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Anglers have many options in the Chattanooga region.Harry Richardson, of Centre, Ala., and John Kalabus, of Cleveland, Tenn., are two sportsmen who agree the area around Chattanooga offers much in traditional outdoor sports such as hunting and fishing.
Mr. Richardson grew up fishing Lake Weiss near his home. He returned to Centre to coach and teach after attending and playing football at Samford University in Birmingham. Following retirement from the school system nine years ago, he has spent many days guiding clients in crappie and bass fishing on the Alabama Power Co. reservoir.
Mr. Kalabus researched top retirement places a decade ago. That led him to Cleveland. Since then, he has built a canoe and floated the nearby Conasauga River, fished and found time to hunt for deer, turkey and wild boar in addition to painting outdoor scenes on canvas.
“I go hunting about once or twice a week, depending upon what the season allows,” he said. “I’m more of a hunter than a fisherman. I’ve taken one bear, but that was years ago in Pennsylvania.”
Living near the Cherokee National Forest has offered ample opportunity for him to hunt. But he’s also volunteered to help build trails in the Cherokee for those who just want to walk and study nature.