Tailwater Trout

TWRA's Trout Management Plan

Map of Stocking Locations- Click here to see detailed maps of stocked trout waters

Rivers below dams are commonly referred to as tailwaters or tailraces. Many hydropower and flood control dams operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers release cold water into the tailwaters. The cold water eliminated the habitat for native fishes, so the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and TWRA stock trout to provide a fishery. These fisheries are maintained by stocking adult trout from spring through fall with most of the fish being stocked during the spring and summer. Fingerling trout are also stocked at many of the tailwaters. In 2001 we stocked 1.3 million trout into tailwaters. Fishing Tennessee's tailwaters provides a great opportunities to catch lots of trout and big trout.

We do not provide a specific stocking schedule for tailwaters, but as you can see in the schedule below most tailwaters are stocked most of the year. In addition, most of our tailwaters hold trout year-round, so fish is good anytime. The trout fishing in the tailwaters below in red ink are only good during the stocked periods due to warm water temperatures at other times.

Tailwater Stocking Schedule

Tailwater Management

Each year TWRA biologist survey trout populations in tailwaters to evaluate the current fishing regulations and stocking rates. Fish are sampled using a variety of boat electrofishing boats depending on the location. Fixed sites are sampled each year and all fish are measured and weighed.

TWRA Management Plans and Reports

The following files are in Adobe pdf format. Due to the large file size, download is recommended

• Management Plan for the Obey River Trout Fishery 2008-2014
• Management Plan for the Hiwassee River Trout Fishery, 2005-2010
• Center Hill Tailwater Management Plan 2004-2009
• Norris Tailwater Management Plan 2002-2006
• South Holston Tailwater Management Plan 2004-2008
• Wilbur Tailwater Management Plan 2004-2008
• Recent TWRA Report on East Tennessee Tailwaters

TWRA also funds creel surveys and fish population studies through the Tennessee Tech Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit (USGS) in Cookeville. The following is a list of recent reports available online. (adobe .pdf files are available for these):

• Survey of the Trout Fishery in the Watauga River and South Fork of the Holston River, March - October 2006
• Spawning Habitat, Length at Maturity, and Fecundity of Brown Trout in Tennessee Tailwaters
• Norris Tailwater Creel Survey-2005
• Hiwassee River Creel Survey-2004
• Watauga River Creel Survey - 2002
• South Holston Tailwater Creel Survey-2002
• Hiwassee River Trout Research 2001
• Normandy Tailwater 2000 Creel Survey
• Tims Ford Tailwater Creel Survey 2000
• Dale Hollow Tailwater Creel Survey 2001
• Norris Tailwater Creel Survey 2001
• Recreational Specialization, Preferences and Management Attitudes of Trout Anglers Utilizing Tennessee Tailwaters 2003
• Net Value of Trout Fishing Opportunities in Tennessee Tailwaters
• Center Hill Tailwater Creel Survey 2003