Fishing J Percy Priest Lake

AKA: Percy Priest Lake

Popular Fish Species
Percy Priest Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
Today's Weather & Forecast
Fishing Boat Rentals
Boat Launch Ramps
Local Fishing Guides
Fishing License
Campgrounds & RV Parks
Map
Contact Info

Percy Priest Lake, TN

Popular Fish Species Percy Priest Lake, TN

Percy Priest Lake Popular Fish - Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass Fishing

Percy Priest Lake offers good fishing for largemouth bass. Lately the fishing here for bass has continued to impress bass fishing enthusiasts. Some big bass roam Percy Priest Lake, thanks to excellent fisheries management by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, as well as the availability of extensive cover for both baitfish and bass. Smallmouth bass and spotted bass also reside here in good numbers. When the bite is good, bass typically move shallow and are quite aggressive. If you find them shallow and they are not tempted to bite, slow down and use smaller, lighter baits. Fishing for largemouth bass is good virtually any time they are shallow - in spring, mornings in summer, and during warm Fall afternoons. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, big worms, jigs and spoons are three good weapons. In winter, spend your time fishing Percy Priest Lake on deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time.

Percy Priest Lake Popular Fish - Crappie

Crappie Fishing

Black and white crappie both reside in Percy Priest Lake, with black crappie typically out-weighing white crappie. They can be caught pretty much year round. Crappie fishing is on the rise and they can be found in sizeable schools. Crappie always like cover and structure, so locate brush and vegetation. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels in deeper water.

Percy Priest Lake Popular Fish - Hybrid Striped Bass

Hybrid Striped Bass Fishing

Hybrid striped bass, also known as wipers, are a favorite of many locals and fishing guides at Percy Priest Lake, as they are plentiful and grow to bragging size. As a hybrid of striped bass and white bass, they have great potential for spawning massive numbers and growing to large sizes. Fishing for hybrid stripers is a matter of locating schools of bait, and schools of hybrid striped bass are likely to be in the area. Mornings, during Fall, hybrids can be caught on topwater or shallow running lures, as they are feeding on baitfish at the surface. When they move deeper, fish finders improve your odds of locating both bait and schools of wipers. Live bait, spoons and jigs are very very effective here, and these hungry fish can be caught year round.

Percy Priest Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, bluegill, redear sunfish, rock bass, warmouth, white bass, yellow bass, striped bass and hybrid striped bass at J Percy Priest Lake in Tennessee.

Nestled in the northeast outskirts of Nashville, TN, Percy Priest Lake is a 14,200-acre reservoir in the north-central part of Tennessee. Easy access from I-40 and plenty of amenities, camping and lodging options, make Percy Priest Lake an easy fishing getaway. With over 260 miles of shoreline, and much of it available for fishing from shore, there are plenty of places to wet a line. Bass, crappie and striped bass are favorites here, but the lake also has notable populations of walleye, catfish, hybrids, white bass, bluegill and a variety of other fish species.

Primary fish species residing in J Percy Priest Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

J Percy Priest Lake Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: NEARBY
Restaurant: YES

Today's Weather & Forecast

Fishing Boat Rentals

Nashville Shores Marina
Rentals: Pontoon boats
615 883-0413

Safeharbor Boat Rentals - Elm Hill
Rentals: Bass boats and pontoons
615 889-5363

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Long Hunter Boat Ramp
Located mid lake, on the north side of the lake, this is a three-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and plenty of parking.

Elm Hill Boat Ramp
Located in the northwest corner of the lake, in Elm Hill Recreation Area, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Fate Sanders Recreation Area Boat Ramp
Located in the northeast section of the lake, north side, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Hamilton Creek Marina Upper Boat Launch
Located along the northwest sector of the lake, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.

Jefferson Springs Boat Ramp
Located in the southeast section of the lake, south side, in Jefferson Springs Recreation Area, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with gravel parking.

Lamar Hill Public Use Area Boat Ramp
Located in the northeast corner of the lake, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.

Marine Public Dock Ramp
This is a two-lane, concrete ramp with both gravel and paved parking, located in the Smith Springs Recreation Area, in the southwest sector of the lake, south side.

Seven Points Boat Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Stewart Creek Boat Ramp
Located in the southeast sector of the lake, south side, off Smyrna Road, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with paved parking.

Vivrett Creek Boat Ramp
Located in the southwest section of the lake, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.