Chickamauga Lake fishing conditions · Tennessee

Today, 2 pm–6 pmSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 84.

Right now: 59 for smallmouth bass, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Smallmouth bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

5910 am
59
59
591 pm
84
84
844 pm
84
74
747 pm
74
64
6410 pm
64
64Tue
641 am
64
64
644 am
64
64
597 am
59
59
5910 am
59
59
641 pm
74
74
744 pm
74
74
747 pm
64
59

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: No reading
Wind: 0 mph
Flow: 5.14 ft gauge height
Light: Daylight
Sky: Mostly Sunny
Air: 55°F
Barometer: Rising
Moon: 100% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Tennessee regulations for these waters.

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

84Worth the tripToday, 2 pm–6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Tennessee statewide: no minimum length, 5 black bass a day combined. Reservoir rules: Kentucky Lake 15"; Percy Priest and Tims Ford 18"; Chickamauga no minimum but only 1 over 16"; Dale Hollow protects smallmouth from 16 to 21" and allows 2 a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Tennessee

Season here: Feb–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

78Worth the tripToday, 2 pm–6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Tennessee statewide: no minimum length, 5 black bass a day combined. Most big reservoirs set their own minimum: Kentucky Lake, Chickamauga, Percy Priest, Tims Ford and Dale Hollow are 15" on largemouth.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Tennessee

Season here: Feb–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

78Worth the tripToday, 2 pm–6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

10" minimum · 15 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Tennessee statewide: 10" minimum, 15 crappie a day; Region 1 waters without their own rule are 30 a day with no minimum. Kentucky Lake is 10" and 20 a day; Percy Priest is 10" and 30 a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Tennessee

Season here: Feb–May, Oct–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on crappie

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

78Worth the tripToday, 2 pm–6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Tennessee: no limit on catfish 34" and under; only 1 catfish over 34" may be kept a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Tennessee

Season here: Mar–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

78Worth the tripToday, 2 pm–6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Striped bass bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Tennessee: 15" minimum, 2 striped or hybrid striped bass a day combined. Cordell Hull protects striped bass from 32 to 42"; the Mississippi River allows 6 with no minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Tennessee

Season here: Mar–Jun, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on striped bass

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

78Worth the tripToday, 2 pm–6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Tennessee: nongame species, common carp included, have no creel or length limit. Silver, bighead and black carp may not be possessed or transported alive.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Tennessee

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
River5.14 ft gauge height · steady
Barometer30.40 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunset today6:52 pm
Sunrise tomorrow7:57 am
MoonFull, 100% lit
Major solunarToday 12:40 pm–2:40 pm
Minor solunarTonight 6:30 pm–7:30 pm
Major solunarTonight 1:10 am–3:10 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

Tennessee TWRA report, Oct 11

Names crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, which people fish for here. It covers the whole state, so it may not describe these waters.

Read it at Tennessee TWRA

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

A Tennessee River reservoir above Chattanooga that has become a national trophy-largemouth destination since the Florida-strain stocking program — giant bass, plus smallmouth, crappie, catfish, and striped bass.

WaterReservoir
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesTennessee
WhereHamilton County · 35.4000, -85.0900

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Hiwassee River36 mi · TennesseeBest today 2 pm–6 pm

84Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Chickamauga Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Chickamauga Lake you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Chickamauga Lake?

Chickamauga Lake is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Chickamauga Lake?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Chickamauga Lake against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Chickamauga Lake have?

Chickamauga Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Chickamauga Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Chickamauga Lake. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Chickamauga Lake tidal water?

No. Chickamauga Lake is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.