Fishing Center Hill Lake

Two Distinct Fisheries in One Location

Center Hill Lake offers two fishing environments that are unusual to find within a short drive of each other. The reservoir itself — 18,220 acres of clear limestone-filtered water at up to 195 feet deep — produces strong populations of warmwater species including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, walleye, and catfish. Below Center Hill Dam, the Caney Fork River receives cold bottom-release water at approximately 48 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, creating one of the best trophy trout tailwaters in Middle Tennessee. TWRA stocks rainbow and brown trout in the tailwater, and both species reach significant size in the cold, oxygen-rich water. The combination of a productive warmwater reservoir for bass and panfish with a premium cold-water tailwater for trout within a short distance is genuinely rare in the Middle Tennessee region and is a primary reason fishing-focused buyers choose Center Hill over closer Nashville lakes.

Bass: Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Spotted

Center Hill Lake produces all three black bass species from appropriate habitat throughout the reservoir. Largemouth dominate the shallower cove areas, dock structure in developed sections, and the vegetated cover in protected coves along the middle lake sections. Spring pre-spawn largemouth from March through May are the primary target for most bass anglers — fish staging near cove mouths and moving into shallower spawning areas as water temperatures climb toward 60 degrees. Smallmouth bass are the species that most distinguishes Center Hill from typical Middle Tennessee reservoirs: the clear, cold limestone water and the rocky, cliff-characterized shoreline sections provide excellent smallmouth habitat that is uncommon in the warmer, more turbid lakes closer to Nashville. Smallmouth occupy the harder-bottom sections, the cliff face areas, and the deeper rocky points throughout the main lake body. Spotted bass bridge the two environments, holding on mid-depth structure. All three species are productive in fall from September through November as water temperatures drop and fish feed aggressively before winter.

Crappie and Panfish

Crappie fishing at Center Hill Lake focuses on submerged brush, dock pilings, and channel edge structure throughout the reservoir. Both black and white crappie are present. The spring spawning run concentrates fish in shallower protected areas accessible from small boats. Summer crappie hold deeper — 15–25 feet over documented brush piles and channel edges — and are productive with light jigs or live minnows. Bluegill and redear sunfish are abundant in the warmer-water cove areas during the summer months and provide accessible light-tackle fishing for residents and visitors without specialized knowledge of the lake.

Walleye: A Reservoir Bonus

Walleye are present in Center Hill Lake — confirmed in the lake's Wikipedia entry and noted in local fishing resources. Walleye are uncommon in Middle Tennessee reservoirs and their presence at Center Hill reflects the lake's cold, clear water and the cooler temperature profile created by the deep hypolimnion that also feeds the cold tailwater below the dam. Walleye are most active in low-light conditions at dawn and dusk, concentrate near the dam structure and in the main channel, and are typically targeted with jigs and live minnows along the bottom in 15–25 feet of water. The walleye fishery at Center Hill is not as well-documented or heavily targeted as the bass and crappie fishing, which means it represents an underexplored opportunity for anglers who specifically seek this species.

The Caney Fork Tailwater Trout Fishery

The tailwater below Center Hill Dam on the Caney Fork River is one of Tennessee's designated trout streams. TWRA stocks rainbow trout and brown trout in the Caney Fork tailwater, and both species survive and grow well in the year-round cold water released from the dam's deep intakes. The tailwater runs from the dam downstream with the best fishing typically within the first several miles where water temperatures remain below trout-tolerance thresholds. Public bank access areas near the dam provide fishing without requiring a boat. Float fishing the Caney Fork tailwater in a drift boat or kayak during the productive morning and evening windows is a common approach for serious trout anglers. TWRA publishes current stocking schedules and regulations for the Caney Fork tailwater at tn.gov/twra. All tailwater fishing requires a valid Tennessee fishing license and compliance with any special trout regulations applicable to the Caney Fork.

Licenses and Regulations

A valid Tennessee fishing license is required for all anglers 13 and older. TWRA licenses are available online at tn.gov/twra, through the TWRA app, or at licensed retailers in Smithville and the DeKalb County area. The current TWRA Freshwater Fishing Guide with creel limits, size minimums, and special regulations applicable to Center Hill Lake and the Caney Fork tailwater is available free at tn.gov/twra. The Caney Fork tailwater has specific trout regulations including size and possession limits for rainbow and brown trout that differ from general statewide standards — check the current TWRA guide specifically for the Caney Fork River section before fishing the tailwater. TWRA Region 2 Cookeville office: 931-526-9212.

Fishing Access Points and Guide Services

Center Hill Lake's 31 public boat ramps distributed around the reservoir provide extensive public access for anglers without private docks. Edgar Evins State Park marina, Center Hill Marina & Yacht Club, Edgar Evans Marina, and Hurricane Marina all provide additional launch and slip access with varying services. For shore fishing, Edgar Evins State Park has fishing access areas that do not require a boat. The USACE-managed recreation areas around the reservoir include bank fishing access at several locations — contact the USACE Center Hill Resource Manager at 931-858-3125 for current accessible bank fishing locations and any seasonal restrictions.

For guided fishing on Center Hill Lake, guide services operate primarily out of the Smithville area and from Cookeville (approximately 45 miles northeast). The tailwater trout fishery below the dam draws specialized guides who focus on the Caney Fork River section specifically. TWRA maintains a licensed guide directory at tn.gov/twra where currently licensed guides for Center Hill Lake and the Caney Fork tailwater can be found. Guide trips on the tailwater for rainbow and brown trout are the most frequently booked service at Center Hill, particularly in fall and early spring when water temperatures are optimal. Lake fishing guide trips focusing on bass and walleye are also available and are worth booking for a first-season familiarization run on the 64-mile reservoir before establishing your own patterns.