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fishregs

2026 regulation year

Obed Wild and Scenic River Fishing License 2026

Last updated

Tennessee

Obed W&SR runs on the host state's fishing license; the National Park Service does not sell a separate permit here.

Quick answer

State fishing license applies

A valid Tennessee state fishing licence is required for anglers age 13 and older fishing in the Obed Wild & Scenic River corridor (Obed River, Clear Creek, Daddy's Creek, Emory River). Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) season, bag, and gear rules govern unless overridden by the Superintendent's Compendium. Standard 36 CFR §2.3 prohibitions apply.

What to know before you fish Obed W&SR

  • Park context: Obed Wild and Scenic River protects ~45 mi of free-flowing river — the lower Obed River + lower Clear Creek + lower Daddy's Creek + a section of the Emory River — through the Cumberland Plateau gorge of Morgan + Cumberland counties, Tennessee. Designated in 1976 under the Wild and Scenic Rivers System, the river is a deeply-incised sandstone-gorge system bordered by steep cliffs — the headwater drainages remain on private and Tennessee state land while the gorge corridor is federally administered. Park HQ: P.O. Box 429, Wartburg, TN 37887 — (423) 346-6294.
  • Licensing: visitors fishing within the Obed Wild & Scenic River must possess a valid TENNESSEE fishing licence under Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency rules. The park FAQ identifies authorised TN-licence sellers near the corridor including Mossy Grove Market (1705 Morgan County Highway, Wartburg), Brushy Mountain Market (10208 Petros Hwy, Oliver Springs), Tiger Food Mart (8110 Morgan County Highway, Sunbright), Morgan County Courthouse (415 Kingston Street, Wartburg), and any Walmart in Tennessee. Licences may also be purchased online via the TWRA portal. Trout in stocked tailwaters require a separate Trout Stamp under TWRA rules.
  • Park-specific federal rule under 36 CFR §2.3: Tennessee state fishing regulations govern unless overridden by the Superintendent's Compendium. Standard NPS §2.3 prohibitions apply: (a) hook-and-line only with rod or line closely attended; (b) possessing/using as bait live or dead minnows / amphibians / non-preserved fish eggs except in designated waters; (c) chumming prohibited; (d) commercial fishing prohibited except where statutorily authorised; (e) use of drugs / poisons / explosives / electricity prohibited; (f) digging for bait prohibited except on private land; (g) immediate-return mandate for undersize / out-of-season / unwanted fish; (h) no fishing from motor-road bridges or within 200 ft of public rafts / floats / swim beaches / boat docks except in designated areas; (i) no introducing wildlife / fish / plants including reproductive bodies — covers dumping bait and bait buckets.
  • Anchor species (per NPS): SMALLMOUTH BASS `Micropterus dolomieu` is the most common game fish — Clear Creek, Daddy's Creek, and the Obed River mainstem all produce successful smallmouth catches during peak season. MUSKELLUNGE `Esox masquinongy` is a marquee species: muskie regularly reaching 40+ inches are caught at the Obed each year, making it one of a small number of public Cumberland Plateau muskie destinations (Tennessee state muskie record 42 lb 8 oz from Norris Reservoir, 1983). Additional species: CARP `Cyprinus carpio` (non-native, established), AMERICAN SHAD `Alosa sapidissima` (anadromous run from downstream), FLATHEAD CATFISH `Pylodictis olivaris` (predatory; can reach 60+ inches), CHANNEL CATFISH `Ictalurus punctatus`, FRESHWATER DRUM `Aplodinotus grunniens`, BLACK CRAPPIE + WHITE CRAPPIE, BLUEGILL `Lepomis macrochirus`, and many DARTER species (perch family — Tennessee + Kentucky hold thousands of darters across most streams; some species are brightly coloured during breeding).
  • Outside-park context: the upper drainages outside the W&SR corridor remain on private + TN state land — typical TWRA stream rules govern. TWRA issues TENNESSEE FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES for the Emory + Obed system focused on mercury bioaccumulation in larger predatory species (large smallmouth bass + flathead catfish). Standard access points: Nemo Bridge (Emory River/Obed confluence — major launch), Adams Bridge (Clear Creek), Devil's Breakfast Table (Daddy's Creek), Lilly Bridge (Clear Creek). Note: the Obed corridor is also a world-class WHITEWATER paddling destination — boating and fishing access points overlap, so coordinate timing with paddling groups in spring high-water windows.

How licensing works at Obed W&SR

Obed Wild and Scenic River runs on the host state's regular fishing license — there is no separate National Park Service fishing permit to buy. Use the same Tennessee license you would use anywhere else in the state. Park-specific regulations (gear restrictions, species closures, catch-and-release zones) still layer on top of the state rule, so read the unit's current fishing page before launching.

Compare what the Tennessee license costs on the non-resident fee table, or open the full Tennessee regulations.

Official source

Obed Wild and Scenic River publishes its authoritative 2026 fishing rules on the page below. Regulations change annually — verify the current year before you fish.

nps.gov →

Emergency-order & closure feed

On federal land, in-season closures don't go through the host state's DFW — they post to the unit's own news desk. Road closures that cut off river access, wildfire trailhead shutdowns, drought-driven access changes, and bear-activity lake closures all publish to Obed W&SR's National Park Service news feed. Subscribe before any long-haul trip.

Obed W&SR — National Park Service news releases

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Obed W&SR fishing license — FAQ

Do you need a fishing license to fish Obed Wild and Scenic River?
Obed W&SR runs on the host state's fishing license; the National Park Service does not sell a separate permit here.
Who issues the fishing license for Obed W&SR?
The host state's fish & wildlife agency issues the controlling fishing license for Obed W&SR — the Tennessee license. There is no federal fishing permit to buy here.
Is your Tennessee fishing license valid in Obed W&SR?
Yes — Obed W&SR runs on the Tennessee fishing license. The same license you use elsewhere in Tennessee covers the unit's waters, subject to any unit-specific regulation that layers on top.
Where are Obed W&SR fishing closures posted?
In-season closures inside Obed W&SR are published to the unit's National Park Service news feed (RSS), not the host state's emergency-order page. Subscribe to the feed on this page to catch road, wildfire, drought, and access closures before a trip.

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