Sport fishing regulation changes proposed
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Statewide:
• Increase statewide minimum length limit for muskellunge to 36 inches (exception at Melton Hill Reservoir).
• Reduce white bass daily creel limit from 30 to 15 per day.
• Add rusty crayfish and virile crayfish to list of species banned in Tennessee. Possession of these exotic crayfish would be prohibited.
Reservoirs
• Tims Ford Reservoir—18-inch minimum length limit for smallmouth bass, one per day.
• Norris Reservoir—36-inch minimum size limit on striped bass, one per day from Nov. 1 to March 31 each year. This regulation will be in effect only through February of 2008.
• Douglas Reservoir—Henderson Island WMA rearing pond closed to fishing.
• Melton Hill Reservoir—Increase minimum length limit on muskellunge to 44 inches, one per day.
• Watauga Reservoir—From Jan. 1 through April 30 in select tributary areas in Elk River, Doe Creek, and Roan Creek, and in the upper Watauga river, anglers are restricted to the use of one hook having a single point or one lure having no more than one hook with a single point (artificial or bait). Snagging, dipping, and cast netting and other non hook-and-line methods are prohibited in these areas during this period.
Agency Lakes:
• Gibson County Lake—14 to 18 inch protected slot limit for largemouth bass,
5 per day with only one fish larger than 18 inches.
Trout Streams:
• Hiwassee River—The section from the Reliance Railroad Bridge downstream to Patty Bridge will return to statewide regulations for trout.
• Clear Creek—The time period for the closed to fishing area extended to include November 1 through March 31.
• Tellico River—Delayed harvest area moved upstream with new boundaries from mouth of Turkey Creek upstream to mouth of North River, increasing the total length of the area by 0.5 miles.
Comments may be submitted by mail to: Sport Fish Comments, TWRA, Fisheries Management Division, P.O. Box 40747, Nashville, TN 37204 or emailed to twra.comment@state.tn.us.
Please include “Sport Fish Comments” on the subject line of emailed submissions.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission will vote on these recommendations at their Oct. 20-21 meeting to be held at Fall Creek Falls State Park, Pikeville, Tennessee.
Presentation and discussion of the proposed regulations will occur in the afternoon of Oct. 20, 2004. The public is invited to attend. Approved changes will be implemented on March 1, 2005.