Tims Ford Lake fishing conditions · Tennessee

Now until tomorrow 2 pmSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 64.

Right now: 64 for smallmouth bass, marginal · inside the best windowTap 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.

642 am
64
64
645 am
64
64
648 am
64
64
6411 am
64
64
642 pm
64
64
645 pm
64
64
648 pm
64
64
6411 pm
64Tue
64
642 am
64
64
645 am
64
64
648 am
64
64
6411 am
64
64

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

Water: No reading
Wind: 0 mph
Flow: 1.92 ft gauge height
Light: Dark
Sky: Partly Cloudy
Air: 50°F
Barometer: Steady
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

64MarginalNow until tomorrow 2 pm

Water

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

Why

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

Walleye

Sander vitreus

64MarginalNow until tomorrow 2 pm

Water

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

Why

Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

16" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Tennessee: 16" minimum, 5 walleye a day. Sauger and sauger hybrids are a separate 10 a day with a 15" minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Tennessee

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

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

58MarginalNow until tomorrow 2 pm

Water

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

Why

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.

58MarginalNow until tomorrow 2 pm

Water

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

Why

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

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

58MarginalNow until tomorrow 2 pm

Water

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

Why

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

58MarginalNow until tomorrow 2 pm

Water

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

Why

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
River1.92 ft gauge height · steady
Barometer30.38 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunrise today7:00 am
Sunset today5:56 pm
MoonFull, 100% lit
Minor solunarToday 7:00 am–8:00 am
Major solunarToday 11:40 am–1:40 pm
Minor solunarToday 5:30 pm–6:30 pm

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, walleye, 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 clear, deep reservoir in south-central Tennessee prized for smallmouth bass, with strong largemouth, crappie, striped bass, and walleye.

WaterReservoir
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesTennessee
WhereFranklin County · 35.2200, -86.1800

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Lake Guntersville56 mi · AlabamaBest today 10 am–12 pm

74Worth the trip

Chickamauga Lake63 mi · TennesseeBest today 2 pm–6 pm

84Worth the trip

Caney Fork River63 mi · TennesseeBest now until tomorrow 2 pm

58Marginal

Wheeler Lake65 mi · AlabamaBest today 10 am–6 pm

68Marginal

J. Percy Priest Lake67 mi · TennesseeBest now until tomorrow 2 pm

76Worth the trip

Weiss Lake80 mi · AlabamaBest now until 5 pm

86Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Tims Ford Lake?

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Tims Ford Lake?

Tims Ford Lake is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Striped Bass, 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 Tims Ford 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 Tims Ford 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 Tims Ford Lake have?

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

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Tims Ford Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Tims Ford 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 Tims Ford Lake tidal water?

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