Smallmouth Bass Conservation in Tennessee: Combatting Invasive Species

Managing Invasive Threats and Preserving Trophy Fishing on Kentucky Lake

Kentucky Lake — spanning Tennessee and Kentucky — is one of the region’s most celebrated bass fishing destinations. But as the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) reveals in this film, its future depends on proactive conservation. During a Bill Dance Signature Lakes event, TWRA biologists are working behind the scenes to monitor an emerging threat: the spread and hybridization of invasive Alabama bass with native smallmouth populations.

To protect smallmouth bass conservation in Tennessee, TWRA conducts genetic testing on fish caught during tournaments to identify hybrids that may not show visible signs. “You have to go back in the lab,” Tom Miles, Geneticist at Tennessee Tech, explains, “to see if there was hybridization further back down the line.” Alongside this fieldwork, hatchery programs are producing hundreds of thousands of Florida bass each year, helping sustain trophy fishing opportunities statewide. Without that income from anglers, conservation work would suffer. With passionate staff, strong partnerships, and science-led strategies, TWRA is working to keep these waters healthy, competitive, and ecologically balanced for future generations.