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Opportuities for fishing
Chickamauga Reservoir
An impoundment on the mainstream of the Tennessee River. The major tributary is the Hiwassee River, which enters at river mile 500. The Tennessee Valley Authority for flood control, hydroelectric power, navigation and recreation completed Chickamauga in 1940.
Water is very fertile and moderately clear. Dissolved oxygen concentrations are good, especially during years of high rainfall. Low oxygen concentrations can be found at the Watts Bar Dam tail waters where the discharge from the turbines enters the river.
Size and Depth: 34,500 acres with a maximum depth of 72 feet at summer pool (682.5 feet msl). Overall length is 59 miles.
Shoreline: There is considerable development on the lower end of the lake near Chattanooga. The TVA maintains eight recreation areas around the lake.
Cover: Although diminished considerably from previous levels, aquatic vegetation still offers important cover for many species of fish. Spinyleaf naiad is the primary weed type. Eurasian watermilfoil and hydrilla are also present. The deep weedline develops at about 12 feet. |Aquatic herbicides have produced dramatic reductions in weed growth since the late 1980's when about 8,500 acres of the lake were vegetated. There are now about 1,000 acres of weedbeds, but the TWRA and TVA plan to restore weed growth to about 7,000 total acres. Future weed control methods will emphasize mechanical harvesting and focus on areas such as boat ramps, navigation channels, and public use areas. Buttonbush and bald cypress are planted along shoreline areas.
Bottom: Primarily mud and clay.
Featured Species: Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Sauger, White Crappie, Bluegill, and White Bass.
Other Species: Striped Bass, Spotted Bass, Small mouth Bass, Black Crappie, Walleye, Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Yellow Bass, Sunfish, Red ear Sunfish (Shell cracker).
Nickajack Reservoir
Nickajack Reservoir is the tailrace of Chickamauga Dam and riveren section of Nickajack that flows past Chattanooga into the Tennessee River Gorge. This is an excellent fishery for Small mouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, White Bass, Panfish and Catfish.
Acreage
Nickajack Lake has a total of 215 miles of winding shoreline, 10,370 acres of surface area and is 46 miles long, extending up to Chickamauga Dam. The watershed (which is the area of land providing drainage to the reservoir) for Nickajack Lake is 21,900 square miles. Nickajack Dam was named for Nickajack Cave located about a mile upstream.
Type
I - Lakes & Reservoirs
Gamefish
Small mouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Striped Bass
White Bass
Panfish
Catfish
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