Spencer Water Supply Lake near Spencer: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Van Buren County entry here is Spencer Water Supply Lake, in Tennessee. It sits in dry hill country. Small at around 17 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Start from Spencer, 1.3 miles down the road. Sparta is 11 miles and McMinnville 18 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here. Nothing about the approach is difficult in dry weather.

• Where to Fish on Spencer Water Supply Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Records held for Van Buren County cover green sunfish, cherry darter, corrugated darter, bluegill and rainbow trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Spencer Water Supply Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 76°F; by January the average is down near 36°F. Fish stay active all year, but they move with the heat. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Spencer Water Supply Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Recorded parking is 0.9 miles off, far enough to travel light. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Rocky River at 7.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Spencer Water Supply Lake are worth checking on the day.