2026 regulation year
Tennessee Crappie (white + black) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Pomoxis annularis / Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Last updated
Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, and Reelfoot Lake are three of the most productive crappie waters in the United States. The KY/TN reciprocity makes Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley accessible under either state's licence, and both impoundments use a 10-inch minimum + 20-fish daily bag to protect spawning year-classes. Reelfoot — the 1811 earthquake lake in northwest Tennessee — supports a 30-fish bag at a 10-inch minimum on a tangle of cypress stumps and floating bog. East Tennessee reservoirs (Cherokee, Norris, Watts Bar) round out a year-round fishery.
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Season
Open year-round Open year-round.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 20 / day Kentucky Lake + Lake Barkley; 30 / day Reelfoot + most TN waters
- Possession
- Same as daily bag (most major waters)
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 10 in min Kentucky Lake + Lake Barkley + Reelfoot; no statewide minimum elsewhere
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line + jigging poles permitted; no more than 3 lines per angler from a boat (TWRA Reg. 1660-01-09)
- Trotline + jugline crappie harvest prohibited
- Kentucky Lake / Lake Barkley: KY licence honoured under interstate compact
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Tennessee waters:
Kentucky Lake
10 in min, 20 / day; KY or TN licence honoured
Lake Barkley
10 in min, 20 / day; reciprocal with KY
Reelfoot Lake
10 in min, 30 / day; earthquake lake
Cherokee Lake
No size minimum, 30 / day; East TN flagship crappie reservoir
Watts Bar Lake
No size minimum, 30 / day; Tennessee River impoundment
Official source
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency publishes the authoritative 2026 Tennesseefishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
Visit official Tennessee fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Crappie (white + black) closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's emergency-order feed — check it before any Tennessee trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is crappie (white + black) season in Tennessee?
- Tennessee keeps crappie (white + black) open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
- What is the Tennessee bag limit for crappie (white + black)?
- The Tennessee daily bag limit for crappie (white + black) is 20 / day Kentucky Lake + Lake Barkley; 30 / day Reelfoot + most TN waters. The possession limit is Same as daily bag (most major waters). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size crappie (white + black) can you keep in Tennessee?
- The Tennessee size rule for crappie (white + black) is 10 in min Kentucky Lake + Lake Barkley + Reelfoot; no statewide minimum elsewhere.
- Do you need a license to fish for crappie (white + black) in Tennessee?
- Yes. Tennessee requires a valid fishing license to fish for crappie (white + black), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Tennessee license — compare resident and non-resident Tennessee fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for crappie (white + black) in Tennessee?
- Yes. In Tennessee, crappie (white + black) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line + jigging poles permitted; no more than 3 lines per angler from a boat (TWRA Reg. 1660-01-09); Trotline + jugline crappie harvest prohibited; Kentucky Lake / Lake Barkley: KY licence honoured under interstate compact.
- Do specific Tennessee waters have different crappie (white + black) rules?
- Yes. 5 named Tennessee waters carry rules that override the statewide crappie (white + black) regulation, including Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Reelfoot Lake, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.