Map

Backbone Rock

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Tennessee, United States

6 catches

Top fish species at Backbone Rock

Rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
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Backbone Rock fishing reports

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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General info

Backbone Rock is a stream located in Johnson County, Tennessee, United States. It is most popular for fishing Rainbow trout.

Location

36°35′39.8″N 81°48′49.9″W
Directions

Fishing regulations at Backbone Rock, TN

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.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Rainbow trout

Rainbow trout

Regulation boundaryTennessee State Waters
Bag limit7

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Aggregate limit7

The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.

Restrictions & requirements

Gigging

Harvest by gigging prohibited.

Snagging

Harvest of this species by snagging (snatch hooking) is prohibited.

Spears

Harvest of this species by "spearing" is prohibited. Spearing includes the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, gigging, spearfishing, or by any device used to capture a fish by piercing the body.

Bow Fishing

Harvest of this species by bow fishing is prohibited.

TN Hook Restriction

Anglers in Tennessee are restricted to a maximum of 3 hooks per rod, pole, or hand-held line. Single, double, or treble hooks each count as one hook. The statewide hook restriction does not apply when using a sabiki rig or piscatore rig to take shad or herring.

Required licenses
A supplemental trout license is generally required to fish for trout in Tennessee. Visit Go Outdoors Tennessee to view all license requirements.
Additional information
No minimum size limit. Aggregate bag limit includes all trout species combined (Rainbow, Brook, Brown, Cutthroat, and Lake). Only 2 trout may be Lake Trout.Several waters have exceptions to these statewide limits. Refer to TWRA for a full list of exceptions to statewide limits.
Edibility
Excellent
Synonyms
Oncorhynchus mykiss
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Local laws and licenses

Tennessee fishing license

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Cities nearby

Damascus

3.0 miles away

Mountain City

8.6 miles away

Abingdon

11.8 miles away

Emory

12.8 miles away

Chilhowie

16.0 miles away

Lansing

18.1 miles away

Bristol

19.3 miles away

Saltville

19.6 miles away

McMullin

20.2 miles away

Butler

20.5 miles away

Allison Gap

21.1 miles away

Troutdale

22.0 miles away

Cove Creek

22.0 miles away

Bristol

22.4 miles away

West Jefferson

22.7 miles away

Hunter

23.1 miles away

Marion

23.6 miles away

Lebanon

25.6 miles away

Beech Mountain

26.8 miles away

Bluff City

27.3 miles away

Boone

27.7 miles away

Mendota

28.4 miles away

Atkins

29.4 miles away

Honaker

30.3 miles away

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FAQ about Backbone Rock fishing

📍 Where is the Backbone Rock located?
the Backbone Rock is a stream located in Johnson County, Tennessee, United States. Its coordinates are:
36°35′39.8″N 81°48′49.9″W
.
🎣 Where on the Backbone Rock is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on the Backbone Rock by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in the Backbone Rock?
The most common species in the Backbone Rock are:
📢 What are the latest Backbone Rock fishing reports?
The latest Backbone Rock fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at the Backbone Rock right now?
According to fishing regulations at the Backbone Rock, some of the species in season this November include: Striped bass, Spotted seatrout, Blacktip shark, Black sea bass, and Bonnethead shark. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at the Backbone Rock?

Fishing in Tennessee requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Licenses include resident and non-resident, annual and short-term, available online or at authorized retailers.

In Tennessee, no fishing license is required for anglers under 13 or residents 65 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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