The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission (TWRC) approved the 2009 sport-fishing regulations during its regularly scheduled meeting Oct. 22-23 in Kingsport.

The new regulations go into effect on March 1.

Changes in the sport fishing regulations for Region I (West Tennessee) are as follows:

* Amended the proclamation to keep the smallmouth bass minimum length of 15 inches on Kentucky Lake.

* Established the crappie creel limit for waters in West Tennessee (Kentucky and Barkley Lakes and west to but excluding the Mississippi River) of 30 a day. The daily creel limit for crappie on the Mississippi River is 50 a day.

The TWRC also removed all wording in the proclamation regarding the use of a tooth patch for differentiating spotted bass from largemouth bass.

During the Oct. 22 committee meetings, the commission voted to keep the change to commercial fishing regulations that removed all seasons and size limits on paddlefish statewide. All gear and closed water regulations would remain in force. This change will become effective on Nov. 7.

The TWRC's next meeting will be held Nov. 19-20 in Nashville at the TWRA Region II Ray Bell Building.