History Lesson: How Reelfoot Lake Was Born

In this episode of Ten Minute Tuesday, the guys kick off Part 1 of the story of Reelfoot Lake, one of the most legendary places in American waterfowl hunting history. Before the duck calls, cypress trees, and famous hunting culture, there wasn’t really a lake at all. That changed during the massive New Madrid earthquakes of 1811 and 1812, when the ground shifted dramatically, drainage patterns changed, and water flooded into the newly lowered landscape.

The guys break down just how violent those earthquakes were, including eyewitness accounts of the Mississippi River temporarily appearing to run backward and sections of land dropping by several feet. From there, they look at how the new lake slowly developed into a waterfowl destination, eventually becoming known for huge numbers of ducks, unique hunting traditions, and its role in the early development of duck calling. As usual, the history lesson comes with plenty of side conversations—from trains and earthquakes to infrastructure, old American cities, and just how strange it would be to watch an entirely new lake form in real time.

This is only the beginning of the Reelfoot story. Part 2 continues next week, when the guys get into the Night Riders and the violent fight that erupted over who actually controlled the lake.

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