Most of Tennessee's waterways are warmwater streams and rivers. As the name implies these are warm in the summer months with temperatures ranging from 70 - 90 ^o F. There are about 17,000 miles of warmwater streams and rivers in Tennessee. They are hosts to hundreds of fish species of all shapes and sizes. Relatively few species provide angling opportunities but the fishing can be fantastic. Typical fisheries include black basses, rock bass, bream, and catfish.

Some rivers and larger streams can navigated and fished by motor boats. Most of the resource is smaller waters which are fished by bank access, in-stream wading or floating in canoes or john boats. Most warmwater streams are located on private property. To assure the future of these fisheries, respect landowner's rights by obtaining permission to enter the property and leave the area cleaner than you found it.

 Some Typical Stream Fishes

Each year TWRA biologists survey streams and rivers to determine the status of streams, the abundance of fishes, and to evaluate fishing regulations.

NEW RELEASE - VIDEO "Warmwater Streams - A resource worth protecting" (Time 28:30) [available on loan for teachers or other groups - To obtain a copy of the video, email the TWRA video library [email protected]