Good Public Fishing in Knoxville, Tennessee

The greater Knoxville area has many activities and attractions in the summer for resident and tourist alike, but you sun n' fun types, nothin' beats a good, sunny day fishing on one of our many bodies of water. Whether on a man-made pond or one of the TVA lakes created by their eponymous dams, Knox County has plenty of fishing opportunities for the chewing-gummer to the seasoned sportsman who just doesn't feel like launching the boat or hiking through the brambles.

Fountain City Lake (Duck Pond): intersection of Broadway (US 441) and Cedar Lane, Fountain City - Shaped like a heart to represent The Heart of Fountain City, Fountain City Lake is known to the natives simply as 'the duck pond'. With its attractive fountains and a wide variety of ducks, this man-made lake is a little oasis right in the middle of one of the busiest intersections in town.

Known as El Lago de Patos by our growing Mexican Community, the pond is stocked with many varieties of fresh-water gamefish, including catfish, bass, crappie, drum, bluegills, and perch, to name but a few. There is plenty of parking and covered picnic tables as well for anyone who'd simply like to make a day of it.

It is one of the few places in the Knoxville Metro area that doesn't require a fishing license for angling, but harvesting of fish isn't allowed. Also, there are the occasional fishing tournaments where anglers of various age groups can compete for cash prizes.

Carl Cowan Park: 10188 S Northshore Dr, Concord - Situated on the Concord Lake, Carl Cowan Park is but one of several parks situated in the west Knox County community of Concord, possibly the greenest, most bucolic part of the area. With its tall Oaks and Cedars and green fields, it gives a bit of summer relief from the urban heat.

Its picnic facilities, tennis and basketball courts, playground, and boat launching ramp, there is clearly more to do here than just fish. But with the huge variety of gamefish that reach very impressive proportions that can easily be caught from the shoreline, Cowan Park attracts fishermen of all ages and experience levels from all over the 9-county vicinity.

This public park does require at least a one-day license to fish, but fish may be harvested. Cowan Park can easily be reached from I-140 and Kingston Pike.

Concord Park: 10901 and 10960 Northshore Dr, Concord - Another southwest Knox County park, Concord sits on the shores of Fort Loudon Lake. Like Carl Cowan Park, it has boat ramps, picnic facilities, shelters, and a playground, but also an olympic-size swimming pool, marina, and an upscale restaurant. But hey, there are hundreds of yards of coastline waiting to be fished here as well!

There are even a couple of hinged wooden piers (to accomodate the fluctuation of the lake levels) that are especially fun for the kidlets to fish from. Sun-worshipers can fish while basking in a large, open expanse of green grass growing in a rocky peninsula, and those who'd rather keep cool can fish from the other peninsula comfortably shaded by massive cedars, pines, and black locust trees.

A state license is also required for the catching and/or harvesting of the huge catfish, bullheads, bass, and shad that normally swim the deep channel off these points. All points are accessible by car, and with many yards of open coastline for even the clumsiest casters!

Hickory Creek Park: 2120 Everett Road, Farragut - It takes a little work to get to this place; take I-40 to Pellissippi Parkway, then take the Hardin Valley Road exit West to Hickory Creek Drive. At the end of Hickory Creek Drive, take a Right onto Buttermilk Road, and another immediate Right onto Everett Road, and you'll find this wonderful little piece of backwater called Hickory Creek park.

Way down in a holler surrounded by large farms and beautiful estates, Hickory Creek Park has very few amenities (a primitive boat ramp, a small picnic shelter, and a porta-john), but the rustic splendor of this lazy creek arm of Melton Hill Lake more than makes up for it! Sitting mere yards from the eastern border of Roane County, this is one of the more quiet, rustic Knox County parks that can be easily accessed by motor vehicle.

Full of crappie, perch, bass, and bream, there are also many kinds of avian life present, including Canada Geese, Mallards, and even grayish-blue Sandhill Cranes. When the lake levels are low, however, this nice little stretch of backwater is reduced to little more than a muddy, marshy stream, so be sure to check local lake levels before heading out.

Volunteer Landing: 956 Volunteer Landing Lane, Knoxville - Right off of Neyland Drive on the UT Campus, Volunteer Landing literally has EVERYTHING. Home of the Vol Navy, the giant marina and great restaurants (including the famous Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and Calhoun's on the River) are an awesome way to unwind with some quality dining after a day casting lines in the sun.

This three acre park in the heart of Downtown Knoxville has boat ramps, a water park, full service restrooms, a greenway, a playground and concession stands, but to most Knoxvillians, it's all about the fishing! Shad, Large and Smallmouth Bass, and huge Catfish and Bullhead are frequently caught from the specially built fishing docks. Yes, a license is required, but that is a small inconvenience to enjoy urban fishing at its finest!

Seven Islands Park: 2809 Kelly Lane, Knoxville - This is a scenic wildlife reserve right in the heart of Knoxville itself. This East Side park has a huge selection of diverse wildlife, a small boat/canoe launch, and six miles of nature trail through some of the most scenic landscapes within city limits where one can pass the time between casts.

Located on the French Broad River, this 364 acre park is just off of I-40; take Midway Road toward Three Rivers Golf Course (follow the signs) past the Curtis Road and Smith School Road intersections. Then, follow the green "Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge" signs, turning left on to Maples Rd, turn right at the intersection with Kodak Rd, turn left on to Kelly Lane at the large, white Bethel Church.

I.C. King Park: 3440 Alcoa Highway (US 129), Knoxville -Once known as a place notorious for drug use and sexual trysts, the city of Knoxville has reclaimed I.C. King Park, one of the nicest parks on Fort Loudon Lake. Of course, there is boat access and 8 miles of mountain bike trails for further diversion, but this South Knoxville Park has some of the best dock fishing in town, where one can catch all kinds of Bass, Crappies, Drum, and Cats!

License Information - Don't spoil a good time by running afoul of the TWRA! Make sure you meet state licensing requirements whenever you fish in the State of Tennessee. First off, Children under the age of thirteen are exempt from licensing requirements, but Tennessee residents aged 13-15 require an $8.00 seasonal license.

Adult state residents (16 and over) require a $28.00 seasonal resident's hunting/trapping/fishing combination license; optional annual trout stamp is an additional $18 (NO trout may be harvested without one). One-day resident licenses are $5.50.

Non-resident licenses are slightly more expensive: annual combo licenses are $41.00, Junior (13-15) licenses are $9.00, 3-day licenses cost $16.50, and 10-day licenses cost $25.50. Lastly, observe all park rules, stay off of private property, and please, do not disrespect my great state by littering! Thank you, and enjoy yourselves as you try for the big ones in our great Tennessee waterways!