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 | |
| Location | Fayette County, Tennessee, United States |
| Coordinates | 35°08′01″N 89°37′16″W / 35.1336°N 89.6211°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 4,950 feet (1,510 m) |
| Max. width | 2,400 feet (730 m) |
| Surface area | 177 acres (72 ha) |
| Surface elevation | 384 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
- ^ FishingWorks.com. "Herb Parsons Lake Fishing, Fayette County TN". Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d Kirk, Don (2013). Flyfisher's Guide to Tennessee. Wilderness Adventures Press. p. 352. ISBN 1932098968.
- ^ a b c Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. "Herb Parsons Lake". Archived from the original on 31 January 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ a b Western Tennessee Fishing Map Guide. Sportsman's Connection. 2016. p. 74. ISBN 1885010702.
- ^ TAR: Tennessee Administrative Register, Volume 12, Issues 1-6. Tennessee State Dept. 1986. p. 65.
- ^ a b Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. "Joel Herbert "Herb" Parsons". Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ a b Parsons, H. Lynn; Parsons, Jerry M. (2009). Showman Shooter: The Life and Times of Herb Parsons. p. 458. ISBN 1605857238.
- ^ a b "Fisherville Lake in Fayette County Gets New Name Today—Herb Parsons Lake". The Commercial Appeal. 26 July 1964.
- ^ Fishbrain. "Herb Parsons Lake". Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ MTBProject.com. "Herb Parsons Lake Trail". Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ "Exploring Herb Parsons Lake Trail". Choose901. 31 October 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
External links
- Herb Parson Lake - TWRA Family Fishing Lakes
- Herb Parsons, the "Showman Shooter"
- Government EPA
- Herb Parson Lake Topography Map