TWRC Chooses to Continue Closure of Watts Bar Reservoir to Commercial Fishing

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission voted not to open the waters of Watts Barr Reservoir to commercial fishing during its September meeting held at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Region II Ray Bell Building.

TWRA staff presented a proposed amendment to Proclamation 08-01 which would have reversed TWRC’s earlier action of closing Watts Barr Reservoir to commercial fishing. The proposed amendment, however, did not receive the necessary votes, thus Watts Bar Reservoir remains closed to commercial fishing.

The commission approved a change to commercial fishing regulations that will remove all seasons and size limits on paddlefish statewide. All gear and closed water regulations would remain in force. This change will become effective 30 days after filing with the Tennessee Secretary of State office.

A committee comprised of representatives of TWRC, TWRA staff, and commercial fishermen will meet to discuss other areas of regulation and will report to the TWRC at a later meeting.

In other business, the TWRC amended a rule to require that permission must be obtained by written request to the executive director of TWRA or his representative for the establishment of private navigational or location aids, markers, poles, rods or stakes on Reelfoot Lake Management Area by an individual, municipality or any group. This does not include stakes or poles associated with permanent blind sites that are permitted or any other legal manner and means associated with hunting, fishing, and trapping activities.

In Wednesday’s Wildlife Management Committee meeting, the TWRC directed the TWRA to file notice on a future rule change regarding shooting preserves in Tennessee.

The TWRC’s next meeting will be held Oct. 22-23 in Kingsport.