Fishing In Tennessee

The TWRA's fisheries management programs are funded from license sales and by federal aid money received through the Federal Aid to Sport Fish Restoration Program (Wallop-Breaux).

The federal aid money is generated by an excise tax paid by anglers on various kinds of fishing equipment and taxes collected on marine fuel.   The money is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and can be spent only under their guidelines.

Currently the TWRA projects funded by federal aid include:

• operation of fish hatcheries
• construction of Gibson County Lake
• fishing piers designed to accommodate handicapped anglers
• renovation and construction of boat ramps across the state
• acquisition of stream access sites
• evaluation of length limits and stocking success on reservoirs
• stream habitat improvement projects
• statewide construction and maintenance of fish attractors
• habitat protection which includes investigating pollution problems
• fish population surveys on reservoirs, lakes, and streams