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Tennessee · Cheatham County · Reservoir

Cheatham Reservoir

Is the fish you caught here safe to eat? Below is every consumption advisory on file for Cheatham Reservoir, by species and size, in plain English — plus what's legal to keep.

1 species with advisories · contaminants: PCBs

What's safe to eat from Cheatham Reservoir

Black Bass

PCBs

SizeWhoGuidance
All sizes General population Limit to one meal per month due to elevated PCB.
Women who may become pregnant & children under 15 For women who may become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children under 15: do not eat due to elevated PCB.

Source: official advisory· updated 2026-09-22

How to prepare fish from Cheatham Reservoir

Some contaminants build up in fat and skin, so cleaning and cooking can lower your exposure. Others — mercury and PFAS — are in the muscle itself and trimming does nothing.

PCBs

  • Skin the fish — most of the contaminant sits in the fat just under the skin.
  • Trim the fatty areas away: the belly flap, the top of the back, and the dark lateral line down each side.
  • Cook on a rack — grill, broil, or bake — so the fat drips off the fillet.
  • Throw the drippings out; don't use them for soup, sauce, or chowder.
  • Choose smaller, younger fish — they've had less time to build it up.

Is it legal to keep?

These are Tennessee's statewide limits — a water-specific rule may override them. Always verify the current regulations before keeping a fish.

SpeciesSizeDaily limitOpen seasonKeep season
Largemouth Bass — 5 Year-round Same as open
Black Crappie 10" min 15 Year-round Same as open
Sauger 15" min 10 Year-round Same as open
Striped Bass 15" min 2 Year-round Same as open
Channel Catfish — — Year-round Same as open

Official rules: Tennessee — Tennessee TWRA

Getting on the water

Access points from OpenStreetMap contributors.

About this water

State
Tennessee
County
Cheatham
Type
Reservoir
Location
36.3201, -87.2225
Advisory source
Tennessee Dept. of Environment & Conservation — Fish Advisories