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Fishing on J. Percy Priest Lake

Fishing opportunities abound at J. Percy Priest Lake, with a wide variety of species available from the Stones River tailwaters to the East and West Forks of the Stones River.  J. Percy Priest Lake provides over 14,000 acres of water for a wide variety of fishing opportunities around the project.  The most popular species include largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, striped bass, Cherokee bass, and white bass.  Other species such as catfish, bluegill, bream, and trout provide excellent opportunities for young anglers.

The J. Percy Priest Fishing Information Line provides weekday updates of fishing information, lake elevations, and fishing conditions at (615) 883-2351.  Additional fishing information and regulations can be found at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Fishing web page.  Additional lake and water release information can be obtained by calling the TVA Lake Information Line at 1-800-238-2264. Enter 48 for J. Percy Priest information.

A valid Tennessee state fishing license is required to fish on J. Percy Priest Lake, and anglers are encouraged to obtain a current copy of Tennessee Fishing regulations for information pertaining to license requirements. The most common fish which anglers are after include:

* Bass daily limit in any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, and/or Kentucky
** Catfish – no harvest limit under 34” in length, length limit 1 per day over 34”

Enhanced bank fishing areas are developed at Stewart Creek, Vivrette Creek, J. Percy Priest Overlook, and Cook Recreation Areas to provide excellent bank fishing opportunities for anglers who do not have a boat. Accessible fishing opportunities are also provided at these locations for our physically challenged visitors who wish to enjoy this sport.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency provides 21 developed fish attractor locations on J. Percy Priest Lake, and fish attractor materials are regularly replenished to provide concentrated fishing opportunities for anglers. A map is available at the J. Percy Priest Resource Manager’s Office showing the location of established fish attractors. Click here to view the map of TWRA Fish Attractor Locations on J. Percy Priest Lake (PDF format). A permit (PDF format) is required for individuals to place fish attractors in J. Percy Priest Lake, and information is available regarding placement, approved materials, and locations for attractors.

Practice good angler ethics at J. Percy Priest, and learn how to protect and conserve our natural resources. J. Percy Priest experiences extremely heavy fishing pressure, so it is very important to practice catch-and-release and selective harvesting concepts. It is also important for every angler to know project-specific creel and size limits for each species of fish. Bank anglers should remove any unused bait, used monofilament fishing line, worm boxes and other litter generated from their outing for proper disposal. If you are in a boat, provide a secure location to stow litter while your boat is underway.

Jug fishing, limb lines and trotlines are legal. Gill nets are not permitted. No commercial fishing is allowed on J. Percy Priest Lake. Jugs, limb lines and trotlines must be tagged and marked with the owner’s name and address within 5’ feet of the bank or on the floats. They must be checked at least once per day.

The Resource Manager’s Office at J. Percy Priest maintains a list of lake record fish caught at the project, and anglers who may have a lake record fish should contact the J. Percy Priest Resource Manager’s Office at (615) 889-1975.
 

J. Percy Priest Fishing Information (Updated Weekdays):

Visit the web site or call (615) 883-2351