Ultimate Guide to Douglas Lake Fishing in the East Tennessee Smoky Mountains
Looking for the best fishing spot in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee? Douglas Lake fishing is considered to be some of the top fishing near Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg TN!
With abundant lakes, rivers, and creeks, eastern Tennessee could be considered a fisherman’s paradise. If you query locals where are the best places to drop a line, you’ll probably get as many different answers for “secret” spots as people you ask.
Even the Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers its share of favorite fishing areas in East Tennessee.
If you’re not exactly sure where to go, just head to Douglas Lake, a 43-mile long body of water created from the damming of the French Broad River and its tributaries, the Nolichucky River and Pigeon River.
About Douglas Lake TN
Douglas Lake in Dandridge (Jefferson County) is a lush Tennessee Valley Authority reservoir with 555 miles of shoreline and 30,600 acres of water surface. The shoreline is mostly agricultural and residential, with undulating hills in the background.
There are 12 marinas and around 16 boat ramps on the Smoky Mountain reservoir. The water level in the reservoir can vary depending on the time of the year, with the winter draw-down being quite severe at times, creating a shallow water spot.
Whether you’re looking to spend the day fishing, or just want to take a boat out on the water, exploring Douglas Lake is one of the best things to do in the Smoky Mountains!
History of Douglas Reservoir
The Tennessee Valley Authority, a government agency established by Congress in the 1930s (during World War II) to help the region recover from the Great Depression, constructed the Douglas Dam relatively quickly – just a little over a year’s time – creating a 43-mile long reservoir.
This project provided much-needed employment for the local residents, hydroelectric power for the towns and farms, and flood control of the river. While the electricity is its main purpose today, the lake itself is one of the area’s recreation hotspots, with plenty of water sports and yes, fishing.
What Kind of Fish are in Douglas Lake?
The lake is filled with wildlife, from birds that rest on its shores to deer and bears that explore its shorelines to the many fish that reside inside its waters.
Anglers enjoy fishing at Douglas Lake. Its various coves and muddy shoreline provide natural habitats for a variety of species to thrive, and the finest areas aren’t difficult to find.
Just look at a map of Douglas Lake in East Tennessee, and you’ll see it has an exceptionally jagged shoreline. That means you’ll have many options to find your own quiet spot to angle.
The most popular game fish for Douglas fishermen are largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish. When sauger, walleye, and white bass make their late-winter spawning excursions to the headwaters, they provide excellent fishing opportunities.
The game fish in Douglas Lake eat a lot of gizzard shad, bluegill, and other sorts of minnows.
Largemouth bass and crappie spawn in vast shallow embayments, producing historically extremely strong year classes. During the early spring of most years, sauger and walleye successfully spawn upstream in rivers.
Douglas game fish are normally self-sustaining, although the TWRA has done some additional stocking of sauger and smallmouth bass.
When to Fish at Douglas Lake
The best time to fish in Douglas Lake depends on what you’re fishing for… be sure that the fish you’re catching are in season!
- largemouth bass: March – June
- white bass: January – April
- crappie: February – early May
- sauger: January – April
License to Fish in Douglas Lake Tennessee
If you’re wanting to fish in Douglas Lake, make sure you have a valid Tennessee state fishing license. Residents and non-residents of the state require different types, so be sure to check the state government page.
How to Access the Best Fishing
You can certainly fish from the shores of Douglas Lake, but to maximize your chances of a plentiful catch, consider renting a watercraft. You can head into different areas of the lake, including one of the many coves that you could probably claim as your own.
H2O Sports and Swann’s Marina rent out pontoons and other boats.
Another option is to sign up for a guided fishing trip, which will take out the guesswork of finding the best angling spots and offer plenty of camaraderie for the day’s outing.
Where to Stay on Douglas Lake TN
If you’re coming to fish on Douglas Lake from out of town, you’ll likely want a nearby place to stay.
While there are many Dandridge Tennessee hotels nearby, the following are a few of our favorite lodging options along the lake:
Luxury Log Cabin
This is a modest, but strikingly lovely traditional log cottage on a 40-acre estate on the banks of Douglas Lake, a great location for a wide range of activities! It serves as the estate’s guest house, and there is a bigger main house that is also available for short-term rentals.
When booked together, these residences provide a completely unique experience and enable big groups to stay on the same property. Each home has its own dock and is located in a separate cove of the lake.
Stone’s View
Stone’s View is conveniently located just 125 yards from downtown, 1/2 mile from the area’s grocery store, and 1/4 mile from the marina and public boat launch. The 7-bedroom, 5-bathroom house is on a hill with a panoramic view of Douglas Lake and the three highest peaks of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine in the backdrop, as well as a backyard that stretches down to the lake.
The rear deck and patio are ideal for entertaining a big party or simply relaxing with a book while admiring the vista of Douglas Lake and the Smoky Mountains.
The Rusty Hook
Words cannot do this property justice – photos show just how stunning this Douglas Lake lodging option is! This 4-bedroom lakefront property in Paradise Landing provides a stunning view of Douglas Lake. It is ideal for a calm escape at any time of year.
The 2700 square foot two-story home with an extra 1400 square foot covered porch is ideal for a single or multi-family vacation. The gaming room is located downstairs and features a ping-pong table as well as plenty of free space for youngsters to play.
The kitchen is well equipped, and the upper rear terrace has a barbecue. This property offers about a quarter-mile of lake frontage, a covered private dock, and a huge relaxing patio by the lake with a fire pit near the water.
More Things to Do on Douglas Lake
While fishing on Douglas Lake is a popular pastime, it’s not the only thing to do!
- In the summer months, water sports, picnicking, bird watching, and more are fun ways to enjoy the beauty of this man-made lake in the Smoky Mountains.
- Autumn invites guests to enjoy the splendor of the fall colors in the Smoky Mountains.
- Winter provides ample opportunities for hiking Smoky Mountain trails without the crowds of the warmer months.
- And spring brings new life to the area once again as visitors explore the great outdoors and celebrate with annual festivals and events.
And with the lake being just a few miles from the best things to do in Gatlinburg and popular Pigeon Forge attractions, you’ll be sure to stay as busy as you want – while still having plenty of downtime to enjoy the natural beauty of this area!
