McKenzie, Tenn.—Carroll Lake in McKenzie is slated to reopen April 4, 2020 and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has proposed changes to sport fishing regulations which would affect Carroll Lake and other state waterways. The deadline for sport fishing comments is September 12.
Carroll Lake has been closed for seven years since the floodgates were heavily damaged and the lake was emptied during massive flooding. The flood gates were repairs and the lengthy process of rebuilding, restocking and refilling began.
Several species of fish have been stocked in the lake, including large mouth bass, catfish, bluegill and redear sunfish and the TWRA also has introduced walleye into the lake.
The TWRA Fisheries Division has proposed that when Carroll Lake reopens, regulations will be reestablished for largemouth bass at a 15-inch minimum length limit and five fish daily creel limit, bluegill and redear sunfish at a 20-fish daily creel limit with no minimum length limit, catfish at no daily creel limits for catfish 34 inches or less and one catfish over 34 inches, crappie at no length or daily creel limits and walleye at a 16-inch minimum length limit with a five fish daily creel limit.
The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission will vote on the bait, commercial and sport fish regulations at its September 19-20 meeting to be held in Nashville at the TWRA Region II building, If approved, the changes are effective March 1, 2020.
The public can provide comments on the proposals by emailing the TWRA at fishingreg.comments@tn.gov or write to TWRA Fisheries Division at 5107 Edmondson Pike, Nashville, 37211.
Other proposals involve removing the daily creel limits on Graham and Glenn Springs Lakes in order to manage bass populations; prohibit trotlines and limblines year-round on Pin Oak Lake in Natchez Trace State Park; reduce minimum length limit for smallmouth bass at Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir.
Other proposed changes to be voted on can be found at https://www.tn.gov/twra/news/2019/8/21/comment-period-open-on-2020-22-fishing-regulation-proposals.html
Photo: Carroll Lake set to reopen April 2020. (Photo by Shannon McFarlin).
Menu
