Tellico Lake, TN

About Tellico Lake

Tellico Lake is a roughly 16,000-acre TVA reservoir on the Little Tennessee River in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, near Lenoir City and Vonore in East Tennessee. Impounded by Tellico Dam in the late 1970s, it is one of the youngest of the Tennessee Valley impoundments and is hydraulically connected to neighboring Fort Loudoun Lake through a canal, so the two waters fish much alike and share water-level swings. The lake stretches along a scenic, ridge-lined valley with clear-to-stained water, abundant standing timber up the river arms, deep main-lake channels, rocky points, and developed flats and coves near the lower end.

Anglers know Tellico best as a quality bass and cool-water fishery. It produces strong populations of both smallmouth and largemouth bass, a respected walleye fishery that draws anglers from across the region, and good numbers of crappie and panfish. The lake's combination of clear highland-reservoir water, current from the Little Tennessee and Tellico Rivers, and varied structure gives it a character that rewards anglers who can adapt between shallow-cover and deep-structure presentations through the year.

Fish Species

Tellico carries a diverse warm- and cool-water gamefish community. The standouts are its black bass and walleye.

• Smallmouth bass — A signature species. The clear water, rocky points, bluffs, and current make Tellico a genuinely good smallmouth lake by Tennessee standards, with healthy fish that fight hard around deep structure.
• Largemouth bass — Widespread throughout the coves, timber, docks, and shallow flats, especially up the river arms and in the developed lower lake.
• Walleye — One of the lake's calling cards. Tellico and the connected Fort Loudoun system support a notable walleye fishery, with fish using river current, deep channels, and points.
• Crappie — Both black and white crappie are present in good numbers around brush, standing timber, and bridge structure.
• Striped bass and hybrid (white) bass — Stripers and white bass roam the open water and chase shad, providing exciting seasonal action.
• Bluegill, redear sunfish, and catfish — Plentiful panfish for casual fishing, plus channel and flathead catfish for those targeting them.

Best Seasons & Times

Spring is prime time. As water warms into the 50s and 60s, smallmouth and largemouth move shallow to stage and spawn on rocky points, gravel pockets, and cove flats. Pre-spawn and the spawn produce some of the year's biggest bass. Walleye run up the river arms and toward current early in the season, and crappie pile into shallow brush and timber to spawn, making them easy to target in coves and around bridges.

Summer pushes fish deeper. Bass relate to main-lake points, ledges, humps, and bluff walls, and early-morning and late-evening topwater can be excellent over points and around bait. Stripers and white bass school and chase shad in open water, and a strong nighttime bite develops for bass, walleye, and catfish during the heat. Midday fishing means going deeper and slower.

Fall brings a feeding window as cooling water sends shad toward the backs of creeks and pockets. Bass, white bass, and stripers follow the bait, and aggressive moving-bait presentations shine. It is one of the most active and enjoyable times to be on the water.

Winter concentrates fish deep on channel-related structure. Smallmouth in particular can be caught on slow, finesse presentations near deep rock, and walleye remain catchable on deep points and channels. Cold-water fishing is slow but can produce quality fish. Overall, low-light periods at dawn and dusk are the most reliable across all seasons.

Techniques & Baits

Smallmouth bass: Lean on finesse and structure tactics in the clear water — drop-shot rigs, shaky heads, tubes, Ned rigs, and small swimbaits worked on rocky points, bluffs, and current-swept areas. A jerkbait excels in cooler water, and crankbaits work on summer ledges.

Largemouth bass: Flip and pitch jigs and soft plastics to docks, laydowns, and standing timber; work spinnerbaits, squarebill crankbaits, and chatterbaits along cover; and throw topwater frogs and walking baits early and late. Texas-rigged worms and creature baits are dependable around wood and grass.

Walleye: Troll crankbaits and bottom-bouncer/nightcrawler-harness rigs along channels and points, or cast and slow-roll jigs tipped with minnows or plastics near current and deep structure. Low-light and night fishing is often most productive.

Crappie: Vertical-jig small jigs or live minnows around standing timber, brush piles, and bridge pilings; spider-rig or use a slip bobber over cover in spring.

Striped and white bass: Watch for surface-busting schools and throw topwater, swimbaits, and bucktails; live shad fished free-lined or under planer boards/down lines produces bigger stripers. Match the prevalent shad forage with natural shad and white color patterns lake-wide.

Access & Launches

Tellico Lake has good public access. TVA and local agencies maintain several public boat ramps spread around the reservoir, with launch points convenient to the Lenoir City, Vonore, and Tellico Village areas as well as up the river arms. The connection to Fort Loudoun Lake via the canal lets boaters move between the two systems. You will also find marinas and developed access on the lower lake offering fuel, slips, and supplies, along with bank-fishing opportunities at parks and near bridges. Plan ahead for water-level fluctuations typical of a TVA reservoir, which can affect shallow ramps, and always confirm current ramp conditions and any seasonal closures before launching.

Regulations & Licenses

A valid Tennessee fishing license is required for anyone of licensing age, and licenses are sold online and at many local retailers. Tellico Lake is managed under Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency regulations, and species like black bass, walleye, crappie, and striped/white bass may carry their own size (including possible slot or minimum-length limits) and creel/bag limits that can change from year to year. Because the lake is connected to the Fort Loudoun system and statewide and lake-specific rules vary, always review the current TWRA fishing regulations for size and bag limits, seasons, and any special provisions before you fish, and follow safe-boating and life-jacket requirements while on the water.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tellico Lake best known for catching?
Tellico is best known for its quality bass fishing — both smallmouth and largemouth — and for being a respected walleye lake. It also offers good crappie, white bass, striped bass, panfish, and catfish, making it a versatile East Tennessee destination.

When is the best time to fish Tellico Lake?
Spring is the standout season, when pre-spawn and spawning bass move shallow, walleye run the river arms, and crappie load into cover. Fall is also excellent as cooling water triggers a feeding push, and summer offers strong early-morning topwater and a productive night bite.

Is Tellico Lake good for smallmouth bass?
Yes. Its clear water, rocky points, bluffs, and current make Tellico a genuinely good smallmouth fishery by Tennessee standards. Finesse tactics like drop-shots, tubes, Ned rigs, and jerkbaits around deep rock are reliable producers.

Do I need a license to fish Tellico Lake?
Yes. Anyone of licensing age needs a valid Tennessee fishing license, available online or from local retailers. The lake is managed under TWRA rules, so check current size and bag limits for your target species before you go, as they can change.