<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3qOV0o_0vl6RsRd00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3qOV0o_0vl6RsRd00" width="1320" height="743" >CHATTANOOGA, Tenn — If you want to go fishing next year, it could cost you a bit more.That's as the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency proposed this week to raise license fees across the state.Thursday we share why some say this increase is needed.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3uiDMX_0vl6RsRd00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3uiDMX_0vl6RsRd00" width="648" height="365" ><figcaption>TWRA Major C.J. Jaynes says the Hiwassee is a premier trout stream offering quality fish that often surprise anglers. (Photo: Richard Simms)</figcaption></figure>Some fees, like boating registration, could see a 22% increase.But the majority of hunting and fishing licenses could also go up 28%.<blockquote>"We need a more sustainable funding model, we cannot continue the way we are now without taking some action."</blockquote>The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is proposing a license fee increase due to their $8 million dollar deficit and increasing inflation.TWRA director of communications and marketing Emily Buck tells us...<blockquote>"We have seen a dramatic increase in all of the costs of doing business to be able to put wildlife conservation work on the ground and provide public access for hunting and fishing."</blockquote>We posted a Facebook poll about the increase, where 84 percent of voters said they disagree with it.But some say its necessary.Steve Sadler spends his mornings fishing from the Tennessee Riverpark.<blockquote>"I don't think they should, because the parents need to be able to afford children's license so they can go out and go fishing."</blockquote>We took his concern to TWRA.<blockquote>"For our youth, we're actually increasing the privileges that a youth license allows," Buck says.</blockquote><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=20wI2h_0vl6RsRd00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=20wI2h_0vl6RsRd00" width="648" height="365" ><figcaption>TWRA file photo.</figcaption></figure>Fishing charter operator Tic Smith says he believes that a strong TWRA leads to an even stronger economy for Chattanooga.<blockquote>"I don't want a TWRA that's strapped for money, just like I don't want a police force or a fire department strapped for money."</blockquote>Smith says he has seen the agency come to the rescue in the most crucial of times.<blockquote>"You know this spring we had a horrible event on Tennessee River, Chickamauga Lake with a fish kill, a mystery fish kill. Well, who was out there doing the research trying to figure it out? It was TWRA. That cost money."</blockquote>TWRA says they are legally allowed to increase fees by 31 percent, but they chose to keep most of the license increases to around 20 percent.They'll vote on the increase in December.</div></body>

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Tennessee anglers mixed on proposed TWRA license fee increases, agency cites rising costs

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn — If you want to go fishing next year, it could cost you a bit more. That's as the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency proposed this week to raise license fees across the state. Thursday we share why some say this increase is needed. Some fees, like boating...