All spots

Norris Lake

Lake fishing  Tennessee · 06:01 - 16:36

Norris Lake is a lake in Tennessee. Anglers here fish mainly for Striped Bass, Blue Catfish and Rainbow Trout.

Fair 40% The bite right now
Top bet: Striped Bass Slow during the night, water near its preferred 15 degrees, peak season, a fishy ripple on the water.

Best day to fish

Tomorrow
83%
70°
Best day
Fri
77%
69°
Sat
77%
56°
Sun
75%
56°
Mon
74%
57°
Tue
76%
62°

The bite over the next days, scored at dusk. Based on the weather forecast, so it is guidance, not guarantees.

Conditions right now

Weather
Partly cloudy
Water temp (est.)
59°F
Air temp
61°F
Wind
13 mph
Pressure
29.98 inHg → stable
Clouds
53.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Best times today

Dawn 05:16–07:16 Dusk 15:21–17:21

Local time at the spot, from the most likely species' daily rhythm.

Feeding times today

Waning crescent 30% lit
Major period 06:44–08:44 Major period 18:44–20:44 Minor period 00:42–02:12 Minor period 13:15–14:45

Solunar times are a traditional guide based on the moon's position, separate from the live ranking above. Local time at the spot.

Next hours

03:00
61°
04:00
60°
05:00
59°
06:00
60°
07:00
62°
08:00
65°
09:00
68°
10:00
68°
11:00
67°
12:00
66°
13:00
65°
14:00
65°

Likely catch now (12 species)

Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
40%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 15 degrees, peak season, a fishy ripple on the water.
Tap for details ↗
Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
25%
Active through the night, off season, a fishy ripple on the water.
Tap for details ↗
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
25%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 15 degrees.
Tap for details ↗
Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
24%
Active through the night, off season.
Tap for details ↗
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
22%
Active through the night, a fishy ripple on the water.
Tap for details ↗
Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
20%
Active through the night, off season.
Tap for details ↗

About the fishing here

Norris Lake sits in the ridges of East Tennessee, the first lake the Tennessee Valley Authority ever built, and it is known for some of the clearest water in the state. Smallmouth bass and striped bass are the main targets, with walleye and crappie adding to a varied catch in the deep, steep-sided coves. The lake's clarity and depth make it popular for both fishing and diving, so boat traffic picks up in summer. A Tennessee fishing license is required.

Anglers here regularly land Striped Bass, Blue Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Common Carp, Channel Catfish and Flathead Catfish.

Striped Bass is generally most active around Apr-May, Oct-Nov. The best windows are usually dawn and dusk.

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Napp ranks the species above from the live weather, water temperature, season and time of day, so the order changes through the day.

Guides for this water

Tips right now

Technique Start with a crankbait for striped bass, the most likely catch right now.
Colour Low light: try chartreuse, yellow and glow for striped bass.
Lure Crankbait for striped bass: Big swimbaits and plugs.
Timing Striped bass is slow at night. The best bite comes at dawn.
Depth The water temperature suits the fish. Fish actively at normal depths and edges.

Fishing permit

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Licenses are issued by each state:

About this water

Norris Lake, also known as Norris Reservoir, is a reservoir in Tennessee, US. The lake was created by the Norris Dam at the Cove Creek Site on the Clinch River in 1936 by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for flood control, water storage, and hydroelectric power. Norris Dam and its reservoir were the first major project taken on by the TVA. The lake, the dam, and the town of Norris, Tennessee are named for George W. Norris, who was a U.S. Senator from Nebraska and who wrote the legislation that created the TVA.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Map

More waters nearby

Common questions

What fish can you catch at Norris Lake?

Anglers here regularly land Striped Bass, Blue Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Common Carp, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Black Crappie and Smallmouth Bass.

Do you need a fishing license at Norris Lake?

Yes. A state fishing license is required; see the link on this page for the state's rules.

When is the best time to fish Norris Lake?

For Striped Bass, the fishing tends to peak around Apr-May, Oct-Nov. The best windows are usually dawn and dusk.

What is biting at Norris Lake right now?

Right now Striped Bass is the most likely catch, at about 36%.