The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Fisheries Division presented its proposed 2009 sportfishing regulation changes during committee meetings at the August meeting of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency that was held at Pickwick Landing State Park.

In addition at the meeting, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission announced that they will revise the commercial fishing proclamation to allow commercial fishing at Watts Bar Reservoir, but specifically prohibit the harvest of contaminated catfish and buffalo. The gill net restriction will also be reinstated to protect the striped bass fishery.

The following are TWRA’s proposed changes for by region and statewide for 2009:

Proposed Changes-Region I:
*Establish the statewide smallmouth bass minimum length of 18 inches on Kentucky Lake.
*Establish the statewide crappie creel limit of 15 per day at Kentucky Lake.
*Increase crappie creel limit on Beech River watershed lakes from 15 (statewide) to 30 per day.

Proposed Changes-Region II:
*Increase the current minimum length on bass from 13 to 15 inches at Lewisburg City Lake.
*Cheatham Reservoir, include the Stones River from below Percy Priest Dam to its confluence with the Cumberland River.

Proposed Changes-Region III:
Proclamation/Guide Housekeeping
*Section IV.F.A.-change “A” to “1” (proper outline sequence)
*Section IV.F.2. –move bullet under Section G “Catch-and-release season will be from Oct. 1 through March 14” to Section F.2 – Tellico River (puts the statement under proper section).

Proposed Changes-Region IV:
*Adds to list of rivers with 13-17 inches slot length limit on smallmouth bass:
+South Fork Holston River (confluence with North Fork Holston upstream to Fort Patrick Henry Dam).
+Little River from Rockford Dam upstream to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundary.
+Tellico River from Tellico Reservoir boundary up stream to state line.

Proclamation/Guide Housekeeping
Section 1.B. - Melton Hill Reservoir striped bass/Cherokee or hybrid bass creel limit should be 2 per day in combination
Section 1.B. - Boone, Norris, and Watts Bar striped bass and Cherokee bass minimum length and creel limits. Currently the winter 36 inches minimum length limit and one fish creel limit on these reservoirs applies to both striped bass and Cherokee bass. Should only apply to striped bass. Cherokee bass limits should be the statewide regulation (i.e., 15inches minimum length and two fish creel limit) year round.

SECTION XV. I. - Douglas Reservoir: It should read: “For the purpose of this proclamation, extends upstream to the ENCA dam on the Nolichucky River and to the mouth of the Pigeon River on the French Broad River (excluding sauger and walleye).”
-Douglas Reservoir sauger/walleye regulations should include all tributaries to the reservoir.

Proposed changes-Statewide:
*Remove all wording in the proclamation regarding the use of a tooth patch for differentiating spotted bass from largemouth bass.