Tennessee governor, Bill Lee, along with bass fishing legend, Bill Dance, announced this month “The Bill Dance Signature Lakes” project. The initiative is slated to begin 2022 and be completed by the end of 2024. This will be a huge project for Tennessee anglers to rejoice in. Thanks to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and the Tennessee State Government the initiative will invest $15 million dollars in improvements to 18 carefully selected lakes that bear fishing legend Bill Dance’s stamp of approval. This initiative will focus on increased stocking, habitat, and fisheries management, as well as improved access to fishing and boating.
“The Bill Dance Signature Lakes highlights the importance of lakeside tourism with premier fishing opportunities and we believe this project is especially important as communities recover from the recent storms.” “Bill Dance is a tremendous advocate for our Tennessee rural communities and we are thrilled to partner with him.” said Governor Bill Lee.
“I’m unbelievably humbled and excited to be involved in such a helpful project that will benefit so many people and our natural resources in my great home state of Tennessee.” “You can bet your favorite lure this project will definitely have a ripple effect for a mighty long time, not only giving the weekend fisherman but tournament anglers a wonderful fishery as well, thanks to the great state of Tennessee and my friends at TWRA.” said Bill Dance
The lakes that will be revitalized by this project are as follows:
- 1000 Acre Lake, Huntington, TN (Carroll County)
- Brown’s Creek Lake, Natchez Trace (Henderson County)
- Chickamauga Lake, Harrison Bay State Park & Chester Frost Park (Hamilton County, Rhea County, Meigs County, McMinn County and Bradley County)
- Dale Hollow Lake, North Central TN (Clay County, Pickett County, Fentress County and Overton County)
- Douglas Lake, East TN (Jefferson County, Sevier County and Cocke County)
- Fall Creek Falls Lake, Fall Creek Falls State Park (Van Buren County)
- Herb Parsons Lake (Fayette County)
- Kentucky Lake, Paris Landing State Park (Henry County, Stewart County, Houston County, Benton County, Decatur County, Perry County and Humphreys County)
- Lake Acorn, Montgomery Bell State Park (Dickson County)
- Lake Woodhaven, Montgomery Bell State Park (Dickson County)
- Norris Lake, Northeast TN (Anderson County, Campbell County, Claiborne County, Grainger County and Union County)
- Old Hickory Lake, Middle TN (Sumner and Davidson Counties)
- Pickwick Lake, Pickwick Landing State Park (Hardin County)
- Pin Oak Lake, Natchez Trace State Park (Henderson County)
- Reelfoot Lake, Reelfoot Lake State Park (Lake County and Obion County)
- Tim’s Ford Lake, Tim’s Ford State Park (Franklin County and Moore County)
- Travis McNatt Lake, Big Hill Pond State Park (McNairy County)
- Watauga Lake, Northeast TN (Johnson and Carter Counties)
As an angler that has personally fished 4 of the 18 “Signature Lakes” I am truly excited about this for many reasons. Those 4 lakes were proven world class fisheries already, but with this initiative’s efforts they will truly be pieces of Heaven right here on Earth. It all starts with access, because it doesn’t matter how great a fishery is if you can’t get to it. The initiative will focus on providing new or upgraded best-in-class ramps to improve public access for both recreational and tournament anglers. After access it is all about the fishing. Lakes proven to be great fisheries can get better. With this initiative focusing above and below the water the quality of fishing at these 18 lakes will be like no other. The impact doesn’t stop there. This will also help promote the communities surrounding these elite lakes. As well as laying a blue print in which other states should surely follow. This sport we love just got a huge pebble thrown into the waters of its future, and this angler and advocate is truly excited to see the ripples.