Tennessee · river
South Holston River
The Holston River is a 136-mile (219 km) river that flows from Kingsport, Tennessee, to Knoxville, Tennessee. Along with its three major forks (North Fork, Middle Fork and South Fork), it comprises a major river system that drains much of northeastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, and northwestern North Carolina. From Wikipedia
- Length
- 136 mi
- Basin
- 3,745 sq mi
- Rises at
- North Fork Holston River
- Flows into
- Tennessee River
Flow now
N F Holston River Near Gate City, VA, 18 mi from the river.
164cfsat build, Nov 12, 11 AM MT
The typical week here, from 10 years of record: 155 cfs to 416 cfs, around 231 cfs.
Water temperature at the gauge: 54°F.
Also gauged at Watauga River At Elizabethton, TN: 359 cfs, Nov 12.
The season, November
Usually workable this week. Pick your window and fish it well.
- Midgessizes 18 to 22
- Small eggs and worms
- Pheasant tail and zebra midge nymphsunder an indicator
Typical for the week over 10 years: 155 to 416 cfs. Running 164 cfs today, inside that range. Flows are not forecast; check the gauge the day before.
Brown Trout are spawning (October to December). Stay off clean, light-coloured gravel in riffle tails and pool tailouts, and leave paired fish alone.
Brook Trout are spawning (September to November). Stay off clean, light-coloured gravel in riffle tails and pool tailouts, and leave paired fish alone.
Mountain Whitefish are spawning (October to December). The egg bite behind spawning whitefish is the best winter nymphing of the year: an egg pattern below the riffles.
- Flows swing a lot this week most years. Carry both a heavy nymph rig and a dry-dropper and let the gauge decide.
- Egg patterns in the runs below the spawning gravel, never on it.
Written by the app's rules engine from the calendar, the gauge record and the snowpack, not by hand, so it says only what the data says. The weather for the week comes with the app.
Fly shops on this water
- South Holston River Fly Shop BristolWebsiteFishing report, updated Jun 29
Nearby waters
- Watauga River8 mi
Open South Holston River in FlyMaster for today's plan, the flies, and your own log here.
Flows from the U.S. Geological Survey, snowpack from the NRCS SNOTEL network, text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Built Nov 12.
