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16 km of the Tennessee River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 35 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. The season-by-season read for each species follows, from the map's own numbers.
Tennessee River - Reach 3 of 3 maps at 3,018 acres behind 35 miles of shoreline. The 4.5 development index tells the story — a convoluted bank whose fishable edge far outruns the acreage. Littoral water — the productive band under ~15 ft — makes up 61% of this chart. Figure 10.7 mi of water from one end to the other, 3.7 mi at the beam. Fort Loudoun Lake sits 10 mi southwest — the closest neighbouring chart.
Early season rainbow trout use the shallows, holding in 5 to 20 ft. Summer is an 8 to 30 ft game here, winter a 7 to 35 ft one. The chart's best answer is Current seam (mile 15.4) — current seam, 21 ft, prime for summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 15.4) (21 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 15.4) (21 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Current seam (mile 15.4) (21 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 7 to 35 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 15.4) (21 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Spring puts brown trout in skinny water — 3 to 25 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 11 to 35 ft, wintering in 5 to 35 ft. Summer brown trout concentrate at Current seam (mile 15.4), a prime-rated current seam around 21 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Channel bar / point (mile 6.2) (21 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 11 to 35 ft | night & dawn | Current seam (mile 15.4) (21 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | Channel bar / point (mile 6.2) (21 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Current seam (mile 15.4) (21 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Structure-wise the chart holds 8 features, led in depth by Channel bar / point (mile 6.2) at roughly 21 ft.
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 Tennessee River - Reach 3 of 3 specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Tennessee fishing regulations →
Tennessee River - Reach 3 of 3 is about 35 ft (11 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.
Anglers target rainbow trout, brown trout on Tennessee River - Reach 3 of 3. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.
Current seam (mile 15.4) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 21 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in summer. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every species and season.
For rainbow trout, 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 Tennessee River - Reach 3 of 3 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.
Fort Loudoun Lake 10 mi · Melton Hill Lake 14 mi · Clinch River 18 mi · Tellico Lake 24 mi · Norris Lake 31 mi · Douglas Lake 32 mi · Watts Bar Lake 34 mi · Fontana Lake 39 mi, NC · Santeetlah Lake 40 mi, NC · Cherokee Lake 40 mi · Obed River 42 mi · Nantahala River 49 mi, NC
See how Tennessee River - Reach 3 of 3 stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Tennessee · best brown trout lakes in Tennessee
Browse all Tennessee fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. 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.