Fish in Tennessee
Attention Anglers, Do NOT Move Bass!
The movement and illegal stocking of Alabama Bass outside their native range has caused serious issues for Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass fisheries across the southeast. It has been well documented that Alabama Bass prey on, hybridize with, and out compete other bass species for habitat and food resources. High hybridization rates between species will eventually result in a population without any genetically pure Smallmouth Bass. Once this occurs it can never be reversed and results in the loss of those species and the decline in the quality of that fishery.
Alabama Bass and their hybrids have been found in numerous Tennessee reservoirs. TWRA has documented the displacement of Largemouth Bass in Parksville Reservoir, one of the first sites Alabama Bass were documented outside their range in Tennessee, and hybridization with Smallmouth Bass has been documented in Watts Bar, Ft. Loudoun, and Tellico reservoirs. By all accounts, if Alabama Bass are introduced into Tennessee’s best bass fisheries, we stand to lose bass fishing as we know it. Do Not Move Alabama Bass!
In order to be successful at stopping the spread of Alabama Bass, the responsibility lies among those who transport live fish away from the water where they are caught. In most instances, those fish are used as food, but in some cases might be released into other water bodies. Always remember that it is illegal to intentionally release live fish into any public water in Tennessee away from which they were harvested.
Alabama Bass are very difficult to distinguish from Spotted Bass; observations of illegal stocking should be reported to your local TWRA Regional Office (listed below).
West Tennessee (Region 1)
200 Lowell Thomas Dr.
Jackson, TN 38301
(731) 423-5725
Middle Tennessee (Region 2)
Ellington Agricultural Center
5107 Edmondson Pike
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 781-6622
Cumberland Plateau (Region 3)
464 Industrial Blvd.
Crossville, TN 38555
(931) 484-9571
East Tennessee (Region 4)
3030 Wildlife Way
Morristown, TN 37814
(423) 587-7037
ANGLERS! TWRA in partnership with local fly-shops, the U.S. Forest Service and Trout Unlimited, are managing wader cleaning stations at multiple locations across East Tennessee to help prevent the spread of whirling disease and other non-native aquatic species. Stop by and clean your waders to help protect your waters!
Address:
North River Checking Station
Tellico River Road
Tellico Plains, TN
Maintained by TWRA
Address:
Tellico Trout Hatchery
3193 Tellico River Road
Tellico Plains, TN
Maintained by TWRA
Address:
Reliance Fly and Tackle
588 Childers Creek Road
Reliance, TN
Maintained by Hiwassee Chapter Trout Unlimited
Address:
Little River Outfitters
106 Town Square Drive
Townsend, TN
Maintained by Little River Chapter Trout Unlimited
Address:
Eastern Fly Outfitters
6209 Bristol Highway
Piney Flats, TN 37686
Maintained by Overmountain Chapter Trout Unlimited
Address:
South Holston River Fly Shop
608 Emmett Road
Bristol, TN 37620
Maintained by Overmountain Chapter Trout Unlimited
What is Whirling Disease?
Whirling disease is a condition caused by a microscopic parasite, Myxobolus cerabralis, that affects trout and salmon species. Native to Europe, whirling disease was first discovered in the United States in Pennsylvania in the 1950s.
The disease has since continued to spread and can now be found in numerous states, including Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, and most northeastern and western states.
Impacted Species
Once introduced into the water, the parasite infects a common mud-dwelling worm found in lakes and streams. The parasite multiplies within the worm and is eventually released into the water, where it drifts until it comes into contact with a trout.
It then infects the trout’s nervous system, consuming the fish’s cartilage and skeletal tissue. Trout with whirling disease may develop a black tail, deformities in the head and spine, or display “whirling” or erratic tail-chasing behavior.
Although an infected trout may not always die directly from the disease, it can affect its ability to swim, eat, and escape predators. Once the fish dies, the parasite is then released back into the environment, and the cycle starts over.
Whirling disease only affects fish in the trout and salmon family. Fish species other than trout and salmon, such as Largemouth and Smallmouth bass, Bluegill, or Walleye, cannot get whirling disease.
Other organisms, such as humans, mammals, and reptiles, cannot be infected. Eating an infected fish is not known to cause any harmful effects to humans or pets.
Fish in Tennessee that are susceptible to this disease include Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Brown Trout. Lake Trout have only become infected under laboratory conditions.
Brown Trout (native to Europe, where the disease originated) can become infected and carry the disease, but are less susceptible to the clinical symptoms (whirling behavior, black tail, etc.) of whirling disease unless heavily infested.
Rainbow and Brook trout are more susceptible to the disease.
Research has found that the age of the fish at first exposure to the parasite is important to the survival of the fish. Adult fish can contract the disease; however, newly hatched fish are highly susceptible to the symptoms of whirling disease.
Current Status in Tennessee
Currently, there have been no confirmed cases of whirling disease in the state of Tennessee.
However, the parasite that can cause whirling disease has been confirmed in the North River, Doe River, South Holston, and Watauga tailwaters. Annual routine testing currently indicates that all TWRA hatchery facilities are disease-free.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency biologists will continue to collect trout across the state to determine the parasite distribution and any population impacts.
Threats to Tennessee
No negative impacts have been observed to date on the Doe River or South Holston and Watauga tailwaters. However, there is a concern for potential impacts in areas such as wild Brook Trout populations.
Treatment
There is no known cure to rid whirling disease now that it has been established, so the best way to protect Tennessee’s many trout fisheries is to prevent it from spreading.
What can you do to prevent the spread?
CLEAN. DRAIN. DRY. Clean all equipment, such as waders, fishing gear, boats, trailers, and float tubes, of mud before leaving an area when fishing. Careful cleaning using disinfectants such as bleach (soak in mild bleach solution for 10 minutes, then rinse) will kill the parasite and many other aquatic nuisance species. Drain water from all motor units, live wells, and buckets. Allow all equipment to dry for a minimum of 48 hours.
DO NOT transport live or dead trout from one water body to another.
DO dispose of fish parts carefully when cleaning trout (dry disposal in the garbage is best).
CONTACT US if you observe signs of whirling disease in fish. You can use our Whirling Disease email. Please provide a location and picture of the fish if possible.