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15,000-acre reservoir near Tiptonville. Earthquake-born cypress lake; legendary crappie and bluegill. The lake tops out around 18 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
The chart traces 61.1 miles of shoreline here, with a single island in the mix. A development index of 4.3 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Roughly 92% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives. Figure 10.6 mi of water from one end to the other, 5.1 mi at the beam. The water lies in Lake County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Seven Island Conservation Area, 14 mi north of here.
Start shallow in spring: crappie sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 18 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 18 ft. The spot to know is Old creek channel, a creek channel in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in fall. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Old creek channel (9 ft) | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | dawn | Old creek channel (9 ft) | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Deep basin (15 ft) | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
In spring, bluegill run shallow here, mostly 1 to 6 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 4 to 15 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 18 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring bluegill. Time it for early morning and the evening. You won't need more than a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Break off the point (8 ft) | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Deep basin (15 ft) | Tiny spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: largemouth bass in 2 to 10 ft. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 18 ft, wintering in 5 to 18 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 3 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Break off the point (8 ft) | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Break off the point (8 ft) | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: channel catfish in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 5 to 18 ft, wintering in 5 to 18 ft. Top water on the chart: Creek inflow, an inflow / creek mouth in the 4 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | Creek inflow (4 ft) | |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft | night & dusk | Old creek channel (9 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | dusk | Old creek channel (9 ft) | |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Deep basin (15 ft) |
Spring puts flathead catfish in skinny water — 5 to 18 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 5 to 18 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 18 ft. Fall flathead catfish concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 15 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 18 ft | night & dusk | Old creek channel (9 ft) | |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (15 ft) | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | night & dusk | Deep basin (15 ft) | |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Deep basin (15 ft) |
Spring puts longnose gar in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 1 to 12 ft, wintering in 5 to 18 ft. Spring longnose gar concentrate at Creek inflow, a prime-rated inflow / creek mouth around 4 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around midday and the evening. A rope lure or a small white spinner covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday | Creek inflow (4 ft) | Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow) |
| Summer | 1 to 12 ft | midday & dusk | Shallow bay flat (3 ft) | Rope lure, Small white spinner |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Old creek channel (9 ft) | Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy) |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Deep basin (15 ft) |
Reelfoot Lake also holds common carp (3 to 15 ft in summer). Pick any of them on the map above for rated spots and bait picks.
Count 16 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 15 ft.
Access data: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency — Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Tennessee waters are set by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency — and special regulations can apply to Reelfoot Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Tennessee fishing regulations →
Reelfoot Lake is about 18 ft (5 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, longnose gar, common carp on Reelfoot Lake.
Old creek channel is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for crappie in fall. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For crappie, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Reelfoot Lake is regulated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Check the official Tennessee regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Seven Island Conservation Area 14 mi, MO · Twin Borrow Pits Conservation Area 14 mi, MO · Wolf Bayou Unit of Black Island Conservation Area 17 mi, MO · Nolen Blue Hole 28 mi, MO · Robert G. Delaney Lake Conservation Area 37 mi, MO · Gibson County Lake 40 mi · General Watkins Conservation Area 47 mi, MO · Duck Creek Conservation Area 60 mi, MO · Lake Girardeau 66 mi, MO · Wappapello Lake 66 mi, MO · Kentucky Lake 71 mi, KY/TN · Mississippi River - Memphis 75 mi, TN/AR/MS
See how Reelfoot Lake stacks up: best largemouth bass lakes in Tennessee · best crappie lakes in Tennessee · best bluegill lakes in Tennessee · best channel catfish lakes in Tennessee
Browse all Tennessee fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.