It's hard to believe that it's been nearly 10 years since the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) enforced a closure of a section of water near the dam on Cherokee Lake to protect the striper population during the heat of summer. The Agency said this August, studies will be conducted on striped bass location and the use of that portion of the lake that has been closed over the past decade to fishing from a boat during summer months.

In order to protect Cherokee Lake's striped bass, TWRA enacted a 1,100 acre closed fishing zone adjacent to the dam in 2001. The zone is closed to fishing from boats from July 15 through Sept. 15.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) began using an oxygen diffuser system just upstream of Cherokee Dam in the mid-90s to improve dissolved oxygen levels in their tailwater releases. This system also created an ideal summer refuge for striped bass and by 2000, enough anglers had discovered the refuge that mortality due to catch and release fishing became an issue.

TVA installed a new diffuser system in 2005 and TWRA's striped bass stocking strategy has been changed significantly in recent years. In response to these changes, TWRA biologists with the help of local angers will re-evaluate the zone during August of 2010. The TWRA needs to determine the extent to which the refuge is being utilized by striped bass and how to best manage the refuge in the future.

The TWRA plans to create a detailed map of the current diffuser system using sonar and GPS units, determine the scope of the refuge area by taking numerous water quality profiles, and with the help of selected local anglers determine the distribution of striped bass within the closed zone.

Two angling surveys will be scheduled during August of this year. The date and time of the angling surveys will be determined once TVA's water release and oxygen diffuser schedules are known.

Forgive the redundancy but the TWRA also just officially reminded anglers of the above mentioned closure on Cherokee Lake. Here is how it's stood for the last decade. The Agency said anglers are reminded of a "fishing from a boat closure" in a section on the lower end of Cherokee Lake which is in effect from July 15 through Sept. 15.

The closure applies to a zone enclosed by lines from the TVA boat ramp at the south end of the dam across the lake to Point 2, from Point 2 to Point 3, and from Point 3 back across the lake to the TWRA boat ramp at the north end of the dam. A map of this zone can be found on page 21 of the 2010 Tennessee Fishing Guide.

All bank fishing will be open and the coves along the southeast shoreline will be open to fishing from a boat, but no fishing for any species will be allowed from a boat in the described zone from July 15 through Sept. 15.

This closure is necessary because of the excessive catch and release mortality on striped bass that was taking place in that section of the lake during the hot summer months. Even though the fish were being released, many were dying from stress.

The closure does not prohibit fishermen from transporting fish across the zone, which were caught in other portions of the lake. Fishing for striped bass and all other species remains open over the rest of Cherokee Lake.

You know hunting season is getting closer by the number of hunter education classes popping up. Dick Fawbush started one this week at First Baptist Church and a second one has been added in the upcoming weeks.

Tennessee law requires that anyone born on or after January 1, 1969, beginning at age 10 must possess proof of satisfactory completion of an approved hunter education course before hunting any species in Tennessee.

In order to enroll in a hunter education class, the student must be at least 9 years of age. Persons ages 6-9 may participate in Young Sportsman and WMA hunts without hunter education, but they must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age. Participants need to bring a pencil and their Social Security Number to class.

Greene County TWRA Wildlife Officer James McAfee has scheduled a hunter education class to begin at 5 p.m. on Aug. 2. The class will be held at the Clyde Austin 4-H Center. To pre-register, call 639-3811.

Just in case you do any deer hunting in the following two counties, you'll need to note this change. The TWRA recently completed some reorganization and two counties were moved to different regions. Monroe County was moved from Region IV to Region III and Scott County was moved from Region III to Region IV.

Here's something really neat for the young anglers out there. Under the tagline "Fish, Explore, Discover, Learn," the International Game Fish Association launched its new Junior Angler program July 15 with a brand new website full of pro fishing tips and tricks, species id, biological information on marine and aquatic animals, games, contests, photo galleries and videos.

The IGFA's Junior Angler and Smallfry World Records will also be featured - but every child will have the opportunity to brag about their catches, record or otherwise.

"The overall goal and mission of the IGFA's Junior Angler Program is to get more kids actively involved in recreational fishing activities," said IGFA Education Director Dave Matagiese. "By transitioning our Junior Angler Program into a free online membership format, thousands of children all over the world will be able to share photos and fishing stories with each other - connecting young anglers across lakes, streams and oceans."

The Junior Angler page will be accessible from www.igfa.org under the "Educate" tab.

Organizers said being digital and interactive are key new features of the IGFA's new Junior Angler program. Hoping to reach as many youths as possible, and with the support of Mercury Marine, Critter Control, Costa Del Mar, Rapala and TakeMeFishing.org, the IGFA is providing their wealth of resources to kids in a safe and easily-accessible venue and without charging a fee - a price point they said parents will appreciate. Another winning point with parents is the Junior Angler website's designation as a SafeSite, which means each child's information and experience is completely protected while he or she is online.

New Junior Angler members will also still receive many of the same great benefits they had in the past including free admission to the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum, discounts in the IGFA online store, free access to all of the IGFA Junior Angler World Records and much more. Combined with all the activities available on the website, the IGFA is offering plenty of ways to keep kids engaged in fishing all summer long - and all for free.