Fishing Near Nashville: Late-Fall Lakes Guide (2026)

by Jason Lee

Late-Fall Fishing Near Nashville: My Favorite Lakes and What's Biting

If you know me, you know I'd rather be on the water than just about anywhere. And here's a little secret: late fall is one of the best times for fishing near Nashville. The boat ramps are quieter, the leaves are turning on the bluffs, and crappie and bass start stacking up on structure as the water cools. Here's my local guide to where to go and what's biting this time of year, with tips straight from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).

Quick Guide: Fishing Near Nashville in Late Fall

Lake	Size (TWRA)	Late-Fall / Winter Targets	Good Access Points
Old Hickory Lake	22,500 acres	Crappie, largemouth, stripers (Dec.), sauger (Jan.–Mar.)	44 free public ramps; piers at Rockland Recreation Area, Sanders Ferry Park
J. Percy Priest Lake	About 14,200 acres	Crappie, largemouth, hybrids	15 free ramps incl. Seven Points, Cook, Long Hunter State Park
Cheatham Lake	About 7,450 acres	Sauger below dams (Dec.–Mar.)	16 free ramps incl. Peeler Park; bank fishing at Lock A
Center Hill Lake	About 18,220 acres	Smallmouth, walleye, crappie	Creeks near the dam

Old Hickory Lake (Sumner, Wilson and Davidson Counties)

This is my home lake, stretching past Hendersonville, Gallatin, Old Hickory and Mt. Juliet. According to TWRA's Old Hickory page:

Crappie use TWRA's buoyed fish attractors from October through May.
Largemouth bass move to those attractors from late November to early March, once water drops below 55°F, usually in 6 to 12 feet.
Stripers and hybrids start gathering in the lower lake in December around Drakes Creek and Station Camp Creek.
Sauger are best January through March below Cordell Hull Dam.

Key limits from TWRA: largemouth have a 14-inch minimum; crappie are 30 per day at 10 inches; stripers and hybrids are 2 per day at 15 inches. Bank anglers can try the fishing piers at Rockland Recreation Area, Sanders Ferry Park, Shutes Branch and Lock 4 Park.

J. Percy Priest Lake (Davidson, Rutherford and Wilson Counties)

Percy Priest is close to downtown, Hermitage, Smyrna and La Vergne. TWRA notes that crappie hold on attractors from October through May in 6 to 12 feet, and largemouth use attractors from late November through April in 6 to 15 feet. Ramps include Seven Points, Cook, Hurricane Creek, Long Hunter State Park and Pooles Knob. The largemouth minimum here is 15 inches.

Cheatham Lake (Davidson and Cheatham Counties)

Cheatham Lake runs from Nashville down to Ashland City. This is sauger country once it gets cold. TWRA says sauger are best from December through March below the dams, using heavy jigs from 1/2 to 1 ounce tipped with a minnow or shad, and live bait shines once water hits about 45°F. Peeler Park in Madison and the Old Hickory Dam area are good launch points, and Lock A has bank fishing.

Bonus: TWRA notes rainbow trout below Percy Priest Dam on the Stones River. You'll need the supplemental trout license.

Center Hill Lake (Worth the Drive)

Center Hill is about an hour-plus east and is famous for clear water and smallmouth. TWRA's tips: in late fall, jigging spoons near shad in the creeks close to the dam; in winter, float-n-fly in 15 to 25 feet. Walleye can be trolled in fall at 20 to 30 feet. The crappie limit here is 15 per day at 10 inches.

Fishing Near Nashville Without a Boat: Metro Park Ponds

No boat? No problem. Metro Nashville Parks allows fishing with a state license at:

Willow Pond in Percy Warner Park
The Little Harpeth River in Edwin Warner Park
Lake Watauga in Centennial Park
Cedar Hill Pond in Cedar Hill Park (Madison)
Lake Sevier in Shelby Park

Note that Shelby Bottoms itself doesn't allow fishing. In past winters, TWRA has stocked rainbow trout in community ponds including Cedar Hill Park. Check the TWRA trout stocking schedule for this winter's dates.

Tennessee Fishing License Basics

From the TWRA license page (current prices as of October 2026):

Resident annual hunting and fishing combo (ages 16–64): $33
Resident Sportsman license: $165; Senior Sportsman (65+): $49
Trout supplemental: $21
Resident one-day, all species: $11
Nonresident annual fishing: $49 (no trout) or $98 (all species)

Annual licenses are good for 365 days from purchase. Heads-up: in August 2026, the Fish and Wildlife Commission approved proposed fee increases (the combo would go to $42) that still need legislative review, so buying now may save a few dollars.

My Late-Fall Tips

Fish slower as the water cools. Crappie on brush piles will often hit a minnow under a slip float.
Dress in layers and bring a dry change of clothes. November mornings on the water are colder than they look.
Watch the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake levels. Winter pool on Percy Priest is 483 feet, so some ramps get shallow.
Take a kid or a friend. My boys have taught me that the best fishing trips aren't always about the fish.

A Simple Late-Fall Tackle Box

You don't need a garage full of gear to catch fish this time of year. Here's what I keep in the boat from November into winter:

Small jigs and a few dozen live minnows for crappie around brush piles and attractors
Slip floats and split shot to hold bait at a set depth
Jigging spoons and a couple of crankbaits for bass chasing shad in the creeks
Heavier 1/2- to 1-ounce jigs for sauger below the dams
A thermometer or depth finder to track water temperature, since TWRA's patterns key off it
Life jackets for everyone, gloves and a thermos of coffee

Check TWRA's weekly fishing forecast before you go. In late October 2026 it reported water temperatures of 68 to 70 degrees on Center Hill, so expect the bite to keep shifting as lakes cool through November.

Living Near the Water

If spending more mornings like this sounds good, lake-area homes around Hendersonville, Gallatin, Old Hickory, Mt. Juliet and Ashland City put you minutes from a ramp. I'm always happy to talk lake living, whether that's a home with a dock or just a short drive to the water.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best lake for crappie fishing near Nashville in the fall?

Old Hickory and J. Percy Priest are both strong choices. TWRA says crappie use fish attractors on both lakes from October through May, typically in 6 to 12 feet of water.

Where can I fish in Nashville without a boat?

Metro Parks allows fishing with a state license at Willow Pond in Percy Warner Park, Lake Watauga in Centennial Park, Cedar Hill Pond, Lake Sevier in Shelby Park and the Little Harpeth River in Edwin Warner Park.

How much is a Tennessee fishing license?

As of October 2026, TWRA lists a resident annual hunting and fishing combo at $33 for ages 16–64 and a nonresident annual fishing license at $49 without trout or $98 for all species.

When is sauger season near Nashville?

TWRA says sauger fishing is best from December through March below the dams on Cheatham Lake and from January through March below Cordell Hull Dam on Old Hickory.

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