Nickajack Lake
Nickajack Reservoir covers 10,370 acres at full summer pool with 192 miles of shoreline near Chattanooga. TWRA reports historically high largemouth catch rates and a Florida largemouth stocking program begun in 2015.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Largemouth Bass
Historically high catch rates; Florida largemouth stocked since 2015
Smallmouth Bass
Best near the Chickamauga tailwater
Spotted Bass
Declining on the lower end
Crappie
Black and white; best habitat on lower end
Redear Sunfish
Mostly 7-9 inches
Bluegill
Excellent population
Sauger
Not stocked
Walleye
More common in upper reaches
Blue Catfish
Headwaters productive
Channel Catfish
Flathead Catfish
White Bass
Spawning runs begin in March in upper reservoir and tributaries
Striped Bass
Not stocked; likely from dam passage
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
Minimum size and daily limit for each species in Nickajack Lake are published by the state. Look up the current size and creel limits for this lake directly: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
No shops listed yet for this lake. Use the search link below.
Search more bait shops near Nickajack Lake ↗Local tips
- White bass runs start in March in the upper reservoir and tributaries.
- Smallmouth fishing is best near the Chickamauga tailwater.
- Upper section (Chickamauga Dam to South Chickamauga Creek) has a liberal 15/day spotted bass limit.
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.