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Fishing Reelfoot Lake: what the data says
15,000-acre reservoir near Tiptonville. earthquake-born cypress lake; legendary crappie and bluegill. The lake tops out around 18 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Crappie fishing at Reelfoot Lake
Spring crappie on Reelfoot Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 8 ft. By summer they slide out to 5 to 18 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 18 ft. Old creek channel is the standout, a creek channel at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for fall crappie. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A jig trolled/spider-rigged or a small crankbait (trolled) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 8 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + tube, Curly-tail grub |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Jig trolled/spider-rigged, Small crankbait (trolled) |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | dawn | Jig + minnow combo, Small swimbait (1.5-2") |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + soft plastic, Tiny jigging spoon |
Bluegill fishing at Reelfoot Lake
Spring bluegill on Reelfoot Lake hold shallow, usually 1 to 6 ft. By summer they slide out to 4 to 15 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 18 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring bluegill. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a small sponge spider (fly) or a micro tube jig and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dusk | 1/32 oz jig + micro plastic, Tiny popper (evenings) |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Small sponge spider (fly), Micro tube jig |
| Fall | 6 to 18 ft | midday | Micro jig + waxworm, Small spoon tipped |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Tungsten ice jig + plastic, Tiny spoon |
Largemouth Bass fishing at Reelfoot Lake
Start shallow in spring: largemouth bass sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 5 to 18 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 18 ft. Shallow bay flat is the standout, a weed flat at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring largemouth bass. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a texas-rigged 10" worm or a deep-diving crankbait gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinnerbait, Chatterbait |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft | dawn & dusk | Texas-rigged 10" worm, Deep-diving crankbait |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Squarebill crankbait (shad), Spinnerbait |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | midday | Blade bait, Jigging spoon |
Channel Catfish fishing at Reelfoot Lake
Start shallow in spring: channel catfish sit in 3 to 12 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 5 to 18 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 18 ft. Creek inflow is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 4 ft, rated prime for spring channel catfish. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 12 ft | dusk | |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | dusk | |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | midday |
Flathead Catfish fishing at Reelfoot Lake
Spring flathead catfish on Reelfoot Lake hold shallow, usually 5 to 18 ft. Summer fish stay in 5 to 18 ft, and winter fish hold in 5 to 18 ft. Deep basin is the standout, a deep basin at roughly 15 ft, rated prime for fall flathead catfish. Best bite is after dark and the evening.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 18 ft | night & dusk | |
| Summer | 5 to 18 ft | night & dusk | |
| Fall | 5 to 18 ft | night & dusk | |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | midday |
Longnose Gar fishing at Reelfoot Lake
Spring longnose gar on Reelfoot Lake hold shallow, usually 2 to 10 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 1 to 12 ft, and winter fish settle into 5 to 18 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Creek inflow: a inflow / creek mouth around 4 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around midday and the evening in the warm months. Tie on a rope lure or a small white spinner and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | midday | Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow) |
| Summer | 1 to 12 ft | midday & dusk | Rope lure, Small white spinner |
| Fall | 4 to 15 ft | midday | Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy) |
| Winter | 5 to 18 ft | midday |
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.
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 15 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 9 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 8 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 8 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 4.7538351969591295 ft
- Creek inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 4 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
- Gravel shoal: gravel shoal, around 2.4889435994572953 ft
- Gravel shoal: gravel shoal, around 1.6163071095166703 ft
Common questions
How deep is Reelfoot Lake?
Reelfoot Lake is about 18 ft 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.
What fish are in Reelfoot Lake?
Anglers target largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, flathead catfish, common carp, longnose gar on Reelfoot Lake.
Where is the best fishing spot 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. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Reelfoot Lake?
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.
Nearby waters
Kentucky Lake · Buffalo River · Laurel Hill Lake · VFW Lake · Whippoorwill Lake · Harpeth River
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 every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.