Herb Parsons Lake

Herb Parsons Lake is a reservoir[1][2] lake located in Fayette County, Tennessee[3] near the town of Collierville[4] in neighboring Shelby County. It is owned and operated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency,[5] and is named after Herb Parsons, a famed exhibition shooter from the county.[6][7] The lake is known primarily for its fishing, hiking and bicycle trails, and wildlife. Its facilities include a boat launching ramp, fish attractors, handicapped accessible fishing pier, bait and tackle, rental boats, and concessions.[2][3]

Herb Parsons Lake
Herb Parsons Lake in autumn
Herb Parsons Lake
Herb Parsons Lake
LocationFayette County, Tennessee, United States
Coordinates35.1336°N 89.6211°W / 35.1336; -89.6211
TypeReservoir
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length4,950 feet (1,510 m)
Max. width2,400 feet (730 m)
Surface area177 acres (72 ha)
Surface elevation384 ft (117 m)

History

Herb Parsons Lake, originally known as Fisherville Lake after nearby Fisherville, was opened to the public on July 1, 1954. It was built as a reservoir by the Tennessee Game and Fish Commission of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency in the early 1950s.[8] After Herb Parsons, a renowned local exhibition shooter, died in 1959, the Commission moved to rename the lake in his honor.[7] The change was made official on July 26, 1964.[6][8]

Features

Fish and wildlife

The array of fish of Herb Parsons Lake includes largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and redear sunfish, as well as blue, channel and bullhead catfish.[3][4] The most commonly caught of these are the largemouth bass, blue catfish, and channel catfish,[9] although most of the fishing pressure is directed toward largemouth bass alone.[2] A cove on the southern side of the lake is home to beaver dams.[10]

Trails

Multiple, sometimes overlapping trails encircle Herb Parsons Lake.[2] A bike trail of hard-packed silt and clay stretches through the woods for 9.7 miles.[11] A shorter walking trail of seven miles features signs that denote the species of trees around the lake.[12]

References
  1. FishingWorks.com. "Herb Parsons Lake Fishing, Fayette County TN". Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  2. Kirk, Don (2013). Flyfisher's Guide to Tennessee. Wilderness Adventures Press. p. 352. ISBN 1932098968.
  3. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. "Herb Parsons Lake". Archived from the original on 31 January 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  4. Western Tennessee Fishing Map Guide. Sportsman's Connection. 2016. p. 74. ISBN 1885010702.
  5. TAR: Tennessee Administrative Register, Volume 12, Issues 1-6. Tennessee State Dept. 1986. p. 65.
  6. Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. "Joel Herbert "Herb" Parsons". Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  7. Parsons, H. Lynn; Parsons, Jerry M. (2009). Showman Shooter: The Life and Times of Herb Parsons. p. 458. ISBN 1605857238.
  8. "Fisherville Lake in Fayette County Gets New Name Today—Herb Parsons Lake". The Commercial Appeal. 26 July 1964.
  9. Fishbrain. "Herb Parsons Lake". Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  10. "TWRA Bass Lakes You Don't Want to Miss". Game & Fish Magazine. 4 October 2010. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  11. MTBProject.com. "Herb Parsons Lake Trail". Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  12. "Exploring Herb Parsons Lake Trail". Choose901. 31 October 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
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