HEREMemphis
Memphis
Fishing
Report
Live conditions, species status, solunar ratings, water body profiles, TWRA regulations, and community fishing coverage for Shelby lakes and rivers.
Bass: Active Crappie: Active Catfish: Hot 5 Waters Profiled
First Look • Fishing Conditions
🌑
New Moon
Illumination: 95%
81°F
89°F
8 mph
1015
as of 8:35 AM ET
Excellent — new moon triggers peak feeding activity. Fish are most aggressive near dawn and dusk.
Shelby • West Tennessee / Mid-South TN
Your Local Fishing Resource
HEREMemphis is your local source for fishing reports, conditions, and TWRA regulations across Shelby. Use the waters list to find lakes, rivers, and reservoirs near you, the regulations section for current limits, and the guides directory to book a trip.
Current Conditions • Memphis Waters
Species Status
Largemouth Bass
ACTIVE
Summer pattern — fish deep structure early and late. Frog fishing on lily pads productive at dawn.
Top BaitFinesse Jig, Drop Shot
Depth15-25 ft midday
Smallmouth Bass
ACTIVE
Smallmouth active on shoals. Work crawfish patterns on rocky bottom.
Top BaitTube Jig, Crawfish Pattern, Ned Rig
DepthShoal tail-outs, 3-12 ft
Crappie
FAIR
Summer or late fall. Fish are deeper — target 12-20 ft brush piles with tube jigs.
Top BaitSmall Tube Jig, Live Minnow, Slip Float
Depth12-20 ft brush
Catfish
HOT
Catfish are highly active in warm water. Night fishing from bank is excellent — cut shad and chicken liver.
Top BaitCut Shad, Chicken Liver, Prepared Stink Bait
DepthChannel edges, 10-30 ft
Bluegill / Bream
ACTIVE
Bream feeding actively. Work dock edges and shallow vegetation with small jigs or live bait.
Top BaitCricket, Worm, Small Jig (1/32 oz)
DepthSpawning: 1-4 ft. Non-spawn: dock edges 4-10 ft
Trout
SLOW
No summer trout stocking. Trout season paused — check <?php echo here_dnr(); ?> for next stocking dates.
Top BaitPowerBait, Night Crawler, Inline Spinner
DepthStocked areas — designated lakes and streams
Species status is based on seasonal patterns and current conditions for Shelby waters. Always verify TWRA regulations for creel limits, size minimums, and any current advisories before heading out.
Report a Bite Update
First Look
Weather & Fishing Conditions
81F
Clear
Feels like 84°F
as of 8:35 AM ET
Wind
8 mph SSW
Humidity
69%
Pressure
1015 hPa
Est. Water Temp
89°F
Moon
New Moon
Sunrise / Sunset
11:16 am / 12:53 am
Location
Memphis, TN
On-the-Water Tips
- Falling barometric pressure activates feeding. Fish are on the move — work moving baits and cover water quickly.
- New and full moons are the best fishing phases. Solunar peak periods fall near sunrise and sunset — be on the water at first light.
Solunar Index
Fishing Conditions Dashboard
Air Temperature
81°F
Warm — Fish Deep
Wind Speed
8 mph
Light Breeze
Barometric Pressure
1015 hPa
Falling — Feeding!
Moon Phase
🌑
Prime
Extended Outlook
5-Day Fishing Forecast
TONIGHT
Mostly Clear
89° / 79°
5 mph wind • 0% humidity
GOOD
WED
Sunny
97° / 80°
8 mph wind • 0% humidity
FAIR
THU
Mostly Sunny
98° / 80°
8 mph wind • 0% humidity
FAIR
FRI
Sunny
99° / 79°
8 mph wind • 0% humidity
FAIR
SAT
Sunny
101° / 80°
5 mph wind • 0% humidity
FAIR
Lakes & Rivers
Water Body Profiles
5 fishing waters within Shelby — with species, access, tips, and restrictions.
Mississippi River
river
Blue catfish
Channel catfish
Flathead catfish
Striped bass
Sauger
Angler Tip
Wolf River
river
Largemouth bass
Catfish
Crappie
Bream
Angler Tip
Shelby Farms Park Lakes
lake_complex
Largemouth bass
Crappie
Catfish
Bream
Angler Tip
Poplar Tree Lake (Meeman-Shelby State Park)
lake
Largemouth bass
Catfish
Crappie
Angler Tip
Herb Parsons Lake
lake
Largemouth bass
Crappie
Catfish
Angler Tip
Did We Miss a Spot?
Know a Memphis-area fishing lake, pond, or river stretch that should be on this list? Let us know.
Report a Fishing SpotLocal Experts
Field Guides
Hire a local fishing guide and put your line on the right water in Memphis. Expert captains who know Shelby waters.
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List Your Guide ServiceCommunity Reviews
I Fished Here
Loosahatchie River
Put the kayak in on the Loosahatchie near Shelby Farms and drifted a beetle spin along the brushy banks. Caught a mess of bream and a couple of small bass, nothing huge but constant action for two hours. Good low-key spot if you want quiet water without leaving the city.
Species: Bluegill & Largemouth Bass
Lure/Bait: 1/16 oz beetle spin, chartreuse
Best Spot: Brushy banks near Shelby Farms
McKellar Lake
Fished the industrial harbor water at McKellar for catfish after work and it turned into a solid channel cat bite right at dusk. Cut shad on the bottom in about 15 feet produced steady action for two hours straight. Not scenic, but it's close to downtown and the fish don't care.
Species: Channel Catfish
Lure/Bait: Cut shad on bottom rig
Best Spot: Harbor channel near the barge docks
Horseshoe Lake
Ran the oxbow at Horseshoe just across the Arkansas line and flipped a black and blue jig into the cypress knees all morning. Caught six largemouth, biggest going about four pounds, plus a couple of nice bluegill on the drop shot. Quiet water, hardly another boat out there on a weekday.
Species: Largemouth Bass
Lure/Bait: Black and blue jig, flipped to cypress knees
Best Spot: Cypress line, north end of the oxbow
Wolf River
Waded a gravel stretch of the Wolf near Moscow and threw a small inline spinner through the current breaks. Picked up several smallmouth in the 12 to 14 inch range, feistier than I expected for a river this size. Clear water and a lot more current than people assume for West Tennessee.
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Lure/Bait: 1/8 oz Mepps inline spinner
Best Spot: Gravel run near Moscow access
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Community
Here We...
Reel Them In...
Big catches, personal bests, and tournament fish from Memphis anglers.
Trolled a bucktail along the current break below President's Island right as the tow traffic thinned out. The strike nearly ripped the rod from the holder. Fifteen minutes of drag-screaming runs later we had him at the gunnel. Stripers running the Memphis harbor water never get old.
Striped Bass 14 lb, 32 inches
Fished live bluegill on a slip rig along the riprap where the Nonconnah channel meets McKellar Lake. Just before dark the rod doubled over and stayed bent through a long, slow fight typical of a big flathead. Got him in the net after almost giving up twice. McKellar's channel water holds some real Memphis-city secrets.
Catfish 26 lb flathead
Flipped a black and blue jig into the cypress knees off Blue Bank before the sun cleared the trees. The line just tightened and swam sideways, no big thump, so I set hard and she came up thrashing through the duckweed. Reelfoot's stumpfields hide giants like that one every spring. Slid her back into the mat and watched her disappear.
Largemouth Bass 7 lb 2 oz, 23 inches
Cast Them Cold...
Your favorite post-fishing spots. Where do you go when the rods are stowed?
Trailered off the President's Island ramp and pulled into Memphis Made in Cooper-Young. Yella Fella on the back patio, string lights, striper stories getting louder by the pint. This is exactly how a Mississippi River evening should wind down.
Memphis Made Brewing — Yella Fella Pale Ale
Left McKellar Lake and drove up to Crosstown Brewing inside the old Sears Crosstown building. Sunray Wheat on the rooftop, city skyline out past the old tower. Strange feeling drinking a beer forty feet above where I was just fighting a flathead.
Crosstown Brewing Company — Sunray Wheat
Docked right at Blue Bank Resort on Reelfoot after the bass bite died down, walked into the restaurant still wet to the knees. Draft Bud Light, fried crappie on every table, lake stories rolling in from every direction. Reelfoot does not do quiet fishing bars, and I love it for that.
Blue Bank Resort restaurant — Bud Light draft
Coverage
Fishing News HERE
Local — Memphis and West Tennessee / Mid-South
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Local lake reports, stocking news, tournament results, and West Tennessee / Mid-South fishing coverage from the HEREMemphis newsroom.
National — Bass, Fishing Regulations, and Conservation
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Bass fishing news, conservation legislation, national tournament results, gear reviews, and fishing stories with a Memphis perspective.
More at Outdoor Sports
Hunting, camping, hiking, and all outdoor sports coverage for Memphis and West Tennessee / Mid-South TN
Tackle, Rods and Reels
Essential Gear HERE
Gear reviews and picks for the Memphis angler — rods, reels, tackle, and kayaks tested for West Tennessee / Mid-South TN waters.
Gear Reviews — Tested for West Tennessee / Mid-South TN Waters
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Learn About Gear AdvertisingTennessee DNR
TWRA Regulations
License requirements, bag limits, and size limits for Shelby waters. Always verify current regulations at www.tn.gov.
SC Fishing Licenses
Bag & Size Limits — Memphis Waters
Special Rules & Alerts for Memphis Waters
- Municipal Lakes: Boating permits may be required from Memphis Water. Gas motor HP restrictions may apply — check current municipal-water rules before launching.
- Select-Lake Rules: Some lakes enforce larger minimum sizes for black bass or combined daily limits. Verify closures with TWRA before fishing.
- Electric-Only Lakes: Some state-park and municipal lakes prohibit gasoline engines and enforce reduced creel limits. Verify with TWRA.
- Free Fishing Days 2026: May 25 (Memorial Day weekend) and July 4 — no fishing license required on these two days.
- Rivers: Statewide creel limits typically apply. Boating permits generally not required. TWRA fishing license required for anglers 16+.
Regulations shown are for general reference. Always verify current rules with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency at www.tn.gov or by calling the TWRA Wildlife Helpline. Regulations may change each season. Municipal reservoir rules (Memphis Water) may be set separately from TWRA.
Spawn Timing & Key Dates
Season Calendar
Feb – Mar
Crappie Pre-Spawn Begins
Crappie begin staging near structure in 6-10 ft. Bridge and dock pilings are prime staging areas.
Late Mar – Apr
Crappie Spawn Peak
Peak spawn in shallows 2-6 ft. Late March through April. Best crappie fishing of the year.
Mar – May
Largemouth Bass Spawn
Bass move shallow when water reaches 60°F+. Docks and brush piles are top targets.
Apr – May
Bluegill / Bream Spawning
Bream spawn in gravel shallows. Easy catching near boat ramps and fishing piers.
May (TWRA)
Spring Trout Stocking
TWRA stocks select Memphis area waters. Check stocking schedule at https://www.tn.gov/twra.
May 25, 2026
Free Fishing Day — Memorial Weekend
No TN fishing license required. All public waters. Great day to introduce new anglers.
June – Aug
Summer Bass & Catfish Peak
Fish early/late for bass. Catfish bite all night in summer heat on major lakes and rivers.
July 4, 2026
Free Fishing Day — Independence Day
No TN fishing license required. All public waters. July 4 Family Fishing Day.
Sep – Oct
Fall Bass Turnover & Feed
Lake turnover triggers aggressive bass feeding. Topwater produces in early morning on all Memphis lakes.
Oct – Nov
Fall Crappie Run
Second best crappie window. Fish deeper 12-18 ft as water cools. Main-lake points hold fish.
Nov (TWRA)
Fall Trout Stocking
TWRA fall trout stocking program. Check https://www.tn.gov/twra for Shelby schedule.
Dec (TBD)
Tournament Season Begins
Local bass club tournaments. Check HEREMemphis for local tourney dates.
Spawn timing is approximate and based on typical Shelby water temperature patterns. Actual timing varies by year and water body. TWRA trout stocking schedules are published annually — visit www.tn.gov for exact dates and stocking locations.
Questions and Answers
Fishing FAQ
Common questions about fishing in the Memphis area, answered.
-
Yes. All anglers age 16 and older need a TN fishing license to fish public waters in Shelby. TN residents get a resident license; non-residents pay a higher fee. Licenses are available at www.tn.gov or at local sporting goods and tackle shops. Two Free Fishing Days — May 25 (Memorial weekend) and July 4 — require no license.
-
Shelby has multiple public fishing lakes. Consult TWRA for a full lake-by-lake breakdown covering largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, bluegill, and bream. Municipal lakes may require a boating permit from Memphis Water — check locally before launching.
-
The best crappie fishing in Shelby is during the spring spawn, which typically runs from late March through April when water temperatures reach 55-65 degrees F. Fish move into shallower water (2-6 feet) around structure, brush piles, and bridge pilings. A second run occurs in fall (October-November) when fish stage deeper at 12-18 feet as water cools.
-
Yes — kayak fishing is well-suited for Memphis lakes, especially smaller electric-only water bodies. State-park lakes often offer kayak and canoe rentals and allow human-powered craft without a boating permit. Local rivers frequently offer scenic float trips combining paddling and bass fishing. Consult TWRA for blueway maps and put-in/take-out points.
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Rivers near Memphis typically hold a diverse bass fishery — largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass, and rock bass in rocky shoals. Catfish (channel, blue, flathead) are common. Consult TWRA for stocking history and fly-fishing recommendations. Wade fishing at road crossings and kayak floats are the most productive approaches.
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TWRA stocks select Shelby waters with trout, typically in spring and fall when water temperatures are suitable. Stocking locations and schedules are posted annually on the TWRA website at https://www.tn.gov/twra — search for the freshwater trout stocking report. The standard trout bag limit is 5 per day during stocking season. Check the current TWRA schedule for specific lakes and streams stocked near Memphis.
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