Watauga Lake
Watauga Reservoir is 6,430 acres with about 106 miles of shoreline in northeast Tennessee, much of it adjoining Cherokee National Forest. Water level can fluctuate up to 44 feet between summer and winter pool.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Smallmouth Bass
Best action in the lower reservoir
Largemouth Bass
Best in Roan, Doe and Cobb Creeks and upper Elk and Watauga Rivers
Spotted Bass
Rarely reach quality size
Crappie
More consistent in upper end
White Bass
Walleye
Stocked since 1985
Redear Sunfish
Bluegill
Rainbow Trout
Stocked by TWRA
Brown Trout
Stocked by TWRA
Lake Trout
Best between Watauga Point and Butler Bridge
Boat launches
2 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Rat Branch access areaPublicHandicapped-accessible fishing pier built by TWRA and USFSDirections ↗
- 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 Watauga 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 Watauga Lake ↗Local tips
- Best lake trout fishing is between Watauga Point and Butler Bridge.
- Jan 1 to Apr 30 walleye-run gear rules apply on specified tributaries.
- Water level swings up to 44 feet, so check conditions before launching.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches.
More Tennessee lakes
Norris Lake Cherokee Lake Douglas Lake Dale Hollow Lake Old Hickory Lake Center Hill Lake Tellico Lake Fort Loudoun Lake All Tennessee lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.