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Reelfoot Lake Bass Club
The Reelfoot Lake Bass Club was formed in the 1970s and ranks
among the oldest clubs in Tennessee. Today, there are 18-20
active members, mostly from Obion County, Tennessee, located
near the northwest corner of Tennessee and the lake that gives
the club its name.
But in addition to fishing the five-mile long Reelfoot, which
was formed by a series of earthquakes in the early 1800s, club
members also list Kentucky and Barkley reservoirs on the tourney
annual schedule.
Club members typically fish eight club events in a year, with
a year-ending club Classic.
Reelfoot Lake Bass Club also boasts a Junior Bass Club that
has about 20 youths in it.
The juniors fish an entirely different schedule, with a few
exceptions where senior club members participate in
junior-senior tourneys.
“Typically, in these events, we have one adult member and two
juniors. The juniors get to catch and weigh three fish, while
the adult can add two to the total,” said club member Jamin
Barker.
Over the years Reelfoot Lake members have helped the
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency with various conservation
projects on the lake. Members have also hosted benefit
tournaments including the annual Fred Z. Wiles Memorial
Tournament. This event has been held for nearly 10 years to
honor a longtime member and gather donations for Wiles’ widow
and family.
The Reelfoot Junior Club also hosts and annual bream tournament.
This is a fun event and is certainly held in a good locale — in
addition to great bass fishing, Reelfoot is also well known for
monster bluegill.
Also, for the juniors, the area’s bass guides annually host a
day, just to take the junior anglers out on the lake. It is a
great learning experience, and is good for the community as
well.
“Our club is best described as laid back and there is a lot
of fellowship. We share information and help each other. And I
really think that shows, for example when we compete in the
state tournament. We have some older anglers as members, but
with the growth of our Junior Club, younger members have come
along as well,” Barker said.
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