Tennessee – The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission voted on the 2025-26 Sport Fish and Commercial Fishing proclamations at its February meeting, which concluded Friday at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s Ray Bell Building.
The Commission approved the Sport Fish proclamation as previewed at the January TFWC meeting and during committee meetings on Thursday. The new regulations address bass identification issues related to the introduction of Alabama Bass and their hybridization with native Tennessee bass. Smallmouth bass, Alabama bass, and spotted bass will now fall under the same regulations for each reservoir to reduce confusion over hybrid identification.
The Commission also amended the Sport Fish proclamation by reducing the daily creel limit for crappie from 30 to 20 on Reelfoot Lake. Changes were approved for several TWRA agency lakes to better manage sport fish species. The smallmouth regulation on Tellico River was adjusted to statewide regulations. These changes will take effect on Aug. 1, 2025…