Fishing Returns to Hyde Lake

Area fishing enthusiasts will once again be able to fish in Shelby Farms Park’s iconic Hyde Lake beginning July 13.  Fishing was suspended from the lake, which was expanded from 52 acres to almost 80 acres in 2016, to allow the fish to mature enough to support the sport.   The stocking plan was initially expected to take three years, but a healthy fish environment was established sooner, allowing fishing to return a year earlier than anticipated.  Fishing can help manage and improve the lake’s ecology as well as develop and protect the fishing habitat.

Fishing will be allowed from the shore in designated areas along the south side of the lake.  If fishing on the water, visitors must be in non-motorized crafts and are encouraged to be aware of nearby canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards when casting.  Maps showing designated fishing areas are available on the Park’s website and in the Visitor Center.

“We value our fishing community,”  says Jen Andrews, CEO, Shelby Farms Park Conservancy. “While the Park includes many lakes and ponds that are available for fishing, Hyde Lake has been a popular spot for local fishermen for years.  We are excited to welcome them back to this special lake.”

Hyde Lake is home to bass, catfish, bream, bluegill and buffalo fish.    All fish that are caught in Hyde Lake must be kept with the exception of carp which must be returned to the water.

There are no fees to fish at Shelby Farms Park, but a valid Tennessee fishing license is required. For more information on fishing in Hyde Lake as well as in the other lakes in the Park, visit www.shelbyfarmspark.org/fishing.  For information on how to purchase a fishing license, fishing license qualifications, creel limits and safety regulations, visit www.tn.gov/twra.