Stotts Lake Fishing in Shelby County, Tennessee

• Overview

  Stotts Lake is one of the Shelby County waters in Tennessee. The bank is 394 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 6 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. On size it sits at the modest end of our Shelby County list. For a base, Hickory Withe sits 7 miles out. Piperton lies 7.5 miles off, Cordova another 7.6 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Stotts Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Open biodiversity records for Shelby County list bluegill, green sunfish and common carp. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Stotts Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 80°F, with January the cold end at about 38°F. Fishing runs all year, with summer the awkward season. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Time your trip to Stotts Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Monterey Lake sits 1 mile off and takes the overflow. Rules at Stotts Lake are worth checking on the day.