Caney Fork River Fishing Regulations

Current Fishing Regulations | Get a Fishing License | Trout Species Identification | About the Caney

Caney Fork Fishing Regulations

As of 2023, the regulations are as follows:

Rainbow Trout: 5 per day, 14″-20″ protected length range. 1 fish over 20″ can be harvested.

Brook Trout: 5 per day, 14″-20″ protected length range. 1 fish over 20″ may be harvested in a creel.

Brown Trout: 1 per day, 24″ minimum length limit. Only 1 fish over 24″ may be harvested in a creel.

Total Creel Limit Combined is 5 fish. The creel contents must contain no more than 5 trout (a combination of rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout). The creel contents must abide by each species’ protected length ranges & limits defined above.

LET THE BIG FISH GO! The Caney Fork is one of the only places in Middle Tennessee that provides people an opportunity to catch trophy holdover trout. If you hook into one of these beasts, snap a quick photo and let it go so it can grow. Catch and release helps ensure a healthy population of large trout. Please routinely check the following website to ensure current regulations.

Click Here to See Current Tennessee Fishing Regulations

To fish on the Caney Fork River, one must have a Tennessee fishing license and a trout stamp. Chick the following button to get a license + trout stamp online!

Click Here to Buy Your Tennessee Fishing License Online

Caney Fork Trout Species Identification

Rainbow Trout

Caney Fork Rainbow Trout
Rainbow trout are lighter in color and have a very visible red/pink stripe down their sides.

Brown Trout

Caney Fork Brown Trout
Brown trout are typically darker in color and have black spots on their brown/golden body.

Brook Trout

Brook trout range from silver to dark in color and can be identified by orange, white-tipped fins.

Cutthroat Trout

Cutthroat trout are easily told apart from rainbow trout by a vivid orange line under their jaw.

About the Caney Fork

The Caney Fork is a 140-mile tributary to the mighty Cumberland River. The Caney starts as a small stream near Crossville, Tennessee. Two dams impound the river before it meets up with the Cumberland: Center Hill Dam and Great Falls Dam. The Caney Fork contains warm water species until it gets impounded by Center Hill Dam. The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency stocks trout into the 16 mile stretch below Center Hill Dam and enforces the trout regulations below Center Hill.