Resting at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains is one of the cleanest lakes in North America. Norris Lake boasts beautiful emerald-green water. Rolling foothills covered in cedars and pines surround the lake and enhance the natural landscape. Within these forests are healthy populations of songbirds, beavers, and deer.
Built in 1936, the Norris Lake Reservoir is a sprawling body of water in Tennessee that covers over 34,000 acres (13,759 hectares) and has more than 800 miles (1,287 km) of shoreline. Most of the reservoir’s shoreline is undeveloped and is owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority, a federal agency that manages the reservoir and its surrounding land. Instead of developing the lake shoreline into urban areas, most of the land is set aside for wildlife and recreational activities such as camping, hiking, and fishing. As a result, most of the land is designated for wildlife management areas or state parks.
Luckily for visitors, the lake is clean and has an ecological health score of “fair,” according to the Tennessee Valley Authority. It is widely known for its beauty and crystal-clear water. The most pressing concern for the reservoir is low dissolved oxygen; otherwise, there are few ecological issues present.
Fish Species in Norris Lake
1) Crappies (Pomoxis spp.)
The common name “crappie” refers to two species in the genus Pomoxis, black (P. nigromaculatus) and white crappie (P. annularis). Species within this genus are distinguished from other sunfish species by spiny gill covers. Norris Lake is home to both species. The two species differ in coloration, which is the primary way to tell them apart. The white crappie has silver coloration with black bars, and the black crappie has an abundance of dark spots along the body, which gives this species an overall darker appearance.
Black and white crappies also have different habitat preferences. Black crappies prefer clear water and areas with abundant submerged vegetation, whereas white crappies are not as picky. Both species are predators that hunt for small fish and invertebrates at dawn and dusk.
White crappies lay their eggs on aquatic vegetation while black crappies are nest spawners. Male black crappies construct a nest in the sediment of a water body for females to deposit their eggs. Males exhibit short periods of parental care, protecting eggs laid by females in the male’s nest for around five days.
Crappies are not difficult to catch and can be fished using a variety of rigs and strategies, like classic bobbers and spider rigging. Anglers may harvest up to 10 crappies per day from Norris Lake. Those crappies must be at least 10 inches (25.4 cm) long.
2) Temperate basses (Morone spp.)
Norris Lake is home to two temperate bass species, the white bass (M. chrysops) and the yellow bass (M. mississippiensis). The easiest way to tell the two species apart is through color. White bass are silver, whereas yellow bass are yellow. Yellow bass, with an average length of 9.4 in (23.9 cm), are also smaller on average than white bass at 12.5 in (31.8 cm). Striped bass are regularly stocked in Norris Lake. Populations must be maintained by annual stocking because there is not enough food to support a heavy sportfish population long-term.
While white bass can inhabit a range of habitat types, yellow bass prefer open water without weeds or submerged vegetation. Both species consume invertebrates as juveniles and small fish as adults. Temperate basses are scatter spawners and do not make a nest. Instead, they congregate in large groups, migrating upstream to swift streams before mating. Once in spawning territory, females release thousands of sticky eggs that settle in the substrate.
At Norris Lake, anglers may harvest two striped bass (hybrids included) per day with a 15-inch (38 cm) minimum length from April to October. Then, from November to March, anglers may harvest one fish per day with a 36-inch (91 cm) minimum size. Up to 15 white bass may be taken daily without any minimum length.
3) Black basses (Micropterus spp.)
When it comes to black basses, there are three major “players” in the Norris Lake “arena”: largemouth bass (M. salmoides), smallmouth bass (M. dolomieu), and spotted bass (M. punctulatus) as well as their hybrids. All three species are remarkable sportfish, but the largemouth bass reigns king in size. While the smallmouth bass maxes out at around 27 inches (69 cm), the largemouth bass can reach heights of up to 38 inches (97 cm). By comparison, spotted bass can reach a maximum length of 25 in (63.5 cm).
Largemouth bass are easy to spot, with enormous mouths extending past their eyes. With these mouths, they consume large prey items that other black basses cannot eat. This can include other large predatory fish, amphibians, and even small mammals or birds. Smallmouth bass and spotted bass have smaller mouths. The latter two species can be distinguished by their spotting patterns, with spotted bass having strong blotches aligned along their sides; smallmouth bass have a less clear pattern.
Smallmouth bass are particularly popular at Norris Lake. From June to October 15th, anglers may keep one smallmouth bass at least 20 inches (51 cm) and up to five fish per day from October 15th to May 31st if those fish are at least 18 inches (46 cm). For largemouth bass, the limit is 5 per day with a 14-inch (36 cm) minimum. There are no restrictions for spotted bass.
4) Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens)
Freshwater drums are perch-like, silvery fish with a rounded caudal fin. This trait can help distinguish them from perches which usually possess slightly forked caudal fins. In addition, a defining characteristic of the freshwater drum is the presence of a complete lateral line that extends into its caudal fin.
The most striking feature of the freshwater drum is its unusual teeth which look like a series of molars and are specially designed to crack open sturdy mollusk shells. These teeth are not uncommon in other species of fish, but they are particularly pronounced in freshwater drums. In addition, this species can produce a deep, throaty noise that they use to scare off predators and communicate. This action is made possible because they have particular muscles to vibrate their swim bladder.
This species can be rather large and achieve a maximum weight of around 50 pounds (23 kg). They are bottom dwellers and eat similar prey as catfish, which can be identical in size. Their bottom-feeding diet includes insects, fish, crayfish, and mollusks. Freshwater drums enjoy slow currents in deep reservoirs and lakes. Spawning occurs in schools annually from late spring to early summer. Thousands of offspring are produced in one spawning event and left to fend for themselves in the open water.
There are no regulations for freshwater drum in Tennessee as of January 2023.
5) Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
Bluegills are popular panfish with brown bodies and fins tipped with blue and orange. Males are more colorful than females. They are a fun species for young children to catch. They used to be extremely popular like the largemouth and smallmouth bass, but are no longer routinely stocked on their own. However, they are suitable to stock alongside those larger species as a food source.
Bluegill primarily consumes insects and only occasionally eats other small fish; as a result, they bioaccumulate fewer toxic metals and can be safer to eat.
Spawning occurs in warm water between May and July. The male will construct and guard a nest throughout the season until the eggs hatch. Male bluegills tend to be particularly aggressive during the breeding season, and while they are not dangerous, they will try to attack swimmers if they come too close to the nest.
There is no limit on bluegill in Tennessee.
6) Green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)
Lepomis cyanellus is a small, green sunfish with an iridescent, blue-speckled pattern and an ear spot just above its pectoral fin. They also have yellow to white edging along their pelvic and anal fins. An average green sunfish will be around 7.9 inches (20 cm). Although they rarely grow large enough to make a decent catch, they are considered delicious panfish.
To catch a green sunfish, an angler should try to fish in areas with abundant aquatic vegetation and refugia in the form of sunken wooden debris. One source suggests placing live bait on a bobber rig, such as a worm or crickets.
Green sunfish are nest spawners, a trait that is characteristic of sunfish in general. The green sunfish’s diet mainly consists of aquatic invertebrates, although they sometimes predate upon smaller fish. When introduced, green sunfish compete with other invertivores and have been responsible for several local extirpations of native species.
There is no limit on green sunfish in Tennessee.
7) Other true sunfish (Lepomis spp.)
There are a few close relatives of the popular Lepomis sportfish at Norris Lake.
The warmouth (L. gulosus) earns its name from its enormous mouth, which allows this Lepomis species to eat larger fish than other species of fish in the genus Lepomis. These fish are usually brown with red and orange hues, although longear sunfish (L. megalotis) are more colorful. Redears (L. microlophus) are smaller, mottled, green-colored sunfish with a black and red eyespot at the top of their gill covers. Finally, longears derive their common name from their extended opercular flap or “ear,” which is the longest of any true sunfish.
Warmouths are generalists, the redear sunfish specializes in snails, and longears eat insects and other fish. All three species can be found in rivers, lakes, and impoundments, and they tolerate some turbidity. These small fish are a joy for younger anglers to catch and for more seasoned anglers to identify.
Anglers may harvest up to 20 redear sunfish per day, but there is no limit on other Lepomis species.
8) Brown trout (Salmo trutta)
The brown trout is also known as the lake trout and can be distinguished from the rainbow trout by lighter halos around dark spots; rainbow trout lack these halos. This trout species is another popular sport fish introduced in the 1880s and is routinely stocked in American rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Like rainbow trout, this species does not migrate to the ocean. However, its close relatives, salmon, do migrate to the sea to complete their life cycle.
This trout species prefers slower rivers than other trout and are nocturnal predators of crayfish and other large invertebrates. They spawn in the fall and winter with migratory tendencies like the rainbow trout.
When caught, adult brown trout measure 12 to 20 inches (30 – 51 cm) on average. The bag limit for all trout species combined is seven fish per day in Tennessee.
9) Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
As the name suggests, the rainbow trout is a beautiful and popular game fish that often boasts a striking red and silver coloration. Therefore, it is usually stocked in lakes and rivers in the United States. There are two forms of rainbow trout: the salmon form that migrates to the ocean and the landlocked form that migrates upstream to spawn but never leaves the sea. Only the latter is present at Norris Lake. While it can be found worldwide, O. mykiss is only native to the West Coast, coastal Alaska, and parts of eastern Russia. This salmon is a large species with an average length of around 24 inches (61 cm).
Rainbow trout reach sexual maturity at 2 – 3 years of age and can grow to be staggeringly large, over 40 inches (102 cm). In their native range, adults are anadromous and migrate from rivers to the ocean. They return to their natal streams to spawn from April to July. Many populations successfully reproduce in streams that do not have access to the sea, as is the case with individuals present at Norris Lake.
The bag limit for all trout species combined is seven fish per day.
10) Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
The most popular sport catfish is the channel catfish or the channel cat. This species has a forked tail and a round anal fin instead of a straight one. This character can help distinguish it from the blue catfish, which has a straight anal fin. Channel catfish are also generally smaller than blue (Ictalurus furcatus) or flathead (Pylodictis olivaris) catfish, with an average length of 10 to 20 inches (25 to 51 cm).
The channel catfish thrives in clear streams but can tolerate turbid water. It is most frequently found in large rivers or channels. At Norris Lake, channel catfish can be found in shallower areas around 20 feet (6 m) deep.
Young channel catfish consume invertebrates, while the adults consume a broader array of prey items like crabs, small fish, and mollusks. This species’ reproductive cycle is temperature-dependent and initiated by warm water temperatures of at least 75°F (23.9°C). When temperatures are favorable, male channel catfish find nesting areas in a cave-like shelter which females visit to lay their eggs. Males protect and care for the eggs until they hatch. The National Parks Service suggests using live fish and nightcrawlers to catch a tasty channel catfish. However, they will accept a variety of meat-based bait, from squid and shrimp to hotdogs and processed bait.
Anglers at Norris Lake may harvest one catfish over 34 inches (86 cm) in length, but there is no limit on smaller catfish.
11) Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)
With a current record weight of 143 lbs (65 kg), the blue catfish is the largest catfish species in North America. However, the typical blue catfish will reach an average weight of around 4 pounds (2 kg). Not quite monstrous, but still sizeable…and delicious! They possess a deeply forked caudal fin which distinguishes them from bullheads. They are similar in appearance to the channel catfish, but the edges of their anal fins can help identify this species. In blue catfish, the anal fin is generally straight. In channel catfish, the anal fin is somewhat rounded.
This species thrives in clear streams with abundant prey items, like invertebrates and small fish. However, they have small eyes and poor eyesight, so blue catfish rely on their sensitive barbels to detect prey items in the water column or hide in the substrate. They reproduce annually in the spring.
Blue catfish are popular sport and food fish. They are well known for their flavor, and because they feed primarily from the water column and less from the substrate, they tend to taste better than species that are bottom-feeding specialists. One source recommends using fresh fish, shrimp, chicken liver, or processed catfish bait to get a blue catfish on the line. Anglers at Norris Lake may harvest one catfish over 34 inches (86 cm) in length, but there is no limit on smaller catfish.
12) Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris)
With a distinct protruding lower jaw, the flathead catfish has one of the most curious appearances of any catfish. This catfish is mottled, olive-colored, and immature individuals may appear black. Young fish may be confused with bullheads as they are both rather dark in color, but bullhead catfish do not possess the flathead’s unique lower jaw at any age. This species is also significant, with an average length of 30 inches (76 cm) and weights exceeding 100 pounds (45 kg).
Flatheads are sedentary, nocturnal hunters that spend most of their time in deep pools. However, they will travel to shallower areas in search of prey when hunting, so anglers can find this species in shallow areas of the lake at night. This species primarily consumes invertebrates and fish. They spawn once in early to mid-summer.
Flathead catfish are famous eating fish and have a remarkable flavor. Some examples of excellent bait fish include smaller sunfish, mudcats, or other appropriately sized bait fish. Once caught, care should be taken when handling any catfish as this group of fish possesses venom glands that can deliver a painful sting via hollow dorsal and pectoral spines. Gloves are recommended when removing catfish from hooks and processing them for filets.
Anglers at Norris Lake may harvest one catfish over 34 inches (86 cm) in length, but there is no limit on smaller catfish.
13) Buffalo (Ictiobus spp.)
Basses and catfish are not the only sport fish species present at Norris Lake. At least three large carp species can be found here, the smallmouth (I. bubalus), bigmouth (I. cyprinellus), and black buffalo (I. niger). Smallmouth and black buffalo have downward-facing mouths, whereas the bigmouth is the only sucker species with a mouth that points forward. In addition, smallmouth and black buffalo can be distinguished by looking for grooves on the underside of the mouth. Black buffalo have grooves, while smallmouth buffalo do not.
All buffalo species can be enormous, with standard lengths between 20 and 40 inches (51 and 102 cm); they are also heavy-bodied fish. Black buffalo are the least common in impoundments and, therefore, the rarest type in Norris Lake. Smallmouth buffalo consume mollusks and algae, black buffalo consume mollusks, and bigmouth buffalo specialize in copepods and insect larvae. Additionally, bigmouth buffalo prefer shallow water.
All Ictiobus species mentioned here are scatter spawners. They form breeding groups during the breeding season and deposit their eggs over substrate or weed beds.
There are no regulations for buffalo species in Tennessee as of writing this article (January 2023).
14) Black bullhead (Ameiurus melas)
Black bullheads are small, around 6 to 7 inches (15 to 18 cm) in length. Their bodies are predominantly dark-colored with yellow-olive underbellies. Like the yellow bullhead, the black bullhead has an expansive range stretching from northern Mexico into southern Canada. They can be found in warm, turbid water bodies with soft, muddy substrates, and they prefer slow currents. They do not do well in areas with other predatory fish.
Young black bullheads eat insect larvae and other small invertebrates, whereas adults consume a variety of organisms, including mollusks, plants, and fish. The breeding season lasts from May to June, and during the breeding season, females construct nests, but both sexes protect the young.
There are no harvest limits on bullheads in Tennessee.
15) Yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis)
Yellow bullheads can be found in rivers and lakes with calm water and soft substrates like mud, sand, or vegetation. They are also pollution-tolerant, making them excellent at adapting to human environments like impoundments. They also love warm waters with thick vegetation.
This species hunts for small insects, mollusks, and crustaceans such as clams and crabs at night. Additionally, adults will consume small fish, frogs, and tadpoles. They are a smaller bullhead species with an average adult length of 9.8 inches (25 cm).
Mature adults spawn in shallow water during the breeding season, which lasts from May to June. Both parents may participate in building a nest, but only the male remains after mating to guard the eggs.
There are no harvest limits on bullheads in Tennessee.
16) River chub (Nocomis micropogon)
River chubs are medium-sized Cyprinids with blunt, rounded heads. On average, they are around 5.3 (13.5 cm) in length. They prefer swift currents and are more common at quick inflows and outflows feeding Norris Lake. River chubs have a light underbelly and an olive dorsal surface with a thick but faint lateral stripe separating the two surfaces.
This species is a common prey item for larger sport fish. Generally, they are of little concern to anglers but can be interesting to reel in. Adult males have a multitude of tubercules on their heads. During the breeding season, they excavate and aggressively defend nests. Adult and young river chubs consume insects, larvae, crustaceans, mollusks, and plants.
There is no limit on river chub in Tennessee. They make great bait and are usually caught on accident by anglers looking for other swift-water sport species.
17) Sauger (Sander canadensis)
The sauger is a highly predatory fish that looks like another perch species, the walleye. Saugers have a distinctive blotchy pattern and consistent patterning on their caudal fin. On the other hand, walleye have a clear patch on the bottom edge of their caudal fin and typically do not have blotches on their bodies. Identifying saugers versus walleyes is complicated by the presence of hybrids known as saugeyes. These hybrids are often intentionally produced by wildlife agencies and stocked in lakes. They are popular sportfish and are introduced to reduce populations of smaller fish and invasives, like the pumpkinseed, which improves a water body’s sportfishing possibilities.
Cold, flowing, turbid water is perfect for a sauger. During the spawning season, adult sauger will migrate to spawning locations where they scatter their eggs over a rock bed, leaving them to fend for themselves. Young saugers are almost exclusively invertivores, but adults are prolific piscivores. In addition, saugers are skillful predators, possessing a mouth full of teeth, eyes well adapted to low-light levels, and a sensitive lateral line that allows them to sense the movement of prey in the water.
Fishing for sauger is relatively simple. Anglers should target murky yet deep waters of lakes or rivers. Various jigs can be used to catch them, and some sources recommend using live bait to encourage these predators to bite. Tennessee anglers can harvest up to 10 sauger or sauger/walleye hybrids from Norris Lake daily, provided that those fish are at least 15 inches (38 cm) long.
18) Walleye (Sander vitreus)
The walleye is a critical commercial sportfish relative to the sauger. They possess an arsenal of sharp teeth, facilitating their carnivorous diet. Walleyes are primarily piscivorous but are known to eat invertebrates, amphibians, and even small mammals. In addition, walleye and sauger commonly hybridize to produce saugeyes.
This delicious fish is highly sought after by sport anglers. Fishing for walleyes is like fishing for bass species; they can be caught with various fishing tactics. Sources suggest using live bait such as minnows, earthworms, and leeches.
Anglers may harvest up to 5 walleye per day from Norris Lake. There is a 16-inch (40.6 cm) minimum for this species.
19) Spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus)
The spotted gar is covered in spots along its sides, fins, and head, and anglers can use these spots to distinguish them from other gar species. One clue that may help anglers identify spotted gar is the presence of spots on the head. Comparatively, the longnose gar has a thin, needle-like snout without spotting on its head, making it easily distinguishable from the spotted gar.
The spotted gar is long-lived compared to other fish, although they do not live nearly as long as the larger alligator gar. A healthy spotted gar may live to 18 years old and grow to an average of 3 feet long.
A calm, vegetated stream might contain a few spotted gar hiding amongst the vegetation using their classic sit-and-wait hunting strategy. While they are primarily freshwater hunters, they are also capable of hunting in brackish water. Despite being voracious predators, spotted gars are not at the top of the food chain. Spotted gars are essential prey for alligators, predatory birds, and even piscivorous snakes like the cottonmouth.
20) Longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus)
As its name suggests, the longnose gar possesses a skinny, long snout with rows of sharp teeth. Of all the gar species, the range of the longnose gar extends the farthest north, reaching areas up into Quebec. An average longnose gar is about 25 inches (64 cm) long.
Longnose gar can be found in slow-moving rivers, ponds, and impoundments, often in small groups. They hover motionless in the water until a prey item unwittingly approaches them. At this point, they sideswipe the prey item to impale it on their sharp teeth. Longnose gars are vital predators of sunfish, shad, and shiners, controlling prey fish populations. In addition, longnose gar can tolerate higher salinity, sometimes entering saltier waters to hunt menhaden in coastal estuaries.
To fish for longnose gar, one source suggests using minnows and artificial lures.
21) Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)
At a whopping 8 feet (2.4 m) long and with a maximum weight of 208 pounds (94 kg), the lake sturgeon takes the number one spot as North America’s largest freshwater fish. In addition, they can be incredibly long-lived. One source provides a report of a lake sturgeon over 150 years old. Paddlefish and sturgeon belong to an ancient group of fish whose fossils date back to the Jurassic period. Lake sturgeon have boney scutes and a heterocercal tail, typical characteristics of ancient fish lineages.
Lake sturgeons are demersal, meaning they occupy space in the water column closest to the substrate. They use their barbels to root around in the substrate for food. As a result, their diet is composed of benthic organisms like crayfish and snails.
The IUCN Red List considers sturgeon among the most endangered on Earth. Fishing for sturgeon in Tennessee is illegal. Any fish caught by an angler must be returned to the water immediately.
22) Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula)
This intriguing-looking fish has a long, flattened snout that resembles a paddle, hence the “paddle” in the common name. This species is found only in the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes and is considered vulnerable by the IUCN Red List in some parts of its range.
They are planktivorous, long-lived, and can grow up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) long. The long nose, or rostrum, is dotted with electroreceptors that allow the paddlefish to sense prey. Paddlefish infrequently spawn, once every two to three years, and produce thousands of tiny offspring while investing little parental care. The infrequency at which they spawn is one factor that makes it difficult for populations to recover.
There is a fishing season for paddlefish that runs from April 24th to May 31st. During this time, anglers may catch up to two paddlefish per day.
