TVA temporarily bans fishing below Pickwick dam

Feb. 25– If you’re thinking of going fishing just below Pickwick Dam on March 2-3, think again.

The Tennessee Valley Authority is closing the fishing area on the Savannah side of the dam from the TVA campground boat ramp to the powerhouse.

TVA spokesman Travis Brickey said there will be no boating, or fishing from shore, in the affected area between the hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for safety reasons.

Weather permitting, a helicopter will lifting 18 insulators dating to the 1950s from the top of the powerhouse, he said.

Each insulator stands 6 feet tall, is 18 inches in diameter and weighs 590 pounds.

An access road from Tenn. 128 to the powerhouse facility is also to be blocked.

Both the road and fishing "will reopen when they finish flying for the day. It will not be closed for the night," said Brickey.

Traffic on Tenn. 128 across the dam should not be disrupted.