|
Center Hill Lake Center Hill is a very scenic lake. The “Hill” is 64 miles long with 18,220 acres of surface area at summer pool and 415 miles of shoreline. The upper area of the lake has a depth of 37 feet and a depth over 150 feet near the dam. The Hill is famous for its smallmouth bass, but the walleye is gaining on the smallie’s reputation. Largemouth bass and spotted bass have very strong populations also. You can’t beat the bream action in the summer on the Hill. Stripe and catfish are in excellent supply. In general, the Hill is a good fishery for most gamefish. The upper end of this highland hill lake is riverlike from Great Falls Dam down to Davies Island, about two-thirds the length of the lake. Its feeder creeks do not have large areas of backwater but have deep channels. In early spring the upper end contains the spawning grounds for walleye and stripe. Smallies, largemouth, and spotted bass are caught with regularity along the Caney Fork River channel and in the feeder creeks. The six miles to Big Hurricane Creek from Davies Island is the short midsection where the lake noticeably widens. Depending upon the creek size, the backwater may extend from two to five miles. Some anglers consider the area the “honey hole” of the lake. All prevalent gamefish species are here in abundance. Big Hurricane Creek to the dam is the widest and deepest area with steep bluffs, points, humps, gravel bars, and larger areas of backwater in the creeks. This is the area to find summer walleye. Smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass are caught here with regularity, as are big bluegill. There are eighteen launching ramps, seven marinas, nine recreational areas, and three state parks on the lake. There are numerous baitshop-markets around the lake from Rock Island Market at the upper end to Big Rock Market near the dam. The lake is only minutes away from Cookeville, Lebanon, Smithville, McMinnville, Sparta, and Carthage, and an hour east of Nashville via I-40. Center Hill Lake is blessed with a great many feeder creeks. The main tributary is the Caney Fork River; other major streams are Sink Creek, Pine Creek, Fall Creek, Eagle Creek, Falling Water River, Hurricane Creek, Mine Lick Creek, Holmes Creek, and Indian Creek. Taken from “Two Dozen Fishin’ Holes-A Guide to Middle Tennessee” By Vernon Summelin/Rutledge Hill Press
|
|