Brood Trout and Delayed Harvest
Brood Trout and Delayed Harvest
As temperatures cool and flows become more consistent, Tennessee trout anglers have plenty to look forward to this season. While many hunters are patiently waiting for their target buck to pass by, watching the sunrise in the duck blind, or chasing small game at their local WMA, anglers know this is prime time for fishing in Tennessee, specifically on many of its fine trout fisheries. From the excitement of trophy-sized brood fish to the catch-and-release fun of Delayed Harvest waters, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and its partners continue to expand opportunities across the state. Here’s what’s new on the water this year.
Brood Trout Stockings: Big Fish, Big Opportunity
Anglers hoping for a big catch will be glad to hear that brood trout stockings are underway. These large Rainbow and Brook trout, averaging 2-3 pounds each, are provided through a partnership between TWRA and the Erwin National Fish Hatchery. While limited in number, these fish offer the chance at a heavyweight trout on select waters.
This Fall's brood stockings include
Region 2: Normandy and Tim’s Ford tailwaters
Region 3: Tellico River and Center Hill, Dale Hollow, and Apalachia tailwaters
Region 4: Nolichucky River, South Indian Creek, and Wilbur tailwater
Delayed Harvest Season: Catch-and-Release Action Begins
The fall and winter months mark the return of Tennessee’s Delayed Harvest (DH) season on several trout waters of Middle and East Tennessee. During this season, DH streams follow catch-and-release, artificial-lure-only regulations. These regulations benefit both anglers and hatcheries by allowing stocked trout to be caught more than once while freeing up limited hatchery space and creating a unique opportunity for catch-and-release anglers.
TWRA’s Delayed Harvest fisheries include:
Region 2: Acorn Lake (Montgomery Bell State Park)
Region 3: Big Soddy Creek, Tellico River, Piney River and Apalachia tailwater
Region 4: Buffalo Creek, Doe River and Paint Creek
TWRA reminds anglers that a trout license is still required on DH streams and that the use or possession of bait is prohibited. Trout regulations, stocking schedules, stocking locations, and more can be found at tnwildlife.org
Winter Trout in Tennessee
And don't forget about the Winter Trout Program! Although winter hasn't officially started, TWRA has begun stocking Rainbow Trout for the 2025-26 Winter Trout season. This program provides numerous close-to-home trout fishing opportunities for anglers during the winter months, mostly on small lakes in urban and suburban locales. TWRA will release more than 70,000 Rainbow Trout, averaging about 10 inches in length, throughout the program.
There will be more than 40 locations stocked this winter, and new locations include Mossy Creek in Jefferson County and the Covington First Baptist Church pond in Tipton County. Many of the stocking locations have great amenities like walking trails, playgrounds, and pavilions, making them the perfect place to take the whole family and introduce new anglers to fishing.
The daily creel limit is 7 trout per angler (no length limit), except for a creel limit of 5 in the waters of the Community Lakes Fishing Program. These locations include Cameron Brown Lake (Germantown), Cedar Hill Park Pond (Madison), Camp Jordan (East Ridge), Pistol Creek/Green Belt Lake (Maryville), and Fountain City Lake (Knoxville). The full list of locations and stocking dates can be found on TWRA's website. Anglers are reminded that a trout license is required for most anglers, and that the Winter Trout Program is a separate program from other trout fisheries (i.e. Tailwaters, Reservoirs, and Seasonal Streams). Those programs' schedules can also be found online at tnwildlife.org.