It’s a fishing day

Chickamauga Lake fishing conditions · Tennessee

Now until 8 pmSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 84.

Log a trip here
Right now: 84 for smallmouth bass, worth the trip · 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.

  1. 844 pm
  2. 84
  3. 84
  4. 847 pm
  5. 74
  6. 74
  7. 7410 pm
  8. 74
  9. 64Sun
  10. 641 am
  11. 64
  12. 64
  13. 644 am
  14. 64
  15. 64
  16. 647 am
  17. 64
  18. 64
  19. 6410 am
  20. 64
  21. 64
  22. 641 pm
  23. 64
  24. 64
  25. 644 pm
  26. 64
  27. 64
  28. 647 pm
  29. 64
  30. 64
  31. 6410 pm
  32. 64
  33. 64Mon
  34. 641 am
  35. 64
  36. 64
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Smallmouth bass range 55–78°

Wind
5 mph

From the northeast

Flow
5.41 ft gauge height

steady

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:40 pm

Sky
Mostly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
60°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

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

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

84Worth the tripNow until 8 pm

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No minimum on smallmouth, spotted and Alabama bass, but only 1 of them over 16" a day; 5 black bass a day combined.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Chickamauga

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Feb–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

78Worth the tripNow until 8 pm

Water

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

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

15" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No largemouth under 15"; 5 black bass a day combined.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Chickamauga and Dale Hollow

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Feb–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

78Worth the tripNow until 8 pm

Water

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

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

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

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

78Worth the tripNow until 8 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Channel catfish bite in 60–85° water, best near 75°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Tennessee: no limit on catfish 34" and under; only 1 catfish over 34" may be kept a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Tennessee

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

78Worth the tripNow until 8 pm

Water

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

Why

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

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

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

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

78Worth the tripNow until 8 pm

Water

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

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. 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 20 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
  • River5.41 ft gauge height · steady
  • Barometer30.06 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:40 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:08 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 4:10 pm–5:10 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:30 pm–12:30 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:20 am–7:20 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 crappie, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, 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 Tennessee River reservoir above Chattanooga that has become a national trophy-largemouth destination since the Florida-strain stocking program — giant bass, plus smallmouth, crappie, catfish, and striped bass.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Hiwassee River36 mi · TennesseeBest now until 7 pm
84Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Chickamauga Lake?

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Chickamauga Lake?

Chickamauga Lake is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, 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 Chickamauga 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 Chickamauga 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 Chickamauga Lake have?

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

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Chickamauga Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Chickamauga 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 Chickamauga Lake tidal water?

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