What special fishing regulations apply at Reelfoot Lake?

Reelfoot Lake carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Tennessee's statewide 2026 rules, covering Largemouth bass, Crappie (white + black), and Channel catfish. One of them reads: "Earthquake lake (New Madrid 1811–12); premier crappie + bluegill fishery; 30 / day crappie, 10 in min; statewide sportfish rules; commercial fishing licence required for non-sportfish harvest." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Reelfoot Lake?

Yes. Reelfoot Lake 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 Reelfoot Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Tennessee rules.

Do Reelfoot Lake's special rules replace Tennessee's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. Tennessee's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Reelfoot 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 Reelfoot Lake?

Largemouth bass, Crappie (white + black), and Channel catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Reelfoot Lake, each linking to its full Tennessee regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Tennessee limits.

2026 regulation year

Reelfoot Lake 2026 — Tennessee Fishing Regulations

Tennessee statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 5, 2026

Reelfoot Lake carries 4 special-regulation overlays on top of Tennessee's 2026 fishing rules — covering Largemouth bass, Crappie (white + black), Channel catfish. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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State-level special regulation

Earthquake lake (New Madrid 1811–12); premier crappie + bluegill fishery; 30 / day crappie, 10 in min; statewide sportfish rules; commercial fishing licence required for non-sportfish harvest
Source: Tennessee special-water list

Per-species rules on Reelfoot Lake

Largemouth bass regulations →
15 in min, 5 / day combined black bass; earthquake lake
Crappie (white + black) regulations →
10 in min, 30 / day; earthquake lake
Channel catfish regulations →
No creel limit, only 1 catfish over 34 in per day; earthquake lake catfish + crappie mecca

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

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Reelfoot Lake?: Reelfoot Lake carries 4 special-regulation overlays that override Tennessee's statewide 2026 rules, covering Largemouth bass, Crappie (white + black), and Channel catfish. One of them reads: "Earthquake lake (New Madrid 1811–12); premier crappie + bluegill fishery; 30 / day crappie, 10 in min; statewide sportfish rules; commercial fishing licence required for non-sportfish harvest." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Reelfoot Lake?: Yes. Reelfoot Lake 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 Reelfoot Lake; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide Tennessee rules.
Do Reelfoot Lake's special rules replace Tennessee's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. Tennessee's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Reelfoot 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 Reelfoot Lake?: Largemouth bass, Crappie (white + black), and Channel catfish have a water-body-specific rule on Reelfoot Lake, each linking to its full Tennessee regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide Tennessee limits.

← Back to Tennessee regulations overview