Fishing index · Tennessee

Fishing conditions in Nashville, TN

Nashville, Tennessee sits at Cumberland River and Old Hickory Lake, where local anglers mainly chase smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, striped bass. The Cumberland River through Nashville is a growing smallmouth river, and Old Hickory Lake above town holds both largemouth and a stocked striper population that follows shad through the summer.

LureScore index · 2026-10-29

Excellent · estimated 68% bite probability
84
Excellent
Air temperature 6/8Pressure 14/14Temp. stability 9/10Pressure stability 8/8Wind 8/12Precipitation 8/8Season 7/8Signal Stable weather

The score combines air temperature, pressure level and stability, wind, rain, season and a short-range trend trigger. It is a timing aid — not a fish finder.

7-day outlook

DayIndexTempWindPressureSky
Today
2026-10-29
84 Excellent79° / 47°F4 mph30.21 inHgOvercast
Tomorrow
2026-10-30
86 Excellent81° / 51°F6 mph30.21 inHgOvercast
Saturday
2026-10-31
72 Good79° / 59°F10 mph30.24 inHgLight rain
Sunday
2026-11-01
85 Excellent63° / 56°F10 mph30.21 inHgLight showers
Monday
2026-11-02
70 Good69° / 58°F7 mph30.12 inHgDrizzle
Tuesday
2026-11-03
54 Fair74° / 59°F9 mph29.97 inHgLight drizzle
Wednesday
2026-11-04
47 Fair65° / 61°F9 mph29.77 inHgDrizzle

Daily highs/lows in °F, max wind in mph, mean sea-level pressure in inHg. Scores are computed per local forecast day.

Estimated water temperature · 2026-10-29

64°F
Calibrated on USGS gauges

18.0 °C, most likely between 15.4 and 20.6 °C (about 60–69 °F). A modelled estimate for the water around Nashville on 2026-10-29, not a gauge reading.

Days of record 7Air-temp lag 0.36Season term +0.88 °CValidated error ≈2.0 °C / 3.5 °F

Built from the last 7 days of daily mean air temperature (weighted toward recent days), a seasonal phase term, and coefficients fitted against 55 USGS gauges across 171,799 daily records; leave-one-station-out error is 1.96 °C. Large reservoir releases, spring-fed reaches, deep pools and tidal water can sit well outside this range. Water temperature tells you how actively fish are likely to feed — it does not tell you where they are. How this estimate works →

Model baseline_v1.0 · coefficients usgs_v1_20261022 (55 stations, fitted 2026-10-22)

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). Index scores and water-temperature estimates are our own derivation from that data.

What to target around Nashville

Cumberland River Old Hickory Lake
Smallmouth bass Largemouth bass Striped bass

The Cumberland River through Nashville is a growing smallmouth river, and Old Hickory Lake above town holds both largemouth and a stocked striper population that follows shad through the summer. The table above recomputes the index for each of the next seven days from that day's forecast, so you can time an outing to the strongest window instead of fishing the calendar.

Autumn brings cooling water and aggressive feeding ahead of winter — often the most consistent index readings of the year.

Today's best windows

Windows are scored on the same model as the daily index. Sunrise and sunset edges are built into the schedule; the strongest mornings usually follow a stable or improving pressure trend.

Where should I fish near Nashville?

The waters around Nashville include Cumberland River and Old Hickory Lake. The Cumberland River through Nashville is a growing smallmouth river, and Old Hickory Lake above town holds both largemouth and a stocked striper population that follows shad through the summer. Start with public access points on these systems, check local regs, and let the daily index above guide timing.

What fish species can I target around Nashville?

The usual targets are Smallmouth bass, Largemouth bass and Striped bass in and around Nashville. Seasonal timing shifts the bite — the forecast table on this page is computed for the same weather signals that matter for these species.

Do I need a fishing license in Tennessee?

Yes — a Tennessee state fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older (saltwater and freshwater endorsements may differ). Buy one through the Tennessee state wildlife or natural-resources agency before you fish.

What is the best time of day to fish in Nashville?

The index recommends the strongest windows printed under today's score — typically the low-light morning and evening windows. Sunrise and sunset edges are almost always worth more casts than midday, especially in the warmer months.

The LureScore index is an informational planning signal based on weather, not a guarantee of fish activity or a catch. Always follow local regulations.

Try the interactive calculator All Tennessee fishing