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River guide · Tennessee

Fly Fishing the Watauga River

Tennessee's other great tailwater, the Watauga flows cold and clear out of Wilbur Dam into Carter County with an estimated 2,000–4,000 trout per mile in its Trophy section. Sulphurs and blue-winged olives are the headliners, but the river rewards all year long if you stay on top of TVA release schedules.

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When to fish

Year-round

Best months: year-round

  • Best

Sulphurs: May–September. Blue-winged Olive: November–June.

Today's conditions

Where to fish

Wilbur Dam downstream to Smalling Bridge

The Trophy Trout section runs roughly 4 miles from Wilbur Dam downstream to Smalling Bridge. TVA manages generation schedules: check flows before wading. Multiple TWRA access points give waders entry to gravel bars and shallow runs; float trips are possible from Wilbur Dam to Persinger Bridge.

The water

Tailwater

Key hatches

  • Sulphurs
  • Blue-winged Olive
  • Little Black Caddis
  • Cinnamon Caddis
  • Midges
Hatch calendar

Conditions

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6-day forecast

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Forecast from the National Weather Service ↗

Key hatches

  • Sulphurs (May–September)
  • Blue-winged Olive (November–June)
  • Little Black Caddis (April, 'Mother's Day hatch')
  • Cinnamon Caddis (May)
  • Midges (year-round, dominant in winter)

Fly shops near the Watauga River

Shops and guides that fish the Watauga River. See all 22 Tennessee shops →

12 fly shops shownWatauga River at Carter

Species on this water

TroutBassMuskyPanfishStriper

Nearby towns

CarterPogaJohnson City

Rivers nearby

South Holston RiverTuckasegee RiverNantahala RiverSmith River
From The Fly Bench

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Gear up on the Watauga River

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The flies that work on the Watauga River

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