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Reeling in dollars: Bass anglers a growth industry in Rhea County

On a fishing trip from Pikeville, Ky., Kierra Prater, George Prater and Jerry Prater, from left, shop for gear at the Dayton Boat Docks and Grill on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, in Dayton, Tenn. Competitive fishing tournaments have helped the economy in Dayton and Rhea County.
On a fishing trip from Pikeville, Ky., Kierra Prater, George Prater and Jerry Prater, from left, shop for gear at the Dayton Boat Docks and Grill on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, in Dayton, Tenn. Competitive fishing tournaments have helped the economy in Dayton and Rhea County. On a fishing trip from Pikeville, Ky., Kierra Prater, George Prater and Jerry Prater, from left, shop for gear at the Dayton Boat Docks and Grill on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, in Dayton, Tenn. Competitive fishing tournaments have helped the economy in Dayton and Rhea County.

By David Cobb 7 min read

Distressed counties

List of Tennessee counties classified as distressed by the Appalachian Regional Commission:1. Johnson2. Cocke3. Hancock4. Claiborne5. Campbell6. Scott7. Pickett8. Fentress9. White10. Grundy11. Bledsoe12. Rhea13. Lewis14. Van Buren

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For some large fishing tournaments, Dayton visitors must walk across U.S. Highway 27 to access Lake Chickamauga. Dennis Tumlin, executive director of Rhea County’s Economic and Tourism Council, is applying for grants to construct pedestrian access to the lake underneath the highway. The plan would also increase the town’s walkability as a whole. “Picture Chattanooga’s Riverwalk,” Tumlin said.

DAYTON, Tenn. – When Gabe Keen posed for photos with the state-record largemouth bass here in February, the caption could have said, “Dennis Tumlin called it.”

Tumlin, Rhea County’s director of economic and tourism development, had insisted that signs be posted at Lake Chickamauga touting it as “Home of the next state-record bass.”

After reeling in his 15-pound, 2-ounce catch, Keen scratched through the word “next” and wrote “new” on a sign. It was one man’s endorsement that Tumlin and Dayton Mayor Gary Louallen have put their efforts in the right place by tapping into the bass fishing industry.