SULLIVAN COUNTY, Tenn. – Stubborn rain failed to dampen the atmosphere Thursday as officials celebrated a new license giving Virginia and Tennessee residents equal access to fishing all of South Holston Lake.
“To be able to put these two states together, to equally enjoy the bounty of this lake, is a great occasion,” Ed Carter, executive director of Tennessee’s Wildlife Resources Agency, said during the morning ceremony at Observation Knob Park to officially sign the South Holston agreement.
Carter’s “two states, united by fish” theme was echoed by Charles Yates, outgoing chairman of Virginia’s Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
“This agreement is something the sportsmen of Tennessee and Virginia have desired for years,” Yates said. “We’ve put the sportsmen first.”
Under the agreement, which takes effect July 1, Virginia and Tennessee residents fishing at South Holston can buy a special fishing license for the lake, which runs across both states.
The special license will allow anglers to fish anywhere along South Holston for a uniform $21 fee.
Currently, rod-and-reelers in Virginia and Tennessee must either stick to their part of South Holston – or pay the other state’s nonresident license fee to fish on its side. In Tennessee, a nonresident fishing license can range from $9 to $81, depending on the person’s age and length of the license.
In Virginia, nonresidential fishing fees can range from $16 to $36.
The South Holston Reservoir area, which includes the lake, covers an estimated 7,580 acres. Most of those acres – more than 6,300 – are in Tennessee.
Numerous wildlife and elected officials attended Thursday’s ceremony, which was highlighted by Carter and Bob Duncan, executive director of Virginia’s Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, signing the lake agreement.
Virginia Delegate Joe Johnson, D-Abingdon, joked that he supported the special South Holston fishing permit because so many constituents complained that “all the big trout are on the Tennessee side” of the lake.
“They told me, ‘Don’t deny us the chance to get some of those big fish,’ ” Johnson said, drawing laughter from the crowd.
The new agreement updates one signed in 1982, which allowed people to fish both sides of South Holston, but required them to carry multiple licenses and pay fees that could add up.
Virginia state Sen. William Wampler, R-Bristol, said the new license agreement could lead to more joint efforts to boost South Holston Lake.
“This should only be the beginning,” Wampler said.
Numerous lakes across Tennessee will hold “Free Fishing Day” this Saturday – where people can fish without paying fees.
rbrown@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2512
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