With catches like this not uncommon, the Collins River has become a bona fide trophy musky destination. (Photo by Colin Moore)
April 26, 2024
By Colin Moore
When it was announced that a little-known river in Middle Tennessee would host the first annual Musky Fly Fishing World Championship in March 2012, reactions among the contestants likely ranged from disbelief to cynical acceptance, with plenty muffled grumblings. After all, the Tennessee midlands are best known for largemouth bass, mountain music and corn squeezins’—though not necessarily in that order.
Muskies? No way. The Collins River seems far better suited for trotlines and catfish than for the regal “fish of 10,000 casts.”
But it didn’t take Jackson Kayak team member James McBeath many casts to catch a 38-inch musky from the diminutive stream to win the catch-and-release event and, in the process, let the proverbial cat out of the bag. Indeed, as unlikely as it might seem, some of the smallish waterways in Middle Tennessee and the Cumberland Plateau are currently home to sizeable numbers of muskies more frequently associated with the upper Midwest and the Northeast.
Narrow and with wind-shielding vegetation along many stretches, the Collins River is perfect for fly anglers in pursuit of muskies. (Photo by Colin Moore) A RESOUNDING SUCCESS A slow-moving river in no hurry to get anywhere, the Collins meanders northeastward through some of the most scenic hill country in the Volunteer State. Because it’s fed by a number of warm-water creeks, it also supports a fairly good bass population, but the prospect of tangling with a big musky is the main attraction these days.
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Whatever it takes for muskies to thrive, the Collins has it. Behemoths in the 40-inch class, and even a few nudging 50 inches, are caught from the river each year. These are no fish for beginners; when you hook one of any size here, you better be prepared to stay a while.
The region’s generally warm river systems and a long growing season are partially responsible, but this is also another conservation success story in a state where muskies had become relatively sparse by the turn of the century. Stocking programs and the cooperation of anglers who practiced catch-and-release helped revive the dwindling population on the Collins and its connected waterways, such as the Caney Fork and Great Falls Lake.
SPRINGTIME IS PRIME Though muskies might grab a lure or streamer any time of year, early spring—before the flotillas of recreational boaters and kayakers show up—is the peak season to fish for them. The best action can occur anywhere from a few miles below McMinnville upriver to where the Collins meets up with the Caney Fork and the Rocky rivers at Rock Island. And muskies are frequently encountered in those two rivers as well.
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“April and May can be phenomenal,” says guide Steven Paul of Tennessee Musky Fishing Guide Service. “But sometimes the fishing really starts cranking up in March. Weather trumps everything. It all depends on the severity of the previous winter and how active the fish get in general.”
The best bite during the spring is triggered by the spawn, when the toothy muskies forage eagerly as they travel upstream to drop their eggs in feeder creeks or suitable structure. Their aggressiveness is also their weakness, allowing conventional and fly anglers alike to cash in.
GEARING UP The relatively small size of the Collins makes covering water on both sides of the river and its tributaries easy in many stretches, so fly anglers in the know flock to it. Ginormous streamers that resemble bream are preferred, but big bucktails with lots of Flashabou will at least get a follow here. Be prepared to make long casts with 10- or 11-weight rods since the Collins is clear most of the year and the muskies can be skittish. Leaders and tippets stout enough to handle large, muscular fish with sharp teeth are mandatory. For conventional gear, the standard hard-bait enticements proven effective in the upper Midwest are also popular here. Large spoons, Whopper Ploppers, Hellhound Glide Baits and other large surface lures or crankbaits, hefty in-line spinners and swimbaits, and jumbo-size jerkbaits are favorites.
MUSKIES CAN BE FICKLE “Some days they want big lures, sometimes they want big flies,” says Paul, who caught the current Tennessee state record musky, weighing 43 pounds, 14 ounces, from Melton Hill Lake in 2017. “There’s not a fly that stands out, but a 6- to 8-inch streamer is usually most desirable. Still, I’ve seen times on the Collins when 8- or 10-inch flies work. You’ve got to be ready for anything on any particular day.”
Tennessee Valley Musky Authority guide Cory Allen steers plug-casting clients toward big, articulated lures that resemble shad, a preferred musky snack in the Collins.
“One of my most productive lures is the Musky Innovations’ Magnum Shallow Invader,” Allen says. “It’s also a favorite of many customers who have caught big muskies on the Collins with it.”
TRIED-AND-TRUE PLAN The general approach is to glide down the sluggish river and thoroughly fish every deep pool you encounter. Muskies use deeper water in the shadows as ambush cover, and deep holes also provide sanctuary in cold weather. If weed beds border the deeper water, even better.
Paul’s personal best on the river was “47 or 48 inches long,” which translates into an approximate weight of 35 pounds, but he has put customers on bigger muskies and thinks the Collins is capable of producing a new Tennessee record. Catch-and-release fishing is encouraged, but a potential state record is bound to have its measurements taken.
“The sky’s the limit, as far as record-size muskies in that river system,” says Paul. “There are some monsters.”
TRIP PLANNING All the information you need to go catch Middle Tennessee muskies. Musky fishing in Tennessee. Anglers intent on sampling the Collins River’s superb musky fishing have a number of lodging options. For folks who want to stay close to the action, there’s Rock Island State Park (tnstateparks.com ), a well-kept, 883-acre park that includes the Caney Fork Gorge and various waterfalls. It has a boat ramp and offers 10 cabins, each with three bedrooms, plus two campgrounds with 60 campsites—and two bathhouses—that accommodate RVs, trailer-campers or tents.
Those who would rather enjoy the niceties of a town will find plenty of motels and restaurants in the McMinnville area. And when you’re not fishing, downtown Nashville is only 75 miles to the northwest. Chattanooga, about the same distance to the southwest of McMinnville, also boasts many attractions.
For partial- or full-day fishing charters, consider these top local options: Cory Allen of Tennessee Muskie Authority (931-261-2483); Dwayne Hickey of Mid-Tennessee Guide Service (931-273-7937); Steven Paul at Tennessee Musky Fishing (615-440-3237; tennesseemuskyfishing.com ); and Mike Anderson and Jarrod White at Tophy Fishing TN (615-617-9032; trophyfishingtn.com ). For camping , tackle and intel, reach out to Mad Musky Water Sports Rentals (931-815-2386); Smooth Rapids Outfitters (931-452-9251); Outdoor Shack Fishing Tackle (931-815-9527); or Bream Reaper Bait and Tackle (931-743-66410).
Most DIY anglers fish out of kayaks or shallow-draft bass boats. Those with enough experience on the Collins River also stop and wade wherever shallow flats drop off into deeper water. Whatever your plan of attack, you have a choice of ramps to launch from. There’s Rock Island State Park, Turners Bend Ramp off Myers Cove Road, a public ramp off Highway 56, near the line separating Warren and Grundy counties, and the Wild Bill’s BBQ (VFW) ramp on Highway 70, outside McMinnville. To the south, there’s also Wanamaker’s Landing, though it can be difficult to launch or load a boat there at times due to seasonal water level and current flow fluctuations.
The following government entities can provide additional information to help you plan your trip: McMinnville-Warren County Chamber of Commerce (warrentn.com ); Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (tn.gov/twra ); Tennessee Tourism (tnvacation.com ).
MORE ON MUSKIES Get in-depth 411 from an experienced pro. “Next Level Musky Fishing” Guide Steven Paul literally wrote the book on musky fishing. His 284-page “Next Level Musky Fishing” ($19.99; muskyshop.com ) provides valuable insights on the fish’s behavior and covers recommended tackle, strategies and techniques—well beyond the basics—to catch muskies in Tennessee or anywhere they swim.
