What special fishing regulations apply at Norris Lake (Clinch + Powell Rivers)?

Norris Lake (Clinch + Powell Rivers) carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Tennessee's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass, Walleye / sauger, and Striped bass / hybrid. One of them reads: "Trophy striped bass (2 / day, 15 in min); trophy smallmouth (18 in min); walleye (16 in min, 5 / day); year-round deep-water cisco / lake trout potential." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Norris Lake (Clinch + Powell Rivers)?

Yes. Norris Lake (Clinch + Powell Rivers) is in Tennessee, so a valid Tennessee fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Norris Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Tennessee rules.

Do Norris Lake (Clinch + Powell Rivers)'s special rules replace Tennessee's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Tennessee's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Norris Lake by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Norris Lake?

Smallmouth bass, Walleye / sauger, and Striped bass / hybrid have a water-body-specific rule on Norris Lake (Clinch + Powell Rivers), each linking to its full Tennessee regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Tennessee limits.

2026 regulation year

Norris Lake (Clinch + Powell Rivers) 2026 — Tennessee Fishing Regulations

Tennessee statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 5, 2026

Norris Lake (Clinch + Powell Rivers) carries 4 special-regulation overlays on top of Tennessee's 2026 fishing rules — covering Smallmouth bass, Walleye / sauger, Striped bass / hybrid. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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Watch Norris Lake (Clinch + Powell Rivers) (TN) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

State-level special regulation

Trophy striped bass (2 / day, 15 in min); trophy smallmouth (18 in min); walleye (16 in min, 5 / day); year-round deep-water cisco / lake trout potential
Source: Tennessee special-water list

Per-species rules on Norris Lake (Clinch + Powell Rivers)

Smallmouth bass regulations →
18 in min, 5 / day combined black bass
Walleye / sauger regulations →
16 in min, 5 / day; trophy walleye fishery
Striped bass / hybrid regulations →
2 / day combined, 15 in min; trophy striped bass + walleye

Official source

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency publishes the authoritative 2026 Tennessee fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official Tennessee fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's emergency-order feed — check it before any Tennessee trip during the active season.

Other special-regulation waters in Tennessee

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Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Norris Lake (Clinch + Powell Rivers)?: Norris Lake (Clinch + Powell Rivers) carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Tennessee's statewide 2026 rules, covering Smallmouth bass, Walleye / sauger, and Striped bass / hybrid. One of them reads: "Trophy striped bass (2 / day, 15 in min); trophy smallmouth (18 in min); walleye (16 in min, 5 / day); year-round deep-water cisco / lake trout potential." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Norris Lake (Clinch + Powell Rivers)?: Yes. Norris Lake (Clinch + Powell Rivers) is in Tennessee, so a valid Tennessee fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Norris Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Tennessee rules.
Do Norris Lake (Clinch + Powell Rivers)'s special rules replace Tennessee's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Tennessee's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Norris Lake by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Norris Lake?: Smallmouth bass, Walleye / sauger, and Striped bass / hybrid have a water-body-specific rule on Norris Lake (Clinch + Powell Rivers), each linking to its full Tennessee regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Tennessee limits.

← Back to Tennessee regulations overview