Watauga River a guide to catching Trout year round
The Watauga River in Carter County Tennessee was my “Home Water” for nearly 2 years. During this time I fly fished 3-5 times a week. I studied the river with great detail. From seasonality, flows, access points, flies and creating relationships with local fly shops (though it got expensive LOL). I mastered wading and fly fishing the Watauga and would catch 30 plus trout a day consistently.
In this blog I’ll explain and share my experiences with you so that you can catch plenty of fish on the Watauga River. This maybe a rather lengthy article but it will be worth your time to read the whole blog. The following will be covered to optimize your experience while fishing.
5 sections including
access points
water flows
Suggested gear and Flies
Tips
Guide Service
Lodging
5 Sections of the Watauga River
Wilbur Dam to Old Siam Bridge
This section as a wading area has a few positives and plenty of negatives. With huge fish it’s a great spot. Deep pools and long runs are along this stretch. A few deep canyons which provide shade. Can be hard to wade as the river bank does not have many fisherman trails. Trash and litter can get thick on busy weekends. Watch out for glass. Access…??
Access- The only place to park is at the dam itself. During the summer parking can be tight due to rafting companies and guides parking. There is NO parking for 2 plus miles until you get to the New Siam Bridge down river. If you plan on wading be prepared for a long walk. Also, the parking area by Wilbur Dam has limited hours. Don’t be locked in the gates. Accessing any other parts of this area is difficult at best.
Flows- There are advantages and disadvantages to the flows of fishing this stretch.
Advantages-You know when TVA is generating. Lights and sirens give you a warning. I have been caught wading in other places down stream when TVA had not published generation. Not fun or safe when I wading across the river with 1 or more generators operating unexpectedly. Fish are fairly large due to the dam flushing food continually. Not as many people fish this section because of access issues. Water temps seem to stay much more stable than down stream.
Disadvantages- First section to have rising waters when generation begins from TVA; giving you less time to fish. Guides and rafting companies constantly launching and fishing gets disrupted often.
Old Siam Bridge to New Siam Bridge
Though this one of the smaller sections of the Watauga, many fly fishermen like to fish this area. It was my go to spot for quick catches when I was tight on time. Up by the Old Bridge the waters are smooth as glass with deep troughs that can be on fire during the spawning season or in the last few moments of sunlight. The river narrows quickly creating deeper troughs and much more vegetation. It can get very dangerous when the waters begin to rise from TVA generation. Once you get closer to the new dam the water slows and gets deep. Drift boats usually float through quickly. But rafting companies jam up here and like to slap their paddles to stir up the birds living under the bridge. Great for bait fishing. Danger— Don’t get your feet tangled up. Anglers on bridge have a tendency to throw heavy weights and sometimes when their line breaks there is a lot of fishing line in the water. Expect to catch plenty of stocked Rainbows in the 9-13 inch range. And a few Rogue Brown Trout (12-16 inch range) make their ways into the troughs. During spawning this section can be stacked with both species in the small ripples near the old bridge. Be mindful of where you step as to not disrupt spawning beds (REDDS).
Access- This is the most heavily fished area on the river. With plenty of parking, a bridge and one of the main trout stocking section there is a lot of pressure on the fish. Expect a zoo after stocking, especially on the bridge and river bank (Solid and dry sections).
Flows- A good rule of thumb is you’ll have about 45 minutes of fishing after TVA generations have begun. This is a great time to fish this section because of the funneling of all the insects being concentrated in the troughs. Oxygen levels are fairly high because of the larger ripples and shade provided.A great place to fish during the heat of the summer.
New Siam Bridge to River Split
This area is highly congested. A “take out” and “put in” spot for guides, private kayaks and rafting companies begin to stage plus a ton of shore anglers. It gets slow almost still creating muddy wading. There are some deep troughs but can be hard to cast a fly at those distances. Best area for fish seems to be along the far side of the river on the cliffs. Midges and Squirmy Wormy with indicators are the game plan here. There are huge Brown Trout so expect to be broke off. Leaders should be 6x and tippet 3-6 feet long. Oxygen levels are minimal and during the summer trout migrate from this section.
Access- Wide open and easy to get in the water. Parking both at the bridge and at the take out point can be challenging on weekends. Try to find solid areas to wade. Muddy areas can get dangerous and you will sink into the muck quickly.
Flows- Because this area is very wide and deep fishing is consistent. Again, if TVA has not generated for a few days the oxygen levels drop quickly.
Island split to fast rapid Run
This section is productive always when no generation is happening. It has very high oxygen levels year round. Plenty of ripples, deep runs and pocket water. The seams are predictable and pocket water is well defined. The guides and rafting companies make their way quickly through here. One small place for guides to stop and take a break. The fish in this area of the Watauga River are aggressive toward flies and wet wading is great from March-November. As the river makes a split between the island fish tend to hold in the under-banks. The deeper part of the split holds a large population of Rainbows that chase olive streamer all the time. After the river goes into some rapids work the outside of the seams. Enormous Browns lurk this area for big flies and tiny midges. A great area to observe what the guides are doing. Many times the guides will tell you what the fish are using and share other tips with you.
Access- though the access and parking are really easy most fisherman bypass going a few hundred feet down stream to this area. That’s good news for you. Working your way back and forth across the river is easy but I highly suggest a wading staff or trekking pole.Light pressure and easily waded during 0 generators it is my second favorite part to catch trout.
Flows- taking about an hour before the water gets to high to wade it’s a great area. I would recommend getting back across the river about 10 minutes after the generators started though. I have nearly been stuck on the other side and once the water is at full flow it is deadly to cross. After generation has stopped this area becomes wading friendly pretty quickly.
Stoney Creek to Wahoo’s
This is my favorite and most productive area to fish the Watauga River. As Stoney Creek flows fresh water into the Watauga there is plenty of food and cool water year round. The section holds a high concentration of wild and stocked both Rainbows plus wild Browns. From seams and deep troughs, ripples and pocket water plus deep holes and sharp under-cut banks it has a variety of fishing water. My go to fly was size 14-16 Pheasant Tail on 20 inches of tippet. Casting is easy with no overhanging trees. I found casting and letting the fly make a full swing while pausing for 10 seconds trout would hit about every third cast (not exaggerating). Being a very wide area anglers and guide boats have more than enough room to fish together. During pre-spawn the fish are staging and stack up like logs.
Access- There are 2 places to get to the river. First is work your way down Stoney Creek itself until ir converges with the Watauga. A great area to catch smaller trout (6-15 inch) and have some shade during the heat of the day. However, during and after rains I would bypass this access because of muddy waters or flows were too fast to wade. Second access is through the Stoney Creek Trailer Park. The resident s for the most part are friendly towards fly fishermen. And occasionally the folks will share their secret spots of the Watauga. Be respectful as this is their property/neighborhood, always ask permission for river access if you see someone. Many times they’ll offer you to park in their driveways and believe me they are keeping an eye on your vechile (I have done so 125 plus times and never had an issue of theft). Also, the Volunteer Firehouse is a safe area to park and get quick access.
Flows- Very predictable. Wet wading and Dry wading are very easy depending on your comfort level. High water flow from the Wilbur Dam takes about an hour and a half before it gets dangerous. Tons of oxygen in the water and plenty cool water. Can get a little muddy near the confluence of Stoney Creek but clears up quickly. This section gets surprisingly deep at high water, don’t be stuck in the middle of the river.
Hunter Bridge to 19E
At this point the Watauga slows to a crawl with a few runs. Oxygen levels deplete quickly and waters warm up fast. For wading this is my least favorite, however guide love this area for monster browns. This is Zebra Midge fishing at it’s best. At Hunter bridge as well as the 19E bridge the TWRA stocks heavily and bait fisherman have high success. Which also leads to being fished out quickly.
Access- Very little areas to get on the water because of all the private property. Only at Hunter bridge and 19E bridge can you hop in the water. There is a small parking area at Hunter Bridge but gets full early in the morning because it is a “take out” for guide services.
Flows- Very slowwww and wide. Heats up quickly and low oxygen levels. It takes about 2 hours before high water flow from Wilbur Dam.
Doe River confluence to “McDonald’s Bridge”
Because of the Doe River emptying in to this section it can be great or horrible fishing. Productive with tons of food being sent down stream (Stone Flies) and highly oxygenated. Big Rainbows and Browns prowl the inlet waiting for food. Even large mouse pattern flies can land a 20 inch plus brown often. Wading is straight forward here. Chest Waders are highly recommended. On the other hand if the Doe River is flooding up stream this section will blown out/Muddy and should be avoided. It ca take a few days for the area to clear up.
Access- Hard because of all the private property. Other than a few parking places near or under bridges there’s not much.
Flows- Very unpredictable because of the Doe River. Plus it is flowing through the heart of Elizabethton, TN rain run off flows into the river. Oxygen is in good supply with rapids and a few pocket waters.
“McDonald’s Bridge” to Animal Shelter
Very productive area for large fish and plenty of them. TWRA stocks heavily in this area but does not get as much pressure as other sections of the river. Browns and Rainbows are large and hold in the seams/troughs and ripples. It takes about 2.5 hours before high water flow from Wilbur Dam. Debris from both the Doe River and Stoney Creek can get to be a pain if rains have happened recently. Guide boats rarely venture into this section because the river gets “Boney” plus a small drop off which can shred the hulls of their boats. It can get busy in the summer and holiday weekends with people just hanging out at the water. Shade gets scarce unless you are close to the bank of the river. A very wide section with deceiving deep trough. CAUTIOUS WADING IS A MUST.
Access- Very good access on both sides of the river. I preferred to park at the “Twins” baseball filed and work my way up and down the river. Crossing the river can be done with a wading staff during no release of water. A lot of fly fishermen will fish this area as there is a paved section along the river for about a half of a mile.
Flows- A very wading friendly area as long as the Doe River is not flooding. Lots of water and oxygen is plentiful. Run off can make a muddy river for a few days but also a lot of food is in the water. Water does not heat up as quickly because of the amount of from the tributaries.
Flies and Gear
Blue Wing Olive, Caddis,Sulfurs, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Flash Back Pheasant Tail Nymph, Squirmy Wormy, Stone Flies, Zebra Midges, Olive Streamers, RUSTY TROMBONE at (Trophy Mountain Guide Service), Rainbow Warrior. Many of these flies can be found here on Shop section.
Wading Staff, Leader, Tippet
5 Wt rod
Wading Socks
5 Tips for fishing the Watauga River
Know the Flows- TVA is pretty good about publishing water releases and generation schedule. Wilbur Dam is the release point to pay attention to. Here is the link for TVA.
Watch the weather in the surrounding areas. Both Stoney Creek and Doe River can flood quickly and make the Watauga River unsafe and not fishable.
Best times to fish are 1 hour before generations and the hour after the generators stop.
Watch the guide boats- eventually they will move on. Wait a few minutes and approach the spot quietly.
Midges- Use a double dropper (beaded Pheasant Tail Nymph with Zebra midge on bottom) with 4 feet of 6X tippet.
Guides
Lodging
Elizabethton TN