Norris Lake, located in East Tennessee, is one of the top fisheries in the state. This beautiful lake extends 56 miles up the Powell River and 72 miles up the Clinch River making it a vast lake with a large bass population. One of the most popular fish caught on Norris is the striped bass. Stripers, averaging 10-12 pounds on Norris Lake, make for a fun and unforgettable fishing experience. Here are a few suggestions to guarantee a great fishing trip.

Best Time to Fish

Fishing is great year-round, but for stripers, the best time to fish is April through September and in the deep winter months. The best time of the day to catch stripers is early morning from dawn until about 2 hours after sunrise and late afternoon from 2 hours before sunset until dusk. Fishing for striped bass can be even better in the hours before a major cold front or rain event.

Fishing Tips for Strangers

Good striped bass catches have come from the surface on drift lines and 15 to 20 feet in mid-channel. To catch striped bass, try using trolled umbrella rigs, shiners, alewife, or shad. When using live bait, you want it to be as lively as possible. And keep in mind, during the winter months there is a lot of topwater action.

Why should I use a fishing guide?

Fishing guides on Norris Lake know the hot spots to hit year-round. They will almost always put you on fish and many guides guarantee a no-fish, no-pay policy. Guides provide all of the necessary equipment including fishing tackle and safety equipment. They will even take a picture of that monster fish you catch, so you can share the memory with your family and friends!

Click here for a list of fishing guides

A couple Things to Remember:

Striped Bass Regulations on Norris Lake are as follows:

April 1 – October 31, 2 per day, 15-inch minimum length limit.

November 1 – March 31, 1 per day, 36-inch minimum length limit.

And don’t forget your fishing license! You can purchase one here

More on Norris Lake

If you’re interested in more than fishing on Norris Lake, be sure to visit our website at www.adventureanderson.com/places/norris-la