Tennessee Waters Attract National Boating

Monday March 01, 2004

TOWNSEND, Tenn. -- Ed Owen’s home is floating on a lake. He and his wife live on their houseboat, the "Lady J," in Tellico Harbor Marina, near the Townsend, Tenn. area. "It’s like a house, but set up a little bit differently," said Owen. "We carry our own water, produce our own electricity." The Owens have been navigating their home on the Tennessee waters for nearly four years. Across from their slip, a couple from Wisconsin docks after guiding their boat to these waters. "People from all over the country use the waterways to navigate to this area," said Owen. "Two of my neighbors boated from here to Canada and back." The Little Tennessee watershed covers 2,700 square miles of land. The lake on the watershed nearest to Townsend is Chilhowee Lake. Chilhowee Lake is perhaps one of the most beautiful lakes on the river. The lake is more shallow, though, than the other lakes as its depth sometimes just reaches seven feet. The mountain air seems to carry into these waters as it tends to be a little colder than its counter parts. This doesn’t seem to bother the locals though, they still recreate on this nine mile lake. Fisherman find these waters filled with "honey holes" where the fish are abundant. "The fishermen encourage newcomers on the lakes, as long as they don’t ask where the honeyholes are," said Herb Handly, executive vice president of tourism at the Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau. "It’s a little harder to get onto Chilhowee, though, but the view and fishing are worth it." Other lakes of the Little River include Fontana, Tellico and Fort Loudoun. These lakes range from 27 to 60 miles long. There is abundant fishing in all lakes in the watershed, which hold bass, crappie, blue gill and trout among other species. "People fish, boat, ski and cliff dive in the lakes of the Little River," said Owen. "The Sequoyah Museum even has a dock on the river." From the waters are breathtaking views of tree-covered mountains and reminders of the Townsend area’s rich heritage. Boaters can see an Indian burial ground and the restored Fort Loudoun, a fort used in the Revolutionary War, from the Little River. Boaters can rent transient slips from Tellico Harbor Marina for approximately $20 a night, depending on the size of the boat. The marina is full-service with a 25-ton travel lift. For more information on Tellico Harbor Marina, please call Tom Peterson, manager, at (865) 856-6806. For more information on the lakes of the Little Tennessee River, please call the Tennessee Valley Authority, Lenoir City office, at (865) 988-2420 or contact the Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-525-6834 or 865-448-6134, or visit the web site at http://www.smokymountains.org. Lake specifications are attached.

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