All the equipment in the world does little good if you can’t find the fish.
Luckily, Chattanooga is home to an abundance of fishing opportunities, thanks in part to Tennessee Valley Authority’s tracking of wildlife conditions in the water and the periodic stocking of sport fish.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency regularly stocks streams with trout, says Mark Thurman, Region 3 fisheries manager for the wildlife education and management organization.
According to TWRA’s website, 325,000 9- to 12-inch trout are stocked yearly across the state between February and October. The best fishing can be found in stocked streams from February until the summer heat drives them elsewhere in search of cooler waters.
If you’re in search of a superb new spot on your own, there are several key factors you can use to determine how successful you’ll be, Thurman says.