Fishing in Bristol, TN

Q: 🎣 Where to fish in Bristol, Tennessee?

Anglers in Bristol , TN recommend these top fishing spots: South Fork Holston River , Boone Lake (South Fork Holston River) , Watauga River , South Holston Lake , Fort Patrick Henry Lake (South Fork Holston River) .

Q: 🐟 What fish can you catch in Bristol?

Most commonly caught species around Bristol , TN : Largemouth bass - 3,011 reported catches Rainbow trout - 2,970 reported catches Smallmouth bass - 2,378 reported catches Bluegill - 1,212 reported catches Brown trout - 1,082 reported catches .

Q: 📢 What are the latest Bristol fishing reports?

The latest Bristol , TN fishing reports are: @zack.grubb reported a nice Common snook at Watauga River . @000BowenSpangler reported a nice Largemouth bass at South Holston Lake . @peyton-hurd reported a nice Bluegill at South Fork Holston River . @peyton-hurd reported a nice Smallmouth bass at South Fork Holston River . @000BowenSpangler reported a nice Largemouth bass at South Holston Lake . .

Q: 📅 What is the best time to go fishing in Bristol?

Download the Fishbrain app and see today's Fishing and Weather Forecast for Bristol , TN . We give you weather trends and help you find the perfect window to catch your next personal best. With Fishbrain Pro , you will get the following capabilities: Plan smarter: Get hour-by-hour fishing weather conditions. Fish at peak times: Use BiteTime™ predictions to maximize catches. Stay ahead of the weather: Get hyper-local, real-time updates. .

Tennessee, United States

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Top fish species in Bristol

Latest Bristol fishing reports

Common snook

Watauga River

length · weight

Largemouth bass

South Holston Lake

length · weight

Bluegill

South Fork Holston River

length · weight

Smallmouth bass

South Fork Holston River

length · weight

Largemouth bass

South Holston Lake

length · weight

Common carp

King College Lake

length · weight

Rainbow trout

South Fork Holston River

length · weight

Black crappie

Middlebrook Lake

length · weight

Black crappie

length · weight

Black crappie

length · weight

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Fishing regulations in Bristol

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Tennessee can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Largemouth bass as of June 23rd, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Select species

Largemouth bass

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

Aggregate

Restrictions & requirements

Required licenses

Purchase your Tennessee fishing license on the Go Outdoors Tennessee website.

Additional information

No size limit. No more than 5 black bass per day in any combination of species may be taken. This aggregate limit includes Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted, and Coosa Bass.

Several waters have exceptions to these statewide limits. Refer to TWRA for a full list of exceptions to statewide limits.

Edibility

Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Largemouth Bass by BlueGabe

Synonyms

Micropterus nigricans

Regulations for

36°33′25.9″N 82°12′55.4″W

Regulations in the map

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FAQ about Bristol fishing

🎣 Where to fish in Bristol, Tennessee?

Anglers in Bristol, TN recommend these top fishing spots: South Fork Holston River, Boone Lake (South Fork Holston River), Watauga River, South Holston Lake, and Fort Patrick Henry Lake (South Fork Holston River).

🐟 What fish can you catch in Bristol?

Most commonly caught species around Bristol, TN:

Largemouth bass - 3,011 reported catches
Rainbow trout - 2,970 reported catches
Smallmouth bass - 2,378 reported catches
Bluegill - 1,212 reported catches
Brown trout - 1,082 reported catches

📢 What are the latest Bristol fishing reports?

The latest Bristol, TN fishing reports are:

@zack.grubb reported a nice Common snook at Watauga River.
@000BowenSpangler reported a nice Largemouth bass at South Holston Lake.
@peyton-hurd reported a nice Bluegill at South Fork Holston River.
@peyton-hurd reported a nice Smallmouth bass at South Fork Holston River.
@000BowenSpangler reported a nice Largemouth bass at South Holston Lake.

📅 What is the best time to go fishing in Bristol?

Download the and see today's Fishing and Weather Forecast for Bristol, TN. We give you weather trends and help you find the perfect window to catch your next personal best. With Fishbrain Pro, you will get the following capabilities: