Nickajack Lake is the reservoir created by Nickajack Dam as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority.

The Tennessee River Gorge, commonly referred to as the "Grand Canyon of Tennessee", is also part of Nickajack Lake.

Full pool for Nickajack Lake is approximately 633.5 feet (193.1 m) above sea level, and remains consistent during the course of the year, unlike nearby Chickamauga Lake.

The world record for freshwater drum was caught from Nickajack Lake in 1972 by Benny Hull, and weighed in at 54 pounds 8 ounces (24.7 kg).

This was the first sighting of one in the lake since they left the area in the 1960s.