Reelfoot Lake

Yesteryears

Are you Stumped?

THESE PICTURES WERE TAKEN IN 1910 SUPPOSEDLY TO PROVE THAT REELFOOT LAKE WASN’T A NAVIGABLE BODY OF WATER, WHICH AS YOU SEE IS NOT. 

HOWEVER, THESE STUMPS ARE STILL THERE TODAY, BUT ARE NOW BELOW THE WATERS SURFACE.  FISHERMEN LOOK FOR THESE STUMPS TO FISH AROUND BECAUSE MOST ARE HOLLOW AND CRAPPIE, CATFISH & BASS BED UP INSIDE THEM. THEY QUIETLY TROLL UP TO THEM AND JIG AROUND THE STUMP. 

Fish Tales

THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN IN FRONT OF MY PLACE WHERE THERE USE TO BE A BOAT LANDING. YEARS AGO MISS NANNY & MR. RED BOYETTE WHO WAS THE OWNERS OF MY PLACE AND THE FAMOUS BOYETTE’S DINING ROOM NEXT DOOR TO ME. AS YOU CAN SEE THIS WAS A PLACE TO SIT AND WILE AWAY THE DAY BRAGGING ABOUT THEIR DAYS CATCH. I SURE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HEARD THEIR TALES, A MANY OF BOOKS COULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN I AM SURE.

Judy Capps (owner)

Bill Reed

Bill Reed

BILL REED FROM SAMBURG, TN. WAS A REELFOOT LAKE GUIDE & A COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN. LOOK IN BACKGROUND AT ALL THE STUMPS WHICH ARE EITHER GONE OR UNDER WATER . SOME OF THE BEST FISHING IN THOSE DAY WERE TO JIG AROUND THOSE STUMPS WITH A CANE POLE. TO THE RIGHT YOU WILL SEE A NUMBER OF BOATS TIED TOGETHER & UNCLE BILL REED SITTING BACK AND ENJOYING THE RIDE. IN THEIR DAY THERE WERE NO MOTORS JUST OARS FOR THOSE WHO DIDN’T HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY ONE. SO SOMEONE WOULD GO OUT THE PULL THE GUIDES IN AND I AM SURE IT WAS A WELCOME SITE AFTER OARING ALL OVER THE LAKE. IF YOU WILL LOOK ABOVE THAT PICTURE YOU WILL SEE A GUIDE USING A PUSH POLE.

Judy Capps (owner)

BILL REED FROM SAMBURG, TN. WAS A REELFOOT LAKE GUIDE & A COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN. LOOK IN BACKGROUND AT ALL THE STUMPS WHICH ARE EITHER GONE OR UNDER WATER . SOME OF THE BEST FISHING IN THOSE DAY WERE TO JIG AROUND THOSE STUMPS WITH A CANE POLE. TO THE RIGHT YOU WILL SEE A NUMBER OF BOATS TIED TOGETHER & UNCLE BILL REED SITTING BACK AND ENJOYING THE RIDE. IN THEIR DAY THERE WERE NO MOTORS JUST OARS FOR THOSE WHO DIDN’T HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY ONE. SO SOMEONE WOULD GO OUT THE PULL THE GUIDES IN AND I AM SURE IT WAS A WELCOME SITE AFTER OARING ALL OVER THE LAKE. IF YOU WILL LOOK ABOVE THAT PICTURE YOU WILL SEE A GUIDE USING A PUSH POLE.

Bill Reed

The Leonard Family

The Leonard Family

LEXIE AND DOBIE LEONARD WITH A BOAT LOAD OF FISH. THEY WERE COMMERCIAL FISHING FOR CATFISH AND BUFFALO THIS IS WHEN THE RESTAURANTS WERE USING ALL THE CATFISH THE FISHERMEN COULD CATCH TO SERVE.

SITTING ON THE BOAT (MR. LEXIE LEONARD) STANDING WITH CAN IN HAND IS (MR. LEWIS LEONARD) SITTING ON THE PIER IS MR. HENRY LEONARD.

SITTING ON THE BOAT (MR. LEXIE LEONARD) STANDING WITH CAN IN HAND IS (MR. LEWIS LEONARD) SITTING ON THE PIER IS MR. HENRY LEONARD.