Caney Fork River fishing conditions · Tennessee

Now until 6 pmRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 78.

Right now: 78 for rainbow trout, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, 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.

783 pm
78
78
686 pm
58
58
589 pm
58
58
58Sun
58
58
583 am
58
58
586 am
58
58
589 am
58
58
5812 pm
68
68
683 pm
58
58
586 pm
58
58
589 pm
58
58
58Mon
58
58

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

Water: No reading
Wind: 5 mph
Light: Daylight
Sky: Sunny
Air: 58°F
Barometer: Falling
Moon: 5% 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.

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

78Worth the tripNow until 6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Release 14–20".

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 5 trout a day combined; rainbow trout from 14 to 20" must be released and only 1 over 20" may be kept.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Caney Fork below Center Hill Dam

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

78Worth the tripNow until 6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Brown trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

24" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Brown trout: 24" minimum, 1 a day, within 5 trout a day combined.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Caney Fork below Center Hill Dam

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Brook trout

Salvelinus fontinalis

78Worth the tripNow until 6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Brook trout bite in 40–65° water, best near 52°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 1–10 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Release 14–20".

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 5 trout a day combined; brook trout from 14 to 20" must be released and only 1 over 20" may be kept.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Caney Fork below Center Hill Dam

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
Barometer30.12 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunset today4:42 pm
Sunrise tomorrow6:12 am
MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
Minor solunarToday 3:10 pm–4:10 pm
Major solunarTonight 9:40 pm–11:40 pm
Minor solunarTomorrow 5:20 am–6:20 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 brown trout, rainbow trout, 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 middle-Tennessee tailwater below Center Hill Dam — cold, fertile water that grows large stocked and holdover trout (rainbow, brown, and brook) within an hour of Nashville. Drifted and waded at low generation; a regional trophy-trout draw.

TN: 5 trout a day. Rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout from 14 to 20" must be released (only 1 over 20"); brown trout 24" minimum, 1 a day. Center Hill generation flows swing fast — check the TVA schedule before wading.

WaterRiver
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesTennessee
WhereDeKalb County · 36.0844, -85.8365

Nearby

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

J. Percy Priest Lake43 mi · TennesseeBest now until 7 pm

100Go

Dale Hollow Lake44 mi · TennesseeBest now until 7 pm

90Go

Tims Ford Lake63 mi · TennesseeBest now until 7 pm

96Go

Chickamauga Lake63 mi · TennesseeBest now until 8 pm

84Worth the trip

Cumberland River (Wolf Creek tailwater)66 mi · KentuckyBest now until 5 pmFreeze Warning

59Marginal

Lake Cumberland69 mi · KentuckyBest now until 6 pmFreeze Warning

65Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Caney Fork River?

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Caney Fork River?

Caney Fork River is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Brook Trout. 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 Caney Fork River?

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 Caney Fork River 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 Caney Fork River have?

Caney Fork River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. TN: 5 trout a day. Rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout from 14 to 20" must be released (only 1 over 20"); brown trout 24" minimum, 1 a day. Center Hill generation flows swing fast — check the TVA schedule before wading.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Caney Fork River?

state agency regulations apply at Caney Fork River. 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 Caney Fork River tidal water?

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