Trout Fishing on the Caney Fork River.

While we target many of the small rivers in Middle Tennessee, I mainly focus on fly fishing for trout on the Caney Fork River. The Caney Fork River is a tailwater of Center Hill Lake, meaning that levels and flow of the river are determined by water released from the lake at Center Hill Dam. Tailwaters make great trout habitat because of the cold water generated from the bottom of the lake. Water stays around 55 degrees all year long, and trout love these cool constantly moving waters. Center Hill Dam is a TVA dam operated by the Army Corps of Engineers. The release schedule changes daily, and water levels can change without notice due to weather changes or power requirements. You can read more about this dam and the release schedule here.

The Caney Fork River is a tributary of the Cumberland River and is part of the Cumberland, Ohio and Mississippi River basins. The river is named after the dense cane breaks that once grew along the river. 143 miles in total length, the Caney Fork is home to many warm and cold water fish species. However, the section below the dam is stocked with Brown, Brook and Rainbow Trout.