Lakes of Tennessee

Well, when we think of heading to Tennessee, it hasn’t ever been to hit the water. But, to our surprise, as with many watery destinations, we at B.O.W. fell in love with some Tennessee lakes. Some research clued us in to the fact that Tennessee has thirty large reservoirs created by damming up rivers and waterways, for flood control by the Tennessee Valley Authority. The result is not only practical but breathtaking! Many of the lakes have beautiful clear blue water that is ideal for water-time fun, including diving.

We had the pleasure of visiting 2 of the lakes on our recent visit, the Cherokee Lake and Fort Loudoun Lake. We were fortunate enough to have some nice friends who gave us a lake tour aboard their 46 foot Cruisers Yachts 46 Cantius, a vessel that makes even a winter day on the water extremely enjoyable. The mountain views while on the water are incredible, especially for folks who spend the majority of their time in coastal Florida. There are many marinas on both of the lakes we toured, many RV parks, and other types of lodging, as well, including houseboats (some really humongous houseboats too). So, when you think of planning that next trip to Tennessee, don’t forget to plan for a watery vacation and not just a snowy one! Check out some information below about the two lakes B.O.W. visited.

Cherokee Reservoir is a fertile, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) reservoir containing 30,300 surface acres and 393 miles of shoreline. Fish densities are greater than many other Tennessee reservoirs due to the high fertility level. There is a prolific forage base of Threadfin Shad, Gizzard Shad, and Alewife with Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, Cherokee bass, Crappie, Walleye, and Saugeye as the primary game fish species. People also target Paddlefish, White Bass, Bluegill, and Catfish. The reservoir thermally stratifies in the summer when warm oxygenated surface water cannot mix with the cold water below. As this condition progresses during the summer, respiration by organisms and decay of detritus slowly depletes the cold water of oxygen. During most summers and in many locations, oxygen lev-

els below 30 ft. can become too low to support most fish species. This is especially true for mature Striped Bass and Walleye which need cool, oxygenated water to survive. These fish seek out refuge areas until the surface water becomes cool enough in the fall to once again mix with the rest of the water in the reservoir.

TVA owns up to the 1,075-ft. elevation mark and controls water levels within the reservoir. Draw downs of up to 40 feet, due to power demands, flood control, and downstream navigational needs, are common in the winter. Much of the drawdown zone is easily accessible to the public and offers outstanding bank fishing opportunities.

A variety of fish habitats have been constructed over the years in an attempt to concentrate fish for anglers. These include brush piles, stake beds,

smallmouth spawning benches, and reef balls. Natural fish habitat works well but must be continually refurbished in order to maintain their effectiveness. Water-loving trees such as willow, swamp oak, bald cypress, and river birch have been planted in drawdown areas to create additional, long-lasting habitat. Fort Loudoun Lake is a reservoir in east Tennessee on the upper Tennessee River, extending about 50 miles (80 km) along the river upstream from Fort Loudoun Dam, at Lenoir City, to Knoxville. Fort Loudoun Lake contains 14,600 acres and was created by the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1943. The reservoir supports a variety of recreational activities and provides hydroelectric power and flood control. Fort Loudoun Reservoir takes its name from the 18thcentury British fort built on a nearby site during the French and Indian War. The fort was named for John Campbell, the fourth Earl of Loudoun, commander of British forces in North America at the time. [1] Fort Loudoun is a popular recreation destination, known for bass fishing, boating, and bird watching. The tail water area immediately below the dam is an excellent site for viewing a variety of water birds, including herons, cormorants, gulls, osprey, and bald eagles.

The reservoir is connected by a short canal to Tellico Reservoir on the nearby Little Tennessee River. Water is diverted through the canal to Fort Loudoun for power production. The canal also offers commercial barges access to Tellico without the need for a lock. Barges passing through the Fort Loudoun lock carry about half a million tons of cargo a year.

Portions of this article’s text from: www.tn.gov/twra/fishing/whereto-fish/east-tennessee-r4/cherokeereservoir.html and en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Fort_Loudoun_Lake