Normandy, Tennessee
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On The Fly Freshwater
June 2026
Article and photos by Jimmy Jacobs
The Duck River downstream of Normandy Dam in south-central Tennessee provides the most westerly tailwater trout action found in the Volunteer State. Normandy Lake Dam was built by the Tennessee Valley Authority back in 1976 with the multi purposes of flood control, water supply and support of wildlife and aquatic biota in the river. That final mandate stemmed from the fact the Duck has the most diverse population of mussels and fish species found in North America. No fewer than 151 species of fish have been identified in its flow.
In past decades there were some water quality problems with the tailwater section of the Duck, but those have now been cleared up. As a result, Middle Tennessee anglers enjoy up to eight months of angling for trout on the river.
The Normandy Dam Fishing Access.
The Duck is not a huge river. In fact, most of it is easily waded, unless weather conditions require releases from the dam. With no power generation facility, releases of water downstream are less erratic than on some other tailwaters. The ideal level for wade fishing is when the dam is releasing 200 cubic feet of water per second or less.
That makes for a good situation for anglers targeting the rainbow trout that are stocked in the flow from November to May annually. Those trout are in the 10- to 14-inch size range, and raised in the state’s Normandy Fish Hatchery that is located on the north side of the river, a bit less than two miles downstream of the dam. The fishing remains good in the river at least through the end of June each year.
A Tennessee tailwater stocked rainbow trout.
The trout water on the river extends from the dam, downstream for 9 miles. Along that course there are several locations that provide public access, with wading possible at all of them. Additionally, they offer access for canoe and kayak launching for float fishing trips. There is, however, a low-head dam at Cortner Mill that has to be portaged.
The first public area is in the Normandy Dam Tailwater Fishing Access. The entry drive for this site is at the east end of Frank Hiles Road bridge over the river. This also is one of four places on the tailwater where trout are stocked. Each of the following access points described also are release point for the stocked rainbows.
Looking downstream at the upper Frank Hiles Road bridge.
From that point the river makes a big bend to the south before again passing under Frank Hiles Road. The Normandy Fish Hatchery is located at this crossing. There is a mown grass trail that runs from this point back up to the dam area, providing 1 1/2 miles of access to anglers on foot. Be aware that along much of the river course the banks are steep, so access to the water may not be all that easy.
The next downstream public access to the Duck is found at the Dement Bridge where State Route 269 passes over the flow. This site has recently been renovated and contains a parking area, canoe and kayak landing, as well as bank and wade fishing options. Note that when the Duck is running at 400 cfs or higher this access point can be closed to use.
The final public area within the trout water is 4.3 miles farther downstream at the Three Forks Bridge Road Access. This site has a large parking area and was also recently renovated. It serves as the take-out point for trout fishing float trips on the Duck. Additionally, good bank and wading access is located here, but the area also closes when water levels reach 400 cfs. For current water release information for Normandy Dam, click here.
If you are looking for some tailwater trout fishing on a stream that is small enough that the flow and access are not intimidating, the Duck River can fill the bill.
