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Best bluegill lakes in Tennessee

34 Tennessee waters hold bluegill, 5 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The classic panfish. Shallow cover in summer, deeper weed edges otherwise.

1. Kentucky Lake — 75 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, CrappieWhy #1: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 44 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
2. Lake Guntersville — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie, BluegillWhy #2: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 29 public access sites
3. Chickamauga Lake — 75 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 28 public access sites
4. Pickwick Lake — 85 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, CrappieWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 22 public access sites
5. Watts Bar Lake — 100 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 46 public access sites
6. Lake Barkley — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie, BluegillWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 39 public access sites
7. Norris Lake — 210 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 28 public access sites, 1 carry-in or shore-oriented
8. Cherokee Lake — 160 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 27 public access sites
9. Cordell Hull Lake — 75 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sauger, CrappieWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 14 public access sites
10. Dale Hollow Lake — 130 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 5 public access sites
11. Tellico Lake — 95 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 14 public access sites
12. Douglas Lake — 140 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, SaugerWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 12 public access sites
13. Old Hickory Lake — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Sauger, Crappie, BluegillWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 32 public access sites
14. Fort Loudoun Lake — 75 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 16 public access sites
15. Center Hill Lake — 190 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 13 public access sites
16. Melton Hill Lake — 65 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 15 public access sites
17. South Holston Lake — 240 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
18. J. Percy Priest Lake — 100 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 26 public access sites
19. Tims Ford Lake — 143 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #19: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 18 public access sites
20. Watauga Lake — 265 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 5 public access sites
21. Boone Lake — 120 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #21: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 9 public access sites
22. Reelfoot Lake — 18 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #22: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 15 public access sites
23. Nickajack Lake — 55 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites
24. Normandy Lake — 85 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #24: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
25. Parksville Lake — 45 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #25: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached

…plus 9 more Tennessee waters holding bluegill.

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When to fish bluegill in Tennessee

• Spring 1–6 ft — Bedding colonies on sandy shallow flats — sight-fish the light spots.
• Summer 4–15 ft — Weed edges and dock shade; bigger 'gills hold slightly deeper.
• Fall 6–18 ft — Schools tighten on remaining green weeds and first drops.
• Winter 10–25 ft — Soft-bottom basins with invertebrates; finesse presentations.

Also in Tennessee: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best sauger lakes · best crappie lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best striped bass lakes · best white bass & hybrids lakes · best flathead catfish lakes · best blue catfish lakes · best freshwater drum lakes · best common carp lakes · best longnose gar lakes · best brown trout lakes · best spotted bass lakes

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