Dayton, a small Tennessee town, has had a difficult time recovering from the recent recession.
However, one thing is helping buoy Dayton: bass fishing. The small Tennessee town of 7,200 is turning out to be a big draw for bass fishing tournaments. That's because it boasts one of the best bass fishing lakes in the South.
Chickamauga Lake offers more than 50 miles of hot bass action. Today, bass tourneys are giving the small Tennessee town a much-needed infusion of money.
Dennis Tumlin, the head of Rhea County's economic and tourism council says fishing brought around $14 million into Dayton last year.
The town can thank Mayor Gary Louallen for the economic turnaround. When he was elected, he saw the potential windfall fishing could bring to the area. He convinced the town council to promote Dayton's fishing draw.
The Tennessee town started hosting bass fishing tournaments in 2014. The draw translates into about $1,100 spent a week by each angler.
And Tumlin sees the tournaments as just a first step in Dayton's recovery and growth.
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