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Tennessee · Fishing
Camden sits in west Tennessee's Benton County, and the fishing around town is almost entirely lake-based — which suits most anglers just fine.
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Camden sits in west Tennessee's Benton County, and the fishing around town is almost entirely lake-based — which suits most anglers just fine. C H Sullins Lake, Cedar Lake Number One, and Cole Lake are the three main options within the city's reach, all of them small impoundments typical of this part of the state: warm, productive, and best worked slowly. West Tennessee lakes like these tend to hold largemouth bass, bream, crappie, and catfish, with crappie fishing often picking up in spring around any available structure and catfish running well into summer nights. None of these are destination trophy waters drawing crowds from out of state, but that's part of the appeal — you're more likely to have a bank spot to yourself on a weekday morning than you are at the bigger TVA reservoirs to the east. Access points and facilities vary by lake, so it's worth confirming current conditions before you drive out with a loaded truck. A valid Tennessee fishing license is required for anyone 13 and older. If you're coming from out of state, budget a little extra time to sort your license online through the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency before you arrive.
C H Sullins Lake, Cedar Lake Number One, and Cole Lake are typical west Tennessee warm-water lakes, so largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and channel catfish are the most realistic targets. Don't expect trout — these aren't cold-water fisheries, and there's no stocking data in the listings to suggest otherwise.
Early morning and the last two hours before sunset are consistently the most productive windows for bass and bream in warm-water Tennessee lakes. Catfish are a different story — they feed actively after dark, so an evening session that runs into the night is worth planning if that's your target.
Dover
~59 min drive
A worthwhile stop near TN.
Dyers Creek
~1h 1m drive
A worthwhile stop near TN.
C H Sullins Lake
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near TN.
Hardy Sand Company Lake
~3 min drive
A worthwhile stop near TN.
Cole Lake
~5 min drive
A worthwhile stop near TN.
Cedar Lake Number One
~7 min drive
A worthwhile stop near TN.
Bradford Swamp
~21 min drive
A worthwhile stop near TN.
Kentucky Lake
~28 min drive
A worthwhile stop near TN.
Smith Lake
~38 min drive
A worthwhile stop near TN.
Middle Fork Obion River Lake Number Three
~38 min drive
A worthwhile stop near TN.
Browns Creek Lake
~41 min drive
A worthwhile stop near TN.
Shoof Lake
~43 min drive
A worthwhile stop near TN.
Yes, a Tennessee fishing license is required for anyone 13 and older. You can purchase one online through the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency website or at local sporting goods and bait shops in the Camden area. Buy it before you get to the water — wardens do check.
A medium-action spinning or baitcasting setup covers most situations across these lakes. For bass, soft plastics and shallow-running crankbaits work well in warmer months. For crappie, small jigs and live minnows are reliable. If you're targeting catfish, bring a heavier rod, circle hooks, and cut bait or stink bait.
Lake fishing in this part of Tennessee is generally forgiving for beginners — no fast current, no technical wade fishing, and bluegill in particular are willing biters that keep kids engaged. Just confirm that the specific lake you're heading to has accessible bank fishing before you go, since facilities at smaller local lakes can be minimal.
