Warren County has added another nickname.
“The Nursery Capital of the World” may now also be known as the “Home of Southern Musky.” A resolution honoring the county as the “Home of Southern Musky” passed the full Warren County Commission on Monday night.
Commissioners Pee Wee Hill and Dwight O’Neal had a resolution drawn to recognize Warren County as the Home of Southern Musky.
O’Neal read Resolution 25-2014 which states, “Whereas, the muskellunge, a fish commonly known as the musky, is native to waterways of the Cumberland Plateau including the Collins River and its tributaries; and whereas, the waters of the Collins River and its tributaries in Warren County provide an ideal natural hatchery and habitat for musky; and whereas, the Collins River has become a premier destination for musky fly fishing, gaining the reputation as being the Southernmost trophy musky fishery in the United States and drawing anglers from across the United States and Canada” Warren County should be recognized as the Home of Southern Musky.
O’Neal said during an interview with the Standard, “People come from states all around to fish our musky. Many Southern fishing magazines have been touting the Collins River musky already. One of the best musky fishing tournaments around is held here. There were 17 states represented at the last tournament. Being raised here, we take for granted the river. The people attending these tournaments go on and on about the beauty of our waterways and our natural area’s beauty.”
According to the resolution, “The Musky Fly Fishing World Championship, also referred to as the Southern Classic, has been the subject of articles featured in numerous magazines including ‘This is Fly,’ ‘Southern Culture on the Fly,’ and ‘Musky Hunter,’ and will be featured in an upcoming issue of ‘American Angler.’”
 Musky fly fishing on the Collins River in Warren County was also featured on an episode of The Outdoor Channel’s “Fly Fish T.V.”
Warren County’s musky fly fishing can be found in the book “The 25 Best Places to Fly Fish for Musky.” The upcoming book, “The 25 Best Places to Fly Fish in the South,” also includes a portion devoted to the Collins River in Warren County.
“The tournament has a 50-inch limit and the musky must be caught on a fly rod. That takes skill,” said O’Neal.
The proposed resolution passed the county unanimously 20-0. Commissioners Ken Martin, Gary Prater, Kenneth Rogers and Les Trotman were absent.