What lakes in E. TN don't turn to mud flats in winter?

[wiredmommy]

Thank you so much An Einnseanair for explaining that so thoroughly.

I did actually look at the TVA app with lake levels, but I didn’t understand it.

If you don’t mind me asking, since you seem very knowledgeable, what would be your top lake picks for someone who wants to have a long boating season and who would lake that has a vibrant, nice culture - not a lake full of rich, snobby old farts but not a party lake either?

Thanks!

[Barking Spider]

Douglass Lake is the only lake I know of that runs into a mud flat in places

[An Einnseanair]

@wiredmommy my knowledge is more about TVA's system than any specific lake culture. I've been on a boat on Chickamauga Lake (just east of Chattanooga) a grand total of 3 times, and Nickajack maybe 3 times. Once through the Chickamauga lock.

You said East Tennessee, so starting at Nickajack.

Nickajack: West of Chattanooga. Little variation in elevation near the dam, but the elevation at the eastern end of the gorge section can go up or down quite a bit depending on releases at Chickamauga. Not enough for mud flats, but it might flood your yard/dock. The current is definitely a "river" and not a "lake" during high water events. VERY narrow, so the wake from commercial traffic can be a factor. No real inlets or bays except for Rankin Cove and Bennet Hollow. VERY limited road access. There's a road, but it takes a long long time to get to some parts of the lake. This lake crosses time zones, with the eastern part in Central, western part in Eastern.

Chickamauga: East of Chattanooga. Significant winter/summer elevation change. Lots of inlets and bays, probably each with their own "culture", some are mudflats in the winter. Lots of summer boating traffic from Chattanooga. Includes the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge (famous for sandhill cranes), and the Hiwassee River arm. Above the Hiwassee it is more of a river. Both Sequoyah and Watts Bar nuclear plants are on this lake.

Watts Bar: Not near anything, little town of Spring City. I've never been on the water, but I've been to the dam a few times. Looks interesting, with tons of inlets, bays, islands, etc. I see a LOT of lake communities along the shore.

I don't know anything about the lakes farther east.