TWRA - Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Norris Lake Fishery Advisory Committee Update - 2013

A community-based group of advisors to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission on fishery management issues for Norris Lake.
Comprised of 5 sub-groups: Tennessee Sportsman’s Association (TSA), Tennessee Striped Bass Association (TSBA), non-affiliated anglers, county government, and businesses associated with Norris. Each sub-group has equal numbers of 4-5 members.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency acts as advisors to the committee and reports annually on achieving goals set forth by the committee.
NLFAC was founded in 1998 to resolve long-running controversies surrounding TWRA’s management of Norris Lake’s sport fisheries and striped bass stocking.
NLFAC provides a non-political, consensus-based system for sport fish management and balanced conflict resolution between user groups.

Approved a management plan in 1999 that provided for sustaining all sport fish species in the lake.
Provided revised striped bass stocking rates in accordance to a scientific study that determined the overstocking of striped bass may upset trophic dynamics within the sport fish community.
Requested and revised stocking rates for walleye and crappie.
Achieved its goals for improved angler catch rates and harvest for almost all sportfish species.
Increased the number of larger-sized smallmouth bass in Norris Lake by raising the minimum size limit to 18-inches.