Reelfoot Lake in Obion County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In Tennessee, Reelfoot Lake belongs to Obion County. Height above sea level is 276 feet. At roughly 10.5 sq miles it ranks among the larger waters in the region. At about 24 miles of edge, most people fish a single area and learn it well. Of the waters listed here in Obion County, this is the largest. Tiptonville sits 4.3 miles from the bank. Memphis sits 92 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Reelfoot Lake

  There is a figure for this one: 18 ft. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for Obion County cover bluegill, orangethroat darter and warmouth. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Fish Reelfoot Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 34°F to 80°F. Some winters cap it and some do not. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Plan any trip to Reelfoot Lake around it. A cold snap sets things back for several days.

• Tackle & Baits

  It is in public hands, so the usual state rules apply. Recorded parking is 0.9 miles off, far enough to travel light. Mapping shows a jetty some 0.9 miles off. There is a fishing place at The Tacklebox, some 0.9 miles away. You can camp 0.9 miles off, which suits an early start. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Luker Lake is 8.2 miles off. Treat Reelfoot Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.