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Penitentiary Branch

Fishing spots, fishing reports, and regulations in

Tennessee, United States

6 catches

Top fish species at Penitentiary Branch

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Check which species have trophy potential in Penitentiary Branch

Penitentiary Branch fishing reports

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Rainbow trout

length · weight

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Common carp

length · weight

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Walleye

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Common carp

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Channel catfish

length · weight

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General info

Penitentiary Branch is a stream located in Jackson County, Tennessee, United States. It is most popular for fishing Rainbow trout, Common carp, and Channel catfish.

Location

36°25′54.2″N 85°34′32.5″W
Directions

Fishing regulations at Penitentiary Branch, 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
Season open: year-round
Common carp

Common carp

Regulation boundaryTennessee State Waters
Restrictions & requirements

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
Purchase your Tennessee fishing license on the Go Outdoors Tennessee website.
Additional information
No minimum size limit. No bag limit.Several waters have exceptions to these statewide limits. Refer to TWRA for a full list of exceptions to statewide limits.
Edibility
Poor
Synonyms
Cyprinus carpio
Season open: year-round
Channel catfish

Channel catfish

Regulation boundaryTennessee State Waters
Memorable / trophy limits1 > 34

The maximum number of trophy individuals legally harvested per harvester per day. A trophy is any individual of a length greater than the max size limit. Trophy individuals are included in the daily bag limit unless stated otherwise.

Restrictions & requirements

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
Purchase your Tennessee fishing license on the Go Outdoors Tennessee website.
Additional information
Only one catfish over 34 inches may be harvested per day. This aggregate trophy limit includes Channel, Blue and Flathead Catfish. No harvest limit on catfish less than 34 inches.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 Channel Catfish by BlueGabe
Synonyms
Ictalurus punctatus
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Local laws and licenses

Tennessee fishing license

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Cities nearby

Gainesboro

6.3 miles away

Hilham

7.6 miles away

Dodson Branch

8.4 miles away

Celina

8.9 miles away

Livingston

14.2 miles away

Red Boiling Springs

16.6 miles away

Gamaliel

18.9 miles away

Baxter

19.5 miles away

Tompkinsville

19.7 miles away

Cookeville

19.9 miles away

South Carthage

25.0 miles away

Lafayette

26.1 miles away

Gordonsville

26.3 miles away

Monterey

26.3 miles away

Byrdstown

26.4 miles away

Burkesville

27.3 miles away

Marrowbone

27.9 miles away

Fountain Run

29.2 miles away

Hartsville

32.4 miles away

Smithville

35.4 miles away

Dowelltown

35.5 miles away

Alexandria

35.5 miles away

Tuckers Crossroads

36.4 miles away

Liberty

37.1 miles away

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FAQ about Penitentiary Branch fishing

📍 Where is the Penitentiary Branch located?
the Penitentiary Branch is a stream located in Jackson County, Tennessee, United States. Its coordinates are:
36°25′54.2″N 85°34′32.5″W
.
🎣 Where on the Penitentiary Branch is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on the Penitentiary Branch 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 Penitentiary Branch?
The most common species in the Penitentiary Branch are:
📢 What are the latest Penitentiary Branch fishing reports?
The latest Penitentiary Branch fishing reports are:
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at the Penitentiary Branch?

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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