Fishing ‘Angler Options’

Lakes, Rivers, Streams Offer Options For Anglers

There are many places to fish in this region, from Tennessee Valley Authority lakes to area rivers and streams.

Among the most notable nearby lakes are Douglas Lake in Cocke and Jefferson counties, Cherokee Lake in Hamblen and Jefferson counties and Watauga Lake in Carter County.

The Nolichucky River flows through the southern part of Greene County from Washington County to Cocke County, while the French Broad and Pigeon Rivers are close by in Cocke County.

The annually stocked trout streams in Greene County are too numerous to mention, but among the best known are Paint Creek, Camp Creek and Horse Creek.

However, if you take fish or attempt to take fish by any method, or if you assist someone else in doing so, you must have a valid fishing license.

There are some exceptions. Among them, no fishing license is required if you are 12 years old or younger, fishing on your own private water, or if it is a free-fishing day or free-fishing week.

More details about licenses, exceptions and other laws and regulations are listed in the handbook provided by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Anglers are encouraged to get the guide, available at locations throughout the state, on the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency website and via the TWRA “On the Go App.”

Fishing licenses go on sale Feb. 18 and do not expire until the last day of February the following year.

Most licenses, except Lifetime Sportsman License and specialty licenses, such as Wheelchair, Disabled Veteran, Supplemental Security Income, and Blind Fishing licenses, may be purchased from court clerks, sporting good stores, hardware stores, boat docks, online, and at all TWRA regional offices or www.tnwildlife. org.

The phone number for TWRA is 1-800-332-0900, or 423-587-7037 for the Morristown office.

Licenses also may be obtained by mail. Send your name, address, Social Security number, date of birth, physical features (height, weight, eye and hair color) and enclose the correct fee to: TWRA, Sales Office, P.O. Box 41729, Nashville, TN 37204-1729.

SUN PHOTO BY BRIAN CUTSHALL/THE GREENEVILLE SUN Jacob Buckner takes some time to fish at the Hardin Park pond.

ABOUT LIMITS

The following are the creel and size limits that apply statewide.

Several waters have exceptions to these limits. Anglers should refer to the Tennessee Fishing Guide for specific exceptions to the statewide regulations.

If you are fishing in a location that does not have exceptions listed in the guide, then the statewide limits apply.

CREEL AND SIZE LIMITS

The following are the creel and size limits that apply across Tennessee, in general:

• Black Bass (including largemouth, smallmouth, spotted and coosa). Creel limit is five (no more than five black bass per day in any combination may be taken). No minimum length. • Crappie (all species combined). Creel limit is 15, minimum length limit is 10 inches. • Rock Bass/Redeye. Creel limit is 20. No minimum length. • Striped Bass or Hybrid Striped Bass (any combination). Creel limit is two, minimum length is 15 inches. • White Bass. Creel limit is 15. No minimum length. • Muskellunge. Creel limit is one, minimum length is 36 inches. • Sauger or sauger/walleye hybrids. Creel limit is 10, minimum length limit is 15 inches.

• Walleye. Creel limit is five, minimum length is 16 inches. • Trout (all trout species combined). Creel limit is seven. There is no minimum length. Only two trout can be lake trout. • Redear sunfish/shellcracker. Creel limit is 20. There is no minimum length. • Yellow Bass, Bluegill, Bream, Bullheads, Pickerel, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch and other non-game species. No creel limit or minimum length. • Skipjack Herring. Creel limit is 100. There is no minimum length. • Catfish. Only one catfish over 34 inches may be harvested per day. No harvest limit on catfish less than 34 inches. • Paddlefish. Paddlefish may be harvested from April 24 through May 31. Daily creel limit is two with no size limit. Culling is prohibited. Exceptions are listed in the TWRA guide. • Sturgeon (shovelnose, pallid, lake and hybrids). No harvesting allowed. Must be returned to water immediately. TWRA requests that all catches be reported.

OTHER REGULATIONS

(TWRA lakes)

Only rods and reels, poles, hand-held lines and jigs may be used; trotlines, cast nets and limblines are illegal on all agency lakes.

FISHING LAWS

Stocking of any fish into public waters is strictly prohibited.

Explosives, chemicals and electrical shocking devices are strictly forbidden, and their use carries heavy penalties.

Shooting in the water with any type of firearm to injure or take fish or turtles is prohibited.

All boaters and passengers must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket within the area designated and appropriately marked as a hazardous area below any dam or lock.

It is illegal to take any fish or turtle that is listed as endangered, threatened or in need of management.

It is illegal to sell or offer to sell fish or turtles without a commercial fishing license.

TRAILS

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available at the Horse Creek Picnic Area. To shorten the hike, a four-wheel drive vehicle can drive FDR 94 just past the first creek crossing. Park your vehicle in the parking area and hike the 0.56 miles to the 45-foot Pete’s Branch Waterfall.

Scarlet Oak Trail (#181): This trail is a 0.2-mile, 30-minute-long loop opposite the Horse Creek Recreational Center. Follow signs to Horse Creek Recreation Center, and the entrance to trail is right across from the entrance to the campground. Parking is available at Horse Creek Picnic Area.

Sill Branch North (#115): This trail is 0.5-mile, and 30 to 45 minutes long. To reach the trail, take 11E North to TN Highway 107 and travel east 13.8 miles to Clark Creek Road and turn right. Then travel 3.2 miles to the trailhead on the left. The hike ends at a waterfall.

MODERATE

Margarette Falls (#189): Off Shelton Mission Road, this 1.2-mile, 1- to-2-hour, one-way trail ends at a 50-foot waterfall that is a sight to behold. It is a relatively short trail, but quite rugged in spots with stream crossings that can be challenging during high water. Parking is available at the bottom of the trail.

Paint Creek Trail (#10): This is a 2.72 mile, 3-4-hour-long hike. Trail begins beside the bridge crossing Paint Creek before the entrance to the campground. Because of heavy rains in past years, this trail is only partially accessible, and more difficult than before due to missing bridges and the necessity to ford the creeks by foot.

Walnut Mountain Trail (#135): The trail begins at Round Mountain Campground, where parking is provided. The 1.8-mile, 2-3-hour-long trail ends at its junction with the Appalachian Trail.

Squibb Creek Trail (#23): This 1.95mile, 2-3-hour-long trail begins at a small foot bridge off the off-road-vehicle trail and ends at a 15-foot waterfall. This is a Wilderness Trail which means the trail is maintained at a lower standard. Look closely for the blue blazes.

Little Paint Creek Trail (#11): The trail begins at a parking area on Forest Service Road 31-B. From Greeneville take Asheville Highway south for 11.21 miles then follow signs to Paint Creek Recreation Area. The left fork in that road is 31-B. This 3.03 mile, 4-5-hour-long trail terminates at the Appalachian Trail at Deep Gap. It is located on an old logging railroad bed. Look for signs of railcar wheels and railroad ties.

Stone Mountain Trail (#9): Beginning at the cemetery on Hall Top, this is a 6.02mile, 5-6-hour hike. Parking is available at the forest service gate along Mill Creek, 1.02 miles from I-40 at Hartford in Cocke County and at the cemetery. The lower portion of this trail is now open to horses.

Gum Springs Trail (#5): Beginning at Highway 107 across from the Houston Area Recreational Center, this is a 1.33mile, 2-3-hour-long hike. Trail follows a stream and provides access to the Meadow Creek Mountain Trail.

Paint Mountain Trail (#7): This 9.48mile, 7-8-hour-long trail begins at the trailhead parking on Forest Designated Road 209C, one mile beyond Buffalo Rock and Lone Pine Gap out Houston Valley Road. The trail provides several opportunities to vary length. Horses are only allowed on the trail from Chimney Rocks Trail intersection to Lone Pine Gap.

There are plenty of places in Greene County and the surrounding region to enjoy a hike.

THE GREENEVILLE SUN

DIFFICULT

Middle Springs Ridge Trail (#4): This difficult Wilderness Trail is 1.94 miles long and takes 2-3 hours to walk. The trail starts at the left of the 0.73 milepost of Squibb Creek Trail. It joins with Turkeypen Cove Trail. Wilderness trails are maintained at a lower standard. Look closely for the blue blazes.

TRAILS

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Turkeypen Cove (#15): Starting at Mile Post 0.67 on the Squibb Creek Trail and eventually merging with the Middle Spring Ridge Trail, this 1.98-mile Wilderness Trail is 2-3 hours long, and the last section is steep. Large rocks at the left of the trail near Mile Post 1.5 provide a good view of Greeneville and the Nolichucky River Valley. This trail is located in Sampson Mountain Wilderness and is maintained at a lower standard. Look closely for blue blazes.

Sarvis Cove Trail (#14): This 2.45-mile, 3-4-hour trail starts just above Horse Creek Recreation area at the milepost 0.80 on Poplar Cove Trail and goes to the Appalachian Trail at Cold Spring Mountain.

Davis Creek Trail (#19): Beginning at Round Knob Recreation Area, this 2.8mile, 3-4-hour-long trail has several stream crossings and is partly damaged from flooding. It ends at Shelton Mission Road.

MULTIPLE USE TRAILS (Horses, Mountain Biking and Hiking) EASIEST

Doctors Ridge Trail (#194): This 1.13mile, 1-2-hour-long trail is fairly steep in some areas, but wide and easy to follow. Opposite the entrance to Horse Creek campground, take Old Forge Road 1.9 miles down. On the right is the beginning of the trail. Roadside parking is available on Old Forge Road and at the end of the trail on Greystone Road.

MODERATE

Little Jennings Creek Trail (#195): This trail begins at Jennings Creek Trail at milepost 0.10 and extends 1.99 miles, 2-3 hours, where it intersects with Cowbell Hollow Trail. Parking is available at Round Knob and Old Forge recreation areas.

Poplar Cove Trail (#22): This trail is 1.43 miles and 2-3 hours long. It has different access points at the Horse Creek Recreation Area off the four-wheel-drive road and at the Old Forge Recreation Area 1.09 miles up the Jennings Creek Trail. Parking is available at both entrances. The trail junctions at milepost 0.80 with Sarvis Cove Trail and serves as a connector between Horse Creek and Old Forge Recreation Areas.

Cowbell Hollow Trail (#24): Beginning at Round Knob Recreation Area, this 1.8mile, 2-3-hour-long trail ends at the junction with Jennings Creek Trail and Poplar Cove Trail. Parking is at Round Knob and Old Forge recreation areas.

Jennings Creek Trail (#21): Beginning at Old Forge Recreation Area and ending at the junction with Cowbell Hollow Trail and Poplar Cove Trail, this is a 1.09-mile, 2-3-hour-long trail.

Greene Mountain Trail (#13): Starting on Greene Mountain Road and ending on Kennedy Cabin Road, this trail has roadside parking at both ends. This 3.65-mile, 4-5-hour-long trail has some steep parts.

Chimney Rocks Trail (#154): This 2.4mile trail, which takes 4-5 hours to travel, begins at Weaver’s Bend Road or can be joined at its intersection with Paint Mountain Trail. The trail starts at the parking area on FDR 209C (just before crossing the railroad tracks on Weaver Bend).

SUN PHOTO BY LORELEI GOFF/THE GREENEVILLE SUN Volunteers with East Tennessee Trail Association move a rock to be used for a new staircase over a section of Margarette Falls Trail that had become dangerous for hikers to traverse.

This 14.8 mile, 14-15-hour-long trail begins at the trail head in Greene County off County Road 1342 (Cedar Creek Road) and ends at County Road 2576 (Long Creek Road) in Cocke County. Parking is available at the beginning of the trail. Primitive campsites (pack it in/pack it out) can be found along the trail. Trail is difficult for horses because of its steep and narrow sections.

Bullen Hollow (#2): Off Shelton Mission Road this 2.68 mile, 3.5-to-4.5 hours long hike has an elevation change of almost 2,000 feet. The trail begins at Bullen Hollow trailhead and ends at Low Gap on Bald Mountain, also known as Viking Mountain.

OTHER TRAIL OPPORTUNITIES:

Halltop Area: This includes Forest Service Roads 207 and 403.

County Road 2576 Area: Bikes are allowed on Forest Service Road 404 and Meadow Creek Mountain Trail 6. Portions of Trail #6 can be steep.

Round Mountain Area: Numerous trails in the Round Mountain area are open to mountain bikes. These include Forest Service Roads 96, 3242 and Round Mountain Road.

Weaver’s Bend Area: Weaver’s Bend Road, Chimney Rocks Trail and Paint Mountain Trail are open to mountain biking. Weaver’s Bend can be reached from Houston Valley Road (Tenn. 107).

Houston Valley Area: Brush Creek Road offers challenging biking for any skill level.

Meadow Creek Mountain Fire Tow-

er Area: This area can be reached off Houston Valley Road, a mile past Houston Valley Recreation Area. Mountain biking is allowed on Forest Service Road 404, Meadow Creek Mountain Fire Tower Road, the Meadow Creek Trail, Gum Springs Trail and Gum Springs Connector.

Lone Pine Gap Area: A parking area at Lone Pine Gap takes you to Paint Mountain and Chimney Rock Trail. Both these trails begin beside Pine Springs Church on Paint Mountain Road off Houston Valley Road.

Hurricane Gap Area: Biking areas include Hurricane Gap Road, Shad Road and Rough Branch Road. To reach Hurricane Gap, take the opposite fork from Little Paint Creek Trail, on the Paint Creek Road.

Greene Mountain Area: Roads open to bikes are Greene Mountain Road, Camp Creek Bald Road and Forest Service Road 93.

Horse Creek Area: Also includes Doctors Ridge Trail, Poplar Cove Trail, Cowbell Hollow Trail and Horse Creek four-wheel drive road.

Round Knob Area: Bicyclists are allowed on Round Knob Road, Little Jennings Creek Road, Round Knob fourwheel drive trail and Jennings Creek Trail.

Gum Springs Connector (#5A): This 1-mile trail, starting at Burnett Gap, has a parking lot accommodating horses. It connects to Gum Springs Trail, which eventually connects to Meadow Creek Mountain Trail.

Buffalo Mountain ATV-Motorcycle Trail:

This moderately difficult to difficult 12.8mile trail begins at Horse Cove Gap and ends at Organ Gap on southern Buffalo Mountain. Trail provides an enjoyable ride with scenic views of Unaka Mountain, surrounding mountains and the “Valley Beautiful” of Unicoi County. Trailhead is located at Horse Cove Gap.