ATHENS, AL — A bill that would allow commercial fishermen to use nets on the Tennessee River has passed the Alabama House of Representatives.

The Senate has to pass the bill for it to become a law.

Some are concerned it would threaten the booming bass population, and have a negative impact on recreational fishing.

This bill originally allowed commercial fishermen to catch bass in nets.

The version that just passed through the House has an amendment that prohibits them catching bass, but there are still some concerns with opponents of the bill.

The use of nets on the Tennessee River's Alabama territory was banned in 1975, but the ban has been enforced more in the past few years.

Recreational anglers say they've seen a resurgence of bass in the river in that time. They organize hundreds of bass tournaments a year.

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