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Available Packages
THE WATAUGA
RIVER BEGINNER TO ADVANCED/TROUT
On the Watauga River,
trophy trout fishing is quickly becoming recognized as some of the best in the Southeast and regularly attracts anglers from
surrounding states. The river offers excellent rainbow and brown trout fishing all along its 18-mile length. A two-mile section
on the lower portion of the river is set aside by special regulations as a Quality Trout Stream. The lower section is a typical technical trout river where dry flies and nymphs are the key.
The upper Watauga is a completely different
river. It can only be floated during high water release by the TVA. It's a fast-flowing, wild river where large
streamers bring out the largest trout. The fishing is fast and furious with plenty of trout to catch. I
am one of the only guide services that will float the upper Watauga River. This part of the river
receives less pressure than the quality section, yet it still offers great fishing.
In the winter you can expect blue wing olives and midges. The spring provides one of
the most prolific Caddis Hatches in the eastern United States. Look for it in mid-April. From May on, expect Caddis
and Sulfurs. THE POPULATION OF TROUT IN THIS RIVER IS AMAZING!
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| Famous Watauga River Caddis Hatch |
SOUTH
FORK OF THE HOLSTON RIVER SMALLMOUTH
BASS
RANKED #1 BY TENNESSE SPORTSMAN MAGAZINE
The South Fork has been getting a lot of publicity lately and
has become Tennessee’s top smallmouth river. It’s a large river that offers the best opportunity for lunker smallmouth bass. We primarily focus on the Church Hill to Surgoinsville area. Stream flow is mostly controlled by TVA and fishing conditions normally remain stable. The North Fork stream flow can affect the South Fork, but only in high
muddy water conditions. The Holston
River originates near Kingsport
with the confluence of the North Fork Holston and South Fork Holston rivers. These rivers, along with the Middle Fork,
all originate in Virginia. The Holston flows in a
southwesterly direction before combining with the French Broad River
near Knoxville to form the headwaters of the Tennessee River.
The river has a drainage area of approximately 3,776 miles at its confluence with the French Broad River. In Tennessee,
approximately 114 miles of the Holston River
flow through the Ridge and Valley ecological province before joining the French Broad
River near Knoxville.
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| That's me a few years back with a South Fork Smallmouth |
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| Clinton Willis from Lousianna with a South fork Smallmouth |
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| Jason Carter from Elizabethton, TN with a South Fork Smallmouth |
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THE SOUTH HOLSTON RIVER ADVANCED/TROUT
In recent years, the South Fork Holston
River tailwater has become extremely popular among trout fishermen, especially
those anglers who are intent on targeting fish that are the length of the fisherman's own arm. A few South Fork anglers have netted large browns that tipped the scales well above 10 pounds.
The South Holston
River is a tailrace waterway that is 14 miles long, running from the dam at South Holston Lake
to Bluff City, where the river flows into
Boone Lake.
South Holston is unique among Tennessee
tailwaters in a couple of ways. Key among distinctions is a fabulous population of wild brown trout. Also unique is a gravel-heavy bottom substrate, which is part of what helps the river support such good
natural reproduction.
The Holston tailwater also contains
a unique labyrinth weir, which was constructed by Tennessee Valley Authority. The weir adds dissolved oxygen to the
tailwater and sustains a minimum flow in the river. That consistently keeps the streambed wet, which has allowed great aquatic
insect populations to develop.
The South Holston tailwater
is managed for trophy trout through a slot limit. All trout between 16 and 22 inches long must be released, and only one fish
from a seven-fish limit may be more than 22 inches long. Special regulations also include two seasonal closures. Two important
spawning areas are closed to all fishing from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31.
THE SOUTH HOLSTON IS FOR ADVANCED FISHERMAN. This
river has great sulfur hatches in the summer, June-July, but is fished on high, fast moving water. The fish
can be selective and can require a very good presentation. There are some very, very large trout, 30+. They didn't
get that way by being dumb.
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Weir Dam on the South Holston River
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You can see how the weir dam adds oxygen to the river.
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This is one section of the weir dam. The river splits an island and the weir is located on both sides.
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NORTH
FORK OF THE HOLSTON RIVER TN/VA SMALLMOUTH
BASS - Special Booking Only
I fish both
the Virginia and Tennessee portion of the North Fork River. Since this is a free-flowing river, fishing will depend upon river conditions. We can always fish the South Fork as a backup, or fish the North Fork another day. I fish the
spring river flows of 600 cfs or more only. Any less and it's dragging the boat all day.
The
North Fork of the Holston River
has a reputation of being one of the regions best smallmouth bass fisheries. It routinely produces smallmouth
up to five pounds. Sunfish, rock bass, carp, and channel catfish fishing are also good.
Overall,
the North Fork Holston River
is one of east Tennessee and Southwest Virginia’s
premier smallmouth bass fisheries. It provides anglers with the opportunity to catch substantial numbers of quality
size smallmouth bass and rock bass and has the potential of producing memorable catches (both in number and size). Upstream
of the state line, Virginia has a special regulation permitting
the harvest of only one smallmouth bass per day, with a minimum length of 20 inches.
THE NEW RIVER, VA SMALLMOUTH BASS - Special Booking Only
The New River is an ancient river system, the oldest on the North American continent
and second only to the Nile
River in Africa as the oldest river in the world.
It begins as two streams in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, before merging into
the New River four miles from the Virginia line. The New River rivals the James and Rappahannock rivers as one of the best fishing rivers in Virginia. It supports outstanding populations of just about every major
freshwater game fish in the state. Fast water and big rock outcroppings are a feature of the New
River, spelling perfect habitat for big smallmouth bass. We fish the Foster Falls to Claytor Lake section,
which has become a model for Virginia's Walleye stocking program.
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JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA SMALLMOUTH BASS
This is my favorite river in the United States. It has an unbelievable smallmouth population.
I started floating this river in 1999 and have fished it every year since.
The historic James River is the smallmouth capital of the East if not the United States. The
James starts at Iron Gate, VA, and runs to the Chesapeake Bay. I fish the head waters of the James
River from Iron Gate, VA, down to Natural Bridge, VA. This part of the river is secluded
and features beautiful scenery, very few houses, no roads, few fishermen, and a lot of fish.
A day on the James River can produce record numbers of smallmouth bass. This is an opportunity of a lifetime. A typical trip will
include two full days of fishing with one or two nights in a motel.
In July 2006, a new size and creel limit for smallmouth bass went
into effect on the entire James River above the Fall Line. All smallmouth bass 14-22 inches
must be released unharmed when caught and only one fish over 22 inches in length may be kept per day. This regulation should
improve the frequency trophy-sized fish.
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