Stones River below Priest Dam
Tailwater
Stones River below Priest Dam Conditions
Wade Safe · Low Generation
Flow / Discharge
Unmeasured Reach
Local Hydrology
Water Temp
Pending Telemetry
Thermal Lag Model
Generation State
Generators Idle
TVA Schedule Log
Barometer Trend
—
NWS Station Barometer
What to throw right now
Per-species breakdown & tactics
Pick a fish, then Fly, Spin, or Colors. Your last pick is remembered.
Best window: after dark
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.
Not a practical fly target most days. Heavy Clouser dredged deep is the novelty play.
In a few hours
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.
Lures: Cut skipjack on 7/0 circle hook, Cut shad on 6/0 circle hook, Stink bait on treble (channel only)
Cut bait on bottom rigs. Put scent in the current seam and wait.
In a few hours
Clear
- Natural / shad Disappears correctly in clear water. Invisible for the wrong reason once stain cuts visibility.
- Watermelon red The clear-water bass standard. Red flake reads as craw without spooking pressured fish.
Best colors right now: natural, bloody
Good colors for clear water (fall): natural cut bait, nightcrawler, live shad
Catfish hunt by smell first. Color barely matters, contrast and scent do. Dark baits with bloody scent win in stain.
Full color matrix for clear water
ColorClearStainedMuddy
Natural / shadBestAvoidAvoid
Watermelon redBestAvoidAvoid
White / shadGoodGoodAvoid
PurpleGoodGoodAvoid
Black / blueAvoidGoodBest
ChartreuseAvoidBestGood
Fire tigerAvoidGoodBest
Orange / flame redAvoidBestGood
Hatch: 44% (midge) Light activity. Some bugs in the air, but fish aren't committed yet.
Conditions Match Breakdown
- + water temp in target range+16
- + preferred time of day+10
- + barometric trend+6
- + cloud cover+5
- + hatch active+5
- + solunar major window+4
- + in season+3
- + wind speed+3
- + cloud preference+2
- + dissolved oxygen+2
- + new/full moon amplifier+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
Medium-light spinning rod with a fast tip, 10 lb braid + 8 lb fluoro leader. 1/4 oz hair jig tipped with a 2" minnow. Anchor or hold position upstream of the slack-water pool, then vertical-jig directly below the boat. Lift 12" with the rod tip, drop on slack line, strike comes on the drop. If you're bank-fishing, cast across-current and let the jig swing through the seam, picking up tension on the swing. Set hard at the slightest tick.
Lures: 1/4 oz hair jig (white) tipped with minnow, 3/8 oz blade bait (silver/chartreuse), 4" paddle-tail swimbait (smoke/chartreuse)
Bright contrast jig vertical in tailrace seams. Chartreuse or orange head.
In a few hours
Clear
- Natural / shad Disappears correctly in clear water. Invisible for the wrong reason once stain cuts visibility.
- Watermelon red The clear-water bass standard. Red flake reads as craw without spooking pressured fish.
Best colors right now: chartreuse, white, purple
Good colors for clear water (fall): smoke, natural minnow, silver
Light-sensitive like walleye but turn ON in stain while everything else slows. Feed all day in murk that shuts down bass.
Full color matrix for clear water
ColorClearStainedMuddy
Natural / shadBestAvoidAvoid
Watermelon redBestAvoidAvoid
White / shadGoodGoodAvoid
PurpleGoodGoodAvoid
Black / blueAvoidGoodBest
ChartreuseAvoidBestGood
Fire tigerAvoidGoodBest
Orange / flame redAvoidBestGood
Hatch: 44% (midge) Light activity. Some bugs in the air, but fish aren't committed yet.
Conditions Match Breakdown
- + water temp in target range+22
- + preferred time of day+14
- + barometric trend+6
- + cloud cover+5
- + hatch active+5
- + in season+4
- + solunar major window+4
- + wind speed+3
- + cloud preference+2
- + dissolved oxygen+2
- + new/full moon amplifier+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
Medium-heavy spinning or baitcasting combo, 20 lb braid + 30 lb fluoro leader. Surface schools at dawn: pencil popper or 5" topwater walked across the school; let it sit in the bubbles for 2 seconds between walks. Mid-column: 5" Sassy Shad on a 1/2 oz jighead, count down to depth then snap-jig with the rod tip. Deep summer: live shad on a planer board run 25-35 ft down, or downrigger a flicker shad along the thermocline.
Lures: 3/4 oz bucktail (white), 5" Sassy Shad on 1/2 oz head, Topwater pencil popper (fall schooling), Live skipjack on planer board (trophy water)
Black and blue jig or chartreuse spinnerbait tight to cover. Stained fish hold on wood and rock edges.
In a few hours
Clear
- Natural / shad Disappears correctly in clear water. Invisible for the wrong reason once stain cuts visibility.
- Watermelon red The clear-water bass standard. Red flake reads as craw without spooking pressured fish.
Best colors right now: chartreuse/white, shad, bone
Good colors for clear water (fall): watermelon red, natural shad, green pumpkin
Bass see red and green well and chase high-contrast silhouettes in stain. Black and blue reads as a shad or bluegill profile when detail drops out.
Full color matrix for clear water
ColorClearStainedMuddy
Natural / shadBestAvoidAvoid
Watermelon redBestAvoidAvoid
White / shadGoodGoodAvoid
PurpleGoodGoodAvoid
Black / blueAvoidGoodBest
ChartreuseAvoidBestGood
Fire tigerAvoidGoodBest
Orange / flame redAvoidBestGood
Hatch: 44% (midge) Light activity. Some bugs in the air, but fish aren't committed yet.
- 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.
Conditions Match Breakdown
- + water temp in target range+22
- + preferred time of day+10
- + barometric trend+6
- + cloud cover+5
- + hatch active+5
- + in season+5
- + solunar major window+4
- + wind speed+3
- + cloud preference+2
- + dissolved oxygen+2
- + new/full moon amplifier+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
Medium-light rod, 10 lb braid + 6 lb fluoro. 1/4 oz Roostertail or 1/8 oz silver spoon is the classic. Cast across current, retrieve just fast enough to keep contact + spin the blade. For schooling fish at dusk: 3" Sassy Shad on a 1/4 oz head, count it down 2-3 seconds, then jig back with the rod tip. Whites travel in tight schools, once you find one, throw to the same spot until it stops.
Lures: 1/4 oz Roostertail, 1/8 oz spoon (silver), Sassy Shad 3"
Black and blue jig or chartreuse spinnerbait tight to cover. Stained fish hold on wood and rock edges.
In a few hours
Clear
- Natural / shad Disappears correctly in clear water. Invisible for the wrong reason once stain cuts visibility.
- Watermelon red The clear-water bass standard. Red flake reads as craw without spooking pressured fish.
Best colors right now: white, chartreuse, silver
Good colors for clear water (fall): watermelon red, natural shad, green pumpkin
Bass see red and green well and chase high-contrast silhouettes in stain. Black and blue reads as a shad or bluegill profile when detail drops out.
Full color matrix for clear water
ColorClearStainedMuddy
Natural / shadBestAvoidAvoid
Watermelon redBestAvoidAvoid
White / shadGoodGoodAvoid
PurpleGoodGoodAvoid
Black / blueAvoidGoodBest
ChartreuseAvoidBestGood
Fire tigerAvoidGoodBest
Orange / flame redAvoidBestGood
Hatch: 44% (midge) Light activity. Some bugs in the air, but fish aren't committed yet.
Conditions Match Breakdown
- + water temp in target range+22
- + preferred time of day+14
- + barometric trend+6
- + cloud cover+5
- + hatch active+5
- + in season+5
- + solunar major window+4
- + wind speed+3
- + cloud preference+2
- + dissolved oxygen+2
- + new/full moon amplifier+1
Dam generation & flow schedule
Gen off, wadeable
Gen on, high flow
Now marker
24h release schedule (table)
| Time | Flow (cfs) | State | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 1:00 PM | 30 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 1:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 2:00 PM | 30 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 2:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 3:00 PM | 30 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 3:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 4:00 PM | 30 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 4:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 5:00 PM | 30 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 5:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 6:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 7:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 8:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 9:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 10:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 11:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 12:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 1:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 2:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 3:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 4:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 5:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 6:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 7:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 8:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 9:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 10:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 11:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 12:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 1:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 2:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 3:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 4:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 5:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 6:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 7:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 8:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 9:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 10:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 11:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Mon 12:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Mon 1:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Mon 2:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Mon 3:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Mon 4:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Mon 5:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off |
Next 24 hours · weather forecast
Scroll for hourly temperature, wind, and precipitation.
7PM
72°
5
SE
7% rain
8PM
70°
5
SE
9% rain
9PM
68°
5
S
8% rain
10PM
65°
5
SE
7% rain
11PM
64°
5
SE
12AM
63°
5
S
7% rain
1AM
61°
5
S
10% rain
1AM
61°
5
S
18% rain
2AM
59°
5
S
30% rain
3AM
58°
5
SE
42% rain
4AM
56°
5
SE
57% rain
5AM
54°
5
SE
64% rain
6AM
54°
5
SE
86% rain
7AM
53°
5
SE
83% rain
8AM
56°
10
SE
79% rain
9AM
57°
10
SE
79% rain
10AM
59°
10
SE
84% rain
11AM
60°
10
SE
74% rain
12PM
60°
10
SE
67% rain
1PM
62°
10
SE
64% rain
2PM
63°
10
SE
49% rain
3PM
63°
10
SE
42% rain
4PM
63°
10
SE
33% rain
5PM
61°
10
SE
29% rain
Latest readings
Live telemetry| Air temp (°F) | 75.0°F |
|---|---|
| Cloud cover (%) | 90% |
| Dew point (°C) | 10.0°C |
| Relative humidity (%) | 41% |
| Chance of precipitation (%) | 5% |
| Barometric pressure (mb) | 1,024.7 mb |
| Rain past 6h (in) | 0.00 in |
| Wind direction | SE (135°) |
| Wind (mph) | 10.0 mph |
Reading freshness
Source update lag| Barometric pressure (mb) | 6 min ago openmeteo |
|---|---|
| Wind (mph) | 6 min ago nws |
| Cloud cover (%) | 6 min ago nws |
| Air temp (°F) | 6 min ago nws |
| Rain past 24h (in) | 3864.1 h ago openmeteo stale |
| Rain past 6h (in) | 5.1 h 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
Next few hours · best species
Prime windows for active feeding over the next 12 hours (CDT).
7-day forecast
Composite spot scores over the coming week.
10-day weather & pressure outlook
NWS forecast where it reaches, Open-Meteo beyond it. Days run midnight to midnight, spot time.
| Day | High | Low | Wind | Cloud | Rain % | Pressure | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Oct 31 | 80°F | 57°F | 5 mph SE | 90% | 11% | 1,024.7 mb | nws |
| Sun Nov 1 | 65°F | 52°F | 7 mph ESE | 96% | 86% | 1,026.6 mb | nws |
| Mon Nov 2 | 73°F | 52°F | 7 mph SSE | 84% | 26% | 1,022.9 mb | nws |
| Tue Nov 3 | 77°F | 57°F | 12 mph SSE | 61% | 38% | 1,017.5 mb | nws |
| Wed Nov 4 | 72°F | 59°F | 9 mph S | 97% | 75% | 1,011.7 mb | nws |
| Thu Nov 5 | 70°F | 55°F | 3 mph NW | 95% | 49% | 1,010.7 mb | nws |
| Fri Nov 6 | 70°F | 51°F | 5 mph NW | 56% | 16% | 1,009.5 mb | nws |
| Sat Nov 7 | 67°F | 47°F | Calm | 78% | 3% | 1,011.2 mb | nws |
| Sun Nov 8 | 60°F | 51°F | 9 mph W | 79% | 8% | 1,009.9 mb | openmeteo |
| Mon Nov 9 | 58°F | 48°F | 6 mph WNW | 56% | 15% | 1,012.1 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)
| 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