UTERStriped bass fishing in Tennessee freshwater
In Tennessee freshwater, striped bass peak October–May and are around year-round, spawning in March–April, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Norris, Melton Hill and Cumberland: big stripers in the creek arms.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Striped bass in Tennessee freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryPeakNorris, Melton Hill and Cumberland: big stripers in the creek arms.
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchSpawning
- AprilSpawning
- MayPeak
- JuneAround
- JulyAroundBelow Cheatham Dam and in the cool tailwaters.
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish striped bass near Dale Hollow, Chickamauga Lake, Kentucky Lake
Dale Hollow's smallmouth, Chickamauga's giant largemouth, Kentucky Lake's crappie and ledges, the TVA tailwaters' trout and sauger, and Reelfoot's crappie.
What to use for striped bass
- Live eelsHooked through the lips on a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook and sight-cast to a cobia or dropped to a cobia on a ray — the eel is the cobia bait.
- Menhaden (pogies)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined or slow-trolled; cut in chunks for the bottom.
- HerringCut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run.
- BloodwormsA piece threaded on a #2 to 2/0 hook on a hi-lo or fish-finder rig — the striper, spot, croaker and white perch bait of the Chesapeake and the surf.
- Sand eelsFree-lined or on a light jig head for stripers, fluke and bluefish; strips teased on a fluke rig.
- Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 42–80°F water, best at 50–68°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch striped bass in Tennessee freshwater?
Peak season is October–May, with fish spawning in March–April (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Striped bass are here year-round. January: Norris, Melton Hill and Cumberland: big stripers in the creek arms.
Where do striped bass hold in Tennessee freshwater?
Look on bridge, dock / pilings, river, reservoir, lake — around Dale Hollow, Chickamauga Lake, Kentucky Lake, Norris Lake, Reelfoot Lake, South Holston River.
What is the best bait for striped bass in Tennessee freshwater?
Live bait: live eels, menhaden (pogies), herring, bloodworms. Live eels: Hooked through the lips on a 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook and sight-cast to a cobia or dropped to a cobia on a ray — the eel is the cobia bait. Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
What are the rules for striped bass in Tennessee freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and change — read the current rule at https://www.tn.gov/twra/fishing-regs.html before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://www.tn.gov/twra/fishing/fishing-licenses.html.
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