With hundreds of lakes and streams as well as several national forests and wildlife refuges, there are lots of options for anyone interested in trying their skills on the water or in the woods.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency works year-round to keep the area’s wildlife and fisheries healthy and available for hunters and anglers. The TWRA’s work on Lake Chickamauga has made it one of the more popular areas for bass fishing in the nation; in 2013 the reservoir was named the sixth best area for largemouth bass fishing in the nation by Bassmaster Magazine.
Nickajack Lake downstream from Chattanooga and Lake Guntersville in northeastern Alabama are other Tennessee Valley Authority reservoirs in the area that are used frequently for tournaments as well as by recreational anglers.
For hunters, the TWRA and corresponding agencies in Georgia and Alabama maintain several wildlife management areas, and scheduled hunts are held for deer and other game in the late summer and fall.
The TWRA has a smartphone app that allows sportsmen to purchase licenses, share photos of any trophy fish or game taken and pass along information needed to hunt and fish safely in Tennessee.