Stones River below Priest Dam

85 excellent scored 41 min ago how is this scored?

Catfish 85

Water: Tailwater

Location: Davidson

Target: White Bass, Sauger, Catfish, Striped Bass

Nearest Access: Stones River below Priest Dam (36.17970,-86.64440)

Sun: 6:29 AM – 6:53 PM (CDT)

View on Map Google Maps

What to throw right now

Fly anglers

Stunt approach: 9 wt sinking line, 30 lb fluoro to a 6" meat-fly with chicken-liver scent. Cast across-current into a known scour hole + let it sink to bottom, then strip 6" at a time with long pauses. Not common in TN; treat as exploratory.

Spinning / casting anglers

Heavy spinning or baitcasting combo, 50 lb braid + 30 lb fluoro leader. For drifting: 7/0 circle hook on a 3-way swivel with a 2-3 oz sinker; bait the hook with cut skipjack (largest available, palm-sized chunks for trophy fish). Drift broadside across the channel edge or anchor upstream of a creek mouth and let the bait sit. Post-rain flush is the trigger; first 24 hours after a 1"+ rainfall puts big fish on submerged wood.

Per-species breakdown & tactics

Pick a fish, then Fly, Spin, or Colors. Your last pick is remembered.

Best window: after dark

Not a practical fly target most days. Heavy Clouser dredged deep is the novelty play.

In a few hours

Fly

10%

Lure

53%

Bait

35%

Hatch: 80% (terrestrials) Peak hatch. Surface bite is on now.

Why this score

hatch active+10
pre frontal surge+8
barometric trend+8
in season+4
wind speed+3
cloud cover+1

Best window: last light

Streamer game with a 7-8 wt and a fast-sink integrated line (Sonar SL Type 6 or equivalent). 4-6 ft of 16 lb fluorocarbon to a #2 Clouser or Deceiver in chartreuse/white. Cast down-and-across into the slack water below dam piers, count down 4-8 seconds depending on flow, then short strip-strip-pause. The strike comes on the pause. Sauger especially: hold the rod tip 6 inches below the surface and feel for the soft tick, sauger don't slam, they inhale.

Flies: Clouser Minnow #2 (chartreuse/white), Lefty's Deceiver #2

Heavy jig-style streamer bounced on bottom in current seams.

In a few hours

Fly

32%

Lure

78%

Bait

55%

Hatch: 80% (terrestrials) Peak hatch. Surface bite is on now.

Why this score

hatch active+10
pre frontal surge+8
barometric trend+8
in season+3
wind speed+3
cloud cover+1

Best window: first light

9-10 wt rod, integrated intermediate or Type 3 sink line, 6 ft 30 lb fluoro to a #1/0-2/0 Clouser or 6" articulated baitfish. For surface schools at dawn: cast LONG into the boil (60+ ft), strip-strip-pause back through the school. For sub-surface holding fish: count down the sink line to the depth you're marking on the graph, then 18-24" strips. Strip-set hard; striper jaws are bony and a missed set is a missed fish.

Flies: Game Changer 6", Clouser Minnow #1/0 (chartreuse/white)

Olive wooly bugger or black game changer. Dark silhouette first, drop to rust nymph if refusals.

In a few hours

Fly

37%

Lure

83%

Bait

55%

Hatch: 80% (terrestrials) Peak hatch. Surface bite is on now.

Stripers stress hard above 78°F surface temp. If you're trophy-hunting in July-August, fish dawn-only on Cherokee or Norris and bring an aerated bait tank.
TWRA stocks Cherokee, Norris, Watts Bar, Tims Ford, Cumberland tailrace, the trophy water is Cherokee + Norris.

Why this score

hatch active+10
pre frontal surge+8
barometric trend+8
in season+4
wind speed+3
cloud cover+1

Best window: last light

6-7 wt with a sink-tip or intermediate line, 4 ft 12 lb fluoro, #4 Clouser in white-over-chartreuse. Cast into the current void behind a sand bar or rip; strip-strip-pause back through. The pause is critical, whites smash on the pause. Spring tributary run (Feb-April): wade the mouths of feeder creeks and cover water on every retrieve. Surface schools at dusk: cast through the boil, NOT at the boil, and strip fast.

Flies: Clouser Minnow #4 (white/chartreuse), Wooly Bugger #6

Olive wooly bugger or black game changer. Dark silhouette first, drop to rust nymph if refusals.

In a few hours

Fly

37%

Lure

83%

Bait

55%

Hatch: 80% (terrestrials) Peak hatch. Surface bite is on now.

Why this score

hatch active+10
preferred time of day+10
pre frontal surge+8
barometric trend+8
in season+4
wind speed+3
cloud cover+1

Dam generation & flow schedule

Gen off, wadeable Gen on, high flow Now marker

24h release schedule (table)

Time	Flow (cfs)	State
Wed 6:00 AM	30	Spill/Off
Wed 6:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Wed 7:00 AM	30	Spill/Off
Wed 7:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Wed 8:00 AM	30	Spill/Off
Wed 8:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Wed 9:00 AM	30	Spill/Off
Wed 9:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Wed 10:00 AM	30	Spill/Off
Wed 10:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Wed 11:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Wed 12:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Wed 1:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Wed 2:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Wed 3:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Wed 4:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Wed 5:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Wed 6:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Wed 7:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Wed 8:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Wed 9:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Wed 10:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Wed 11:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 12:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 1:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 2:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 3:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 4:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 5:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 6:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 7:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 8:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 9:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 10:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 11:00 AM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 12:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 1:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 2:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 3:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 4:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 5:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 6:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 7:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 8:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 9:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 10:00 PM	0	Spill/Off
Thu 11:00 PM	0	Spill/Off

Next 24 hours · weather forecast

Scroll for hourly temperature, wind, and precipitation.

12PM

96°

5 SW

1PM

98°

0 N

2PM

100°

0 N

6% rain

3PM

101°

0 N

4PM

100°

0 N

7% rain

5PM

99°

5 SE

8% rain

6PM

97°

5 SE

6% rain

7PM

92°

5 SE

8PM

90°

0 N

9PM

87°

5 SE

10PM

85°

5 SE

11PM

83°

0 N

12AM

82°

0 N

1AM

81°

0 N

2AM

80°

0 N

3AM

79°

0 N

4AM

77°

0 N

5AM

77°

0 N

6AM

76°

0 N

7AM

75°

0 N

8AM

79°

0 N

9AM

82°

0 N

10AM

89°

5 W

11AM

92°

5 NW

Latest readings

Live telemetry

Air temp (°F)	76.8°F
Cloud cover (%)	100%
Dew point (°C)	21.1°C
Relative humidity (%)	39%
Chance of precipitation (%)	7%
Precipitation (in)	0.01 in
Barometric pressure (mb)	1,019.9 mb
Rain past 24h (in)	1.25 in
Rain past 6h (in)	0.00 in
Wind direction	E (86°)
Wind (mph)	3.4 mph

Reading freshness

Source update lag

Barometric pressure (mb)	0 min ago openmeteo
Wind (mph)	0 min ago openmeteo
Cloud cover (%)	0 min ago openmeteo
Air temp (°F)	0 min ago openmeteo
Rain past 24h (in)	2777.1 h ago openmeteo stale
Rain past 6h (in)	0 min ago nws

Hatch matcher · this month

Active aquatic insect emergences & suggested imitations.

Midge Sizes 18–24

Recommended patterns: Zebra Midge #20

Year-round on tailwaters/lakes

Craneflies Sizes 10–14

Recommended patterns: Cranefly Larva #12, Adult Cranefly #12

Weeks 10-39 (Mar-Sep) on Stones River + lower Cumberland; long warmwater season.

Next few hours · best species

Prime windows for active feeding over the next 12 hours (CDT).

Wed 1:00 PM

Striped Bass (midday) 92

Wed 2:00 PM

Striped Bass (midday) 93

Wed 3:00 PM best window today

Striped Bass (afternoon) 96

Wed 4:00 PM

Striped Bass (afternoon) 94

Wed 5:00 PM

Striped Bass (afternoon) 93

Wed 6:00 PM

Striped Bass (afternoon) 93

Wed 7:00 PM

White Bass (last light) 92

Wed 8:00 PM

White Bass (after dark) 88

Wed 9:00 PM

White Bass (after dark) 92

Wed 10:00 PM

Sauger (after dark) 83

Wed 11:00 PM

Sauger (after dark) 83

Thu 12:00 AM

Sauger (after dark) 82

7-day forecast

Composite spot scores over the coming week.

TREND SPARKLINE (7-DAY BITE SCORE) Score Range: 0 - 100

Wed Sep 16

62 fair

Wed Sep 16

59 fair

Wed Sep 16

61 fair

Wed Sep 16

64 fair

Wed Sep 16

66 good

Wed Sep 16

66 good

Wed Sep 16

62 fair

10-day weather & pressure outlook

Extended NWS meteorological outlook.

High	Low	Wind	Cloud	Rain %	Pressure	Source
101°F	75°F	Unknown	—	1%	1,023.5 mb	nws
100°F	75°F	Unknown	—	2%	1,023.3 mb	nws
99°F	75°F	Unknown	—	2%	1,019.4 mb	nws
100°F	73°F	Unknown	—	3%	1,015.1 mb	nws
98°F	74°F	Unknown	—	4%	1,013.1 mb	nws
96°F	73°F	Unknown	—	12%	1,012.5 mb	nws
92°F	70°F	Unknown	—	23%	1,014.0 mb	nws
85°F	68°F	Unknown	—	20%	1,016.1 mb	nws
85°F	63°F	Unknown	—	13%	1,014.3 mb	nws
90°F	65°F	Unknown	—	10%	1,017.0 mb	openmeteo

Trends · 7 days

Hover chart points for telemetry details. Gold dot represents latest reading.

Barometric pressure (mb)

Water temperature (°F)

Fishing regulations (TWRA)

Statewide creel and length limits. Confirm the current rule on TWRA before you keep a fish.

These are statewide defaults only. Many waters have their own creel, size, or season rules that override this list. Check the water you are fishing on TWRA before you go.

TWRA fishing regulations · Water-specific exceptions

Statewide defaults (19 rules)

Statewide creel and length limits by species
Species	Rule
Alligator Gar	No harvest allowed. Must be returned to water immediately.
Black Bass (includes Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted Alabama And Coosa)	No more than 5 black bass per day in any combination may be taken. \| None
Catfish	Only one (1) catfish over 34 inches may be harvested per day. No harvest limit on catfish less than 34 inches.
Crappie	15 \| 10 inches
Lake Trout	Only 2 of your 7 total trout may be lake trout. \| None
Muskellunge	1 \| 36 inches
Paddlefish	Paddlefish may be harvested from April 24 through May 31. Daily creel limit is 2 fish per day with no size limit. Culling is prohibited. Exceptions on Center Hill, Cherokee, and Watts Bar reservoirs.
Redear Sunfish (shellcracker)	20 \| None
Redear Sunfish Or Shellcracker	20 \| None
Region 1 Crappie Exception: Unless Otherwise Noted For Specific Waters.	30 \| None
Rock Bass Or Redeye And Shadow Bass	20 \| None
Sauger Or Sauger/walleye Hybrids	10 \| 15 inches
Shovelnose Sturgeon	No harvest allowed. Must be returned to the water immediately.
Skipjack Herring	100 \| None
Striped Bass Or Hybrid Striped Bass (any Combination)	2 \| 15 inches
Trout (all Trout Species Combined)	7 \| None
Walleye	5 \| 16 inches
White Bass	15 \| None
Yellow Bass, Bluegill, Warmouth, Bream, Bullheads, Pickerel, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, And Nongame Species	no limit \| None

Access points & navigation

Below Percy Priest East Side 36.1585, -86.6189 phone map Google OSM
Boat Ramp 36.1391, -86.6035 phone map Google OSM
Boat Ramp 36.1487, -86.6190 phone map Google OSM
Cook Recreation Area 36.1376, -86.6040 phone map Google OSM
Elm Hill Marina 36.1337, -86.6223 phone map Google OSM
Elm Hill Park Access 36.1303, -86.6208 phone map Google OSM
Elm Hill Recreation Area 36.1264, -86.6246 phone map Google OSM
Hamilton Creek 36.1047, -86.6243 phone map Google OSM
Hamilton Creek Boat Ramp 36.1104, -86.6177 phone map Google OSM
Hamilton Creek Boat Ramp 36.1104, -86.6181 phone map Google OSM
Hamilton Creek Marina 36.1275, -86.6214 phone map Google OSM
J. Percy Priest Resource Center 36.1538, -86.6213 phone map Google OSM
Metro Park side below Percy Priest Dam 36.1576, -86.6208 phone map Google OSM
Nashville Shores Water Park 36.1575, -86.6060 phone map Google OSM
Nashville Shores Yacht Club and Marina 36.1611, -86.6082 phone map Google OSM
Nashville Shores side Percy Priest Dam 36.1589, -86.6149 phone map Google OSM
Neely's Bend Boat Ramp 36.1946, -86.6608 phone map Google OSM
Percy Priest Marina and Yacht Club 36.1116, -86.6227 phone map Google OSM
Smith's Spring Park 36.1097, -86.6094 phone map Google OSM

Stones River below Priest Dam

What to throw right now

Per-species breakdown & tactics

Full color matrix for muddy water

Full color matrix for muddy water

Full color matrix for muddy water

Full color matrix for muddy water

Dam generation & flow schedule

Next 24 hours · weather forecast

Latest readings

Reading freshness

Hatch matcher · this month

Next few hours · best species

7-day forecast

10-day weather & pressure outlook

Trends · 7 days

Barometric pressure (mb)

Water temperature (°F)

Fishing regulations (TWRA)

Access points & navigation