Localwaters

Nickajack Lake also known as Nickajack Reservoir extends 46 miles upstream from the dam to Chickamauga Dam. The reservoir offers wide expanses of water and the spectacular scenery of the Tennessee River Gorge, known as the Grand Canyon of Tennessee.

Boat-launching ramps and fishing berms are located on both sides of the river below the dam, and a concrete fishing pier with footbridges and a wheelchair ramp is available. TVA camping and picnicking facilities are also available.

Between late April and early October, nearby Nickajack Cave serves as habitat for roosting gray bats, an endangered species. At dusk, the sky is darkened as thousands of bats emerge from the mouth of the cave.

Nickajack is the sixth step in the stairway of TVA reservoirs and locks that carry barges up and down the Tennessee River. Some of the commodities passing through the Nickajack lock are grain, pulpwood, wood chips, soybean oil, salt, petroleum, steel products, and coal.

Construction of Nickajack Dam began in 1964 and was completed in 1967. The dam is 81 feet high and stretches 3,767 feet across the Tennessee River.

Nickajack Dam is a hydroelectric facility. It has four generating units with a net dependable capacity of 105 megawatts. Net dependable capacity is the amount of power a dam can produce on an average day, minus the electricity used by the dam itself.

Nickajack has 179 miles of shoreline and 10,370 acres of water surface.

At the construction of Nickajack Dam and its 600-foot lock, the foundation for an 800-foot lock was also built, to be completed at a later date when the need arises.

The 110- by 600-foot lock now in operation can lift as many as nine of today’s large barges at a time.

Courtesy of TVA

Localwaters note: Nickajack Lake has many (mis) spellings; sometimes known as Nick a Jack Lake or reservoir, also known as Nicka Jack Lake Reservoir and often Lake Nickajack. Nickajack is a popular lake and widely known because of the I-24 Rest Stop on an island located where the Sequatchie Valley intersects the Tennessee River in a particularly beautiful setting and an interesting geological feature. Nickajack cave with it’s intriguing history is located nearby.

Nickajack Lake is home to the long standing world record for freshwater drum. It was caught by Benny Hull on April 20, 1972. The fish weighed in at an amazing  54-pounds and  8-ounces. In addition to Nicajack’s world record drum Tennessee holds two other world records; Dale Hollow Lake’s world record for smallmouth bass and Old Hickory/Cumberland River’s world record for walleye.

Please consider showing your appreciation of Nickajack Lake by picking up some litter during your next visit, many hands make light work.