Tennessee Launched Public Trout Management Survey

The agency is seeking resident feedback for its upcoming ten-year trout conservation strategy.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Fishing

Tennessee Launched Public Trout Management Survey

Live Poll

Do you believe state agencies should use public input to develop long-term wildlife management plans?

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has opened an online survey to gather public input for the 2028-37 Tennessee Trout Management Plan. This initiative allows residents to help shape the long-term conservation strategy as the current plan nears its 2027 expiration.

Why it matters

The agency aims to build a foundation for its future policy by incorporating direct public feedback. This process ensures that the upcoming management strategy reflects the needs and priorities of the local fishing community.

The agency has launched a survey for the 2028-37 trout management plan, which follows a 10-year management strategy framework. The process utilizes a model previously employed for black bass management.

The players

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

This state-level organization oversees the conservation, protection, and management of fish and wildlife resources across Tennessee.

The details

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is using a multi-phase, citizen-led framework to develop the new policy. A Stakeholder Advisory Committee composed of volunteers and experts will collaborate with agency biologists to draft the final proposal.

The online survey phase began on October 8, 2026.
The survey period concludes on November 6, 2026.
The existing trout management plan expires in 2027.
Drafting of the new plan will continue until at least mid 2027.
The new trout management plan will cover the 2028-37 period.

Roadmap

The transition toward a citizen-led, multi-phase framework represents a shift in how the state manages its aquatic resources. By applying the black bass management model to trout, the agency aligns its conservation efforts with successful, data-driven precedents.

Residents can influence state conservation priorities by participating in the survey before the November deadline. The resulting policy will define how and where trout are managed in local waterways for the next decade.

The takeaway

Participating in public surveys is the most effective way for anglers to ensure their local knowledge informs state policy. Providing input now will help shape the management of trout populations in Tennessee waters through 2037.