Fort Loudoun Lake
Fort Loudoun Reservoir covers 14,600 acres near Knoxville and extends 55 miles upstream from the dam to the Holston and French Broad confluence. A 130-pound state-record blue catfish came from here in 1976.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
White Bass
Among the most commonly harvested fish
Blue Catfish
Excellent catfishing
Channel Catfish
Cut bait and nightcrawlers on flats and creek mouths in the evening.
Flathead Catfish
Live bait around wood and rock at night.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Smallmouth Bass
Rock, gravel and points. Tubes, jerkbaits and drop-shots.
Spotted Bass
Rocky banks and bluff ends. Jigs and finesse plastics.
Crappie
Mostly white crappie
Bluegill
Weed beds and shallow flats in late spring.
Sauger
Best late winter/early spring in the forks of the river
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
Boat launches
1 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- More public accessPublicSee the state agency or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Black bass (combined) | 15 in | 5 |
| Crappie (combined) | 10 in | 15 |
| Catfish | none up to 34 in; 1 over 34 in | no limit up to 34 in |
| Striped/hybrid striped bass | 15 in | 2 |
| White bass | See Tennessee rules book ↗ | 15 |
| Sauger | 15 in | 10 |
| Walleye | 16 in | 5 |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near Fort Loudoun Lake ↗Local tips
- Sauger fishing is strongest in late winter and early spring near the forks of the river.
- Walleye limit is 5 with a 16-inch minimum; sauger 10 with a 15-inch minimum.
- TDEC advises against eating catfish and largemouth bass over two pounds.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
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Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.