rapalas, Rooster Tails, and Trout Magnets. Check the dam generation schedule before going — the river rises fast when turbines run.

The Harpeth and Duck Rivers: Smallmouth Streams

The Harpeth River runs through Franklin and Bellevue in Nashville's suburbs with nine public access points. Smallmouth bass to 20 inches, rock bass, and sunfish. Best from a canoe with crankbaits, topwater poppers, and small swimbaits.

The Duck River, an hour south, is one of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America with 30-plus public access points and excellent smallmouth fishing in low-pressure conditions. Float trips by canoe or kayak are the best way to cover water.

Fishing License

Tennessee non-resident fishing licenses are affordable: $49/year for all-fish (no trout), or add the $21 trout supplement if you're heading to the Caney Fork or Elk River. Short-term options: $30.50 (10-day), $20.50 (3-day), or $6.50 (1-day). Purchase at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com — you'll need a Social Security number (state law requirement).

When to Fish Nashville

March-May: The sweet spot. Crappie spawn on Percy Priest. Bass move shallow on all lakes. Striper run begins on the Cumberland. Trout fishing picks up on the Caney Fork with sulphur hatches.

June-August: Summer bass fishing peaks with topwater action on Percy Priest. Striper fishing stays strong during generation releases. Caney Fork trout fish well despite the heat (55°F tailwater).

September-November: Fall is arguably the best all-around window. Bass are schooling on Percy Priest. Trophy brown trout are aggressive on the Caney Fork. Catfish feed heavily before winter. Dale Hollow smallmouth are active. Weather is perfect.

December-February: Slower but fishable. Winter crappie in Percy Priest brush piles. Midge fishing on the Caney Fork. Blue cats in the Cumberland.

The Hot Chicken Mandate

No Nashville fishing trip is complete without hot chicken. Prince's Hot Chicken Shack is the original. Hattie B's is the tourist-friendly version. Bolton's is the locals' favorite. Order it "hot" your first time — "shut the cluck up" is for repeat visitors. After a day on Percy Priest or the Cumberland, there is no better meal.

Come for the music. Fish everything in between.

Top Fishing Guides in Nashville

Nashville guides fish Percy Priest Lake for largemouth and smallmouth bass, target trophy stripers and state-record-class blue catfish on the Cumberland River, and run tailwater trips on the Caney Fork for brown and rainbow trout. Dale Hollow Lake — home of the world-record smallmouth — is a day trip away.

Brian Carper Fishing Guide Service

Nashville, TN, US

5.0 (935 reviews)

Brian Carper Fishing Guide Service has been delivering exceptional fishing experiences across Middle Tennessee's premier waters since 2004. Specializing in bass, crappie, and hybrid fishing on Percy Priest Lake and Old Hickory Lake, the guide service combines deep local knowledge with a genuine commitment to angler satisfaction. Brian and his team offer flexible trip options tailored to different preferences and budgets—from efficient bass boat outings to leisurely pontoon fishing and luxury pontoon tours. Whether you're a serious angler targeting trophy bass or looking for a relaxed day on the water, the service focuses on creating memorable experiences that showcase what makes Middle Tennessee's lakes exceptional.

Music City Anglers

Nashville, TN, US

Music City Anglers brings professional expertise to Nashville's most rewarding fisheries. Based in the heart of Music City, this full-time guide service specializes in warmwater and tailwater fishing throughout the region's pristine rivers. Whether pursuing largemouth and smallmouth bass, musky, striped bass, or trout, anglers of all skill levels—from beginners to seasoned veterans—benefit from the guide's deep knowledge of local waters and proven techniques. Each outing is thoughtfully tailored to match individual goals and experience. Music City Anglers is committed to delivering exceptional service and creating memorable days on the water, helping clients connect with the region's outstanding fisheries while building confidence and technique along the way.

Tennessee Fly Fisher

Nashville, TN, US

Tennessee Fly Fisher brings expert fly fishing instruction to middle Tennessee's premier trout waters. Based in Nashville, the guide specializes in the Caney Fork, Elk River, and Duck River—pristine destinations known for trophy trout and smallmouth bass. Whether floating the scenic stretches aboard the custom McKenzie River Drift boat, Lady K, or wading gentle banks on foot, anglers of all skill levels discover the techniques and confidence needed for consistent success. The guide's balanced approach combines the comfort and coverage of drift boat days with the intimate instruction of walking trips. This flexibility makes Tennessee Fly Fisher an ideal choice for those seeking a first fly fishing experience as well as seasoned anglers looking to refine their craft on truly exceptional Tennessee waters.

ONX Charters

Nashville, TN, US

ONX Charters delivers premier fishing experiences on Nashville's premier waters—J Percy Priest Reservoir and the Cumberland River. Led by Captain Taylor Genz, an experienced guide with a proven track record, the charter specializes in bass fishing for anglers of all skill levels, from families seeking a relaxed outing to serious anglers pursuing trophy catches. What sets ONX Charters apart is the combination of personalized instruction and cutting-edge technology. Captain Genz leverages advanced Garmin LiveScope sonar to locate fish and maximize time on the water, while tailoring each trip to match the group's experience level and goals. Whether it's an introduction to fishing fundamentals or a targeted adventure for seasoned anglers, ONX Charters is committed to creating a successful and memorable day on the water.

Loc Solid Fishing

Nashville, TN, US

Loc Solid Fishing is a premier guide service on Percy Priest Lake in Nashville, Tennessee, dedicated to creating memorable fishing experiences for anglers of all skill levels. The operation provides comprehensive equipment and tackle, allowing guests to focus entirely on the fishing experience without worrying about gear logistics. What sets Loc Solid Fishing apart is their confidence-backed approach: a "No Fish No Pay" guarantee reflects their commitment to client success. Whether hosting first-time anglers or seasoned fishermen, the guide tailors each outing to match experience level and expectations, ensuring every trip delivers results and satisfaction.

Fish Nashville

Nashville, TN, US

Fish Nashville provides expertly guided fishing experiences across the beautiful waters surrounding Nashville, Tennessee. Specializing in the Cumberland River and the scenic Percy Priest and Old Hickory Lakes, the team pursues a diverse range of species using proven techniques including vertical jigging, live bait fishing, and trolling. Their seasoned guides and modern, well-equipped boats create a foundation for both safety and success. Whether anglers seek a peaceful day on the water or the challenge of competitive fishing, Fish Nashville welcomes guests of all skill levels. The guides skillfully tailor each outing to match individual goals and experience, ensuring memorable experiences for everyone from relaxed recreational anglers to serious tournament competitors.

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