The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency had proposed a slot limit for largemouth bass on Chickamauga Lake.
Following feedback from fishermen, however, Wildlife Commissioners voted against the proposed slot limit on Chickamauga, instead opting for a straight length limit.
Apparently the same issue of of concern to smallmouth anglers on Norris Lake in Upper East Tennessee.
A public meeting will be held at the Campbell County Courthouse in Jacksboro, on Tuesday, February 6, 2001, beginning at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the management of smallmouth bass on Norris Reservoir.
The 14-18 inch PLR (slot limit), which has been in effect just over a year, was put into effect as part of a management strategy, developed by the Norris Lake Fishery Advisory Committee (NLFAC), to increase the quality of smallmouth bass fishery. When the Commission met last fall to set the sport fishing regulations for 2001-02, the slot limit was set to continue. Since then, several of the Commissioners have received calls expressing concerns about t
he slot limit.
"The Commission feels that the Norris Lake fishing community should be informed about the current concern regarding over harvest of smallmouth bass less than 14 inches," said Bill Reeves, TWRA’s chief of fish management. "They have asked the TWRA to meet again with the public and NLFAC to review the slot limit so they can maintain it or change it based on the committee’s decision after reviewing public sentiment."
During the public meeting, Reeves will review the NLFAC’s smallmouth management objective and discuss the alternatives with members of the fishing public. "The recommendations of the NLFAC will be presented to the Commission at their February meeting for a final decision," said Reeves.