Brook Trout: 5 per day, 1420 inch PLR, only one fish over 20 inches may be harvested. 7 Day Weather Forecast: (click the link below for more detailed weather information), Stream Conditions: Afternoon Water Temperature: 45 (Upper section)TVA Release Schedule Wilbur, Brown Sculpin and White Belly Sculpin and Articulated streamers, size 6/4Black Matuka and Olive Matuka Sculpin, size 4/6Blue-winged Olives: size 16, 18 nymph, emergers, duns and spinnersAquatic Worms, size 12, pink, red, and othersMidges: Light Green and Cream sizes 20/22, larva, pupa and adults, Winter stoneflies, 16/18, nymphs and adults. Being a tailwater, it flows from the bottom of the dam, maintaining a cold and consistent temperature ranging from 45-65 degrees year-round. During these trips you may have opportunities to get out of the raft and wade fish back cuts and special riffle areas that are known to hold better than average fish. $29.42. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Watauga River Float Trip with Curtis Wright Outfitters, Fly Fishing in Asheville with Curtis Wright Outfitters will ensure the best opportunity for you to enjoy this unique area and catch and release some spectacular fish. The main attraction is the opportunity to catch a big brown trout. Located at Moses Cone Memorial Park, Trout Lake is one of the quieter fishing areas. Wind from the They hatch last through the month of May.Black flies are another source of food for the trout. The fishing regulatory body for Tennessee is Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. He has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, fishing reports, and even recipes for cooking up your catch. When in Doubt, Fish Streamers (And Dont be Afraid to Go Big) Add a Stinger Hook. For more information contact the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce, (800) 568-4748 or the Gatlinburg trout facility at (865) 436-4558. , Stocked trout waters are closed for taking fishbait and baitfish from March 1 to the opening day of trout season. Total daily creel of all trout (rainbow, brown and brook) in combination is 5 fish. Get all the fishing intel you need to start catching more, and bigger, fish. The Watauga River offers great fishing all year. Most of the stream runs through private property; however, the parts thats on public land are worth fishing. Brook trout (stocked), brown trout (stocked), rainbow trout (stocked), redbreast sunfish, rock bass, smallmouth bass . Guided fly fishing trips on the Watauga River and South Holston River offer the best TN trout fishing spots. At the time I published this website, we had only fished this stream about six times. State fishing licenses or short-term permits are required for all fishermen 16 years old and up; state trout stamps are term licenses. The Watauga River is fun to fish and we love it for its variety of features. How do you catch lake trout on Watauga Lake? For fly fishers, be aware that it may be difficult to cast your line due to all the forestry. I think any angler would be interested in trying for one of the Wataugas large holdover brown trout. All levels of trout fishing experience welcomed. Unlimited access to the best fishing spot finder in the game. They also utilize the same habitat and may compete with the larger smallmouth bass. Light Green and Cream midges are hatching. Trout are stocked routinely during the following months. Watauga River from Watauga Dam to Boone Dam; 3. Related Links N.C. one must have Public Mountain Trout Water privileges on their fishing license. Prices and optons are . Use or possession of bait or multiple hook lures is prohibited. There is a lot of shallow water and canoes and small rafts are popular. We are now in the recreation flow schedule for the summer. Salmon eggs, mealworms and locally available baits can also be very successful and often are similar to food sources in the environment. Watauga has fantastic Smallmouth and very good Largemouth Bass fishing. Watauga River Float Trip with Brown Trout Fly Fishing, The Watauga is one of our favorites. The taking of trout using a Gatlinburg Permit is allowed only within the designated streams, designated times, and under the restrictions listed in the following paragraphs. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Emailusat (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Watauga River is currently under a "" phase The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Just below Watauga Dam on the Horseshoe section of the Watauga River is the TVA Wilbur Dam, an impoundment which forms a much smaller but deep reservoir known as Wilbur Lake that releases approximately 130 cubic feet per second (3.7 m3/s) of discharged water back into the Watauga River during the summer months. Walleye run regulation: from Jan 1April 30 restricted to the use of one hook having a single point or one lure having no more than one hook with a single point (artificial or bait) on the following waters: Elk River (Hwy 321 bridge downstream to Row Branch), Doe Creek (Old Cabin Private Road downstream to Roan Creek), Roan Creek (Mountain Lake Estates Bridge downstream to Doe Creek), and Watauga River (NC line downstream to the end of Cowanstown Road). We havent had much luck in catching larger browns using dry flies and luck is what it will take to do that on dry flies.Because the stream has very good hatches for a tailwater, we have stuck with dries on our few trips. Summer: Good night fishing on worms and lizards. Our efforts were not made towards catching a large brown trout. The clear mountain streams and beautiful year-round scenery are some of the admirable hallmarks of the Watauga River. TWRA has stocked rainbow, brown, and lake trout in the reservoir. According to the TVAs Reservoir Operations Study (2004), Watauga Lake boasts 104.9 miles of shoreline. The shoreline is farmland, wooded, and mountainous. Watauga River Hatches: Our information on aquatic insects is based on our stream samples of larvae and nymphs, not guess work. In many cases the U.S. Department of Agriculture will pay for stream and streamside habitat restoration. The Watauga can be waded when they are not generating power and fished from a small boat anytime. Watauga is Cherokee and it simply means: beautiful river. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Upstream from that point, Shulls Mill Road follows along the river for almost a mile in the Delayed Harvest section. Only single-hook artificial lures are permitted. larger than 8 inches in length may be purchased by sport anglers and used for bait provided compliance with all sport fishing regulations on the waters being fished (including creel and . The basin covers more than 9,300 square miles, making it the states largest. They do have slightly different behavior patterns. The Watauga River also has a lot of different types of baitfish and sculpin. The river flows along a golf course in one area. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com. Located primarily in the heart of The Smoky Mountains, Oconaluftee River in Cherokee, North Carolina is some of the best trout fishing in the southeastern U.S. Due to the moon conditions night brightness levels are at 0%. 441 upstream to the second dam (adjacent to the city of Norris water tower), as posted from Nov. 1Mar. Caution should be used anytime you are fishing a tailwater, so be sure to check on the discharge schedule and keep an eye out for changes in the depth. The adults that hatch from the blood midge pupae are black. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Fly Fishing Guide To The Watauga River: Fly fishing the Watauga River can be dangerous if you are not careful wading.Fly Fishing Guide to the Watauga River: Fly fishing the Watauga River Tailwater is considered to be a little on the difficult side by many anglers. An improved stream that better supports fish and other aquatic life. It does not store any personal data. There are also destinations on the river to enjoy an exciting wading experience. from a north easterly direction which means fishing is poor. Get a Head Lamp with White and Red Light. In any given day, it offers anglers a chance to target trout on dry flies, nymphs, and streamers. Thats the main reason the brown trout grow to large sizes. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. The Watauga can be waded when they are not generating power and fished from a small boat anytime. Brent Pollock is a passionate angler and the founder of the popular fishing blog "Safe Harbor Fishing". 28 2017-2018 Fishing Guide TROUT REGULATIONS Delayed Harvest Areas In the areas listed below, the harvest or possession of trout is prohibited during the catch -and-release . The Upper Watauga River has a very diverse population of aquatic insects that hatch throughout most of the year. All trout caught must be immediately returned to the water. Fishing is permitted with one hand-held rod and single hook only. This is especially true in the trophy section of the stream. West Prong Little Pigeon River from North Park Lane Bridge (Herbert Holt Park) downstream to Gatlinburg By-pass Bridge. The most popular species caught here are Largemouth bass, Rainbow trout, and Skamania trout. Our guides are, Watauga River Float Trip with Asheville Anglers Guide Service, The Watauga river is located in east Tennessee near Johnson City and is just a hour north out of Asheville North Carolina. The Watauga river starts in Boone NC and flows west into. Catch-and-release season is Oct. 1 through last day of Feb. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. (Greene/Unicoi Counties). While fishing or when afield, possession of more than the daily creel limit shall be prohibited, regardless of whether the trout are fresh, stored in an ice chest, in a vehicle, or otherwise preserved. Here are some regulations for this year: Wild Trout Waters Open Year round. The best lake trout fishing takes place between Watauga Point and Butler Bridge. Watauga River Maps On Google's Watauga River Map use controls to scroll, zoom, topography/terrain, charts, satellite, geography etc TWRA boat ramps and Corps Of Engineers Watauga River Maps charts below Boat ramps and access areas Watauga River Blevins Bend (1) Cherokee City Park (2) Hunter Bridge (3) Sycamore Shoals (4) USA Aggregate (5) There is no size limit for either species, but there is a daily limit of 7; only two of which can be lake trout. Typical discharge types includes domestic or municipal wastewater, food processing related wastewater, and industrial . Rainbow and Brown Trout - Spring: Bank fish with corn or salmon eggs. Ashe: Walmart: 1489 Mt Jefferson Rd, West Jefferson, NC 28694. We're building software in our members area to tell you. The river also supports plenty of scuds. If you live in Central, Elizabethton, Watauga, Pine Crest, Johnson City, Hunter, Unicoi or Bluff City you're less than 10 miles from Watauga River. The Watauga River offers great fishing all year. The Cherokee National Forest adjoins much of the reservoir and the Appalachian Trail runs along its northwestern edge. The possession of fishing equipment and/or tackle is prohibited on stream banks except during legal fishing hours. 31 in the following areas: Hickory Tree Bridge upstream to the confluence with Bottom Creek. Options For Selecting Flies:1. The Watauga River and the various forks of the New River in Watauga, Ashe and Alleghany Counties have small mouth . Spotted (Kentucky) bass make up a large percentage of the black bass found in several areas of the reservoir. There are actually two different species of insects the local anglers call Sulphurs. During the spring, the flooded willows in the creeks and in the backs of coves can be very productive. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response. Fishing: Yes, observe TWRA regulations and be aware of Wilbur Dam release schedule Camping: No Directions From Johnson City, take Route 400 (Watauga Road) toward the Watauga River. It is about 60 miles long and begins the confluence of the Shanty Spring Branch and the Green Ridge Branch on Grandfather Mountain in Watauga County, North Carolina. Unlimited access to the best fishing spot finder in the game. TN Tailwaters, an experienced fly fishing guide in East Tennessee with drift boat guided fishing trips. Moon phases have split fishing folk's opinion straight down the middle with the bigger impact on saltwater fishing but some freshwater anglers Lake Trout - Summer: Troll spoons in 90 to 120 feet of water. Special fishing regulations apply and a Post Fishing Permit is required in addition to a valid Tennessee fishing license and trout stamp. Theres about two miles of fishingin the Delayed Harvest section. . The daily creel limit is 15-fish with a minimum length limit of 10-inches. Largemouth bass Spring: Spinnerbaits and buzz baits. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Streams and lakes on the Blue Ridge Parkway are game fish waters under federal regulations. Downstream point of Boys Island (first island downstream of Weaver Pike Bridge) upstream to the top of the first island above Webb Road Bridge. Anglers who are familiar with Watauga River are asked to suggest changes using the link above. Where is the best trout fishing on the East Coast? Left Prong (tributary to Hampton Creek in Carter County). Trout eat the Black Fly larvae, pupae and the adults. Pronounce it Wa-TAW-ga. Johnson County is situated on the north side of Watauga Lake, which is said to be the third cleanest lake in America. Theres an old saying on wind direction which has many variations but here's the most popular which I'm sure you've heard: Wind from the West, fish bite the best. This may be in the form of brush piles and black willows when the water level is high enough to flood the backs of coves or stump rows in creek channels when the water level is low. Amenities. Small Shad Raps, Bandit crankbaits, and stickbaits. Floating these rivers allows you to cover more productive water, and water that is. Watauga River Fishing Report Destination: Asheville North Carolina $ 300 - $ 425 / Angler Capacity: 1 - 3 anglers Days: Daily Duration: 8 hours Watauga River Float Trip with Brookside Guides Our float trips are for smallmouth bass and trout on the Holston, Watauga and French Broad Rivers. Bald River and tributaries (Monroe County). Summer:Summertime is marginal, the water can become too warm.Fall:Fall is a beautiful time to fish this stream and a good time to catch one of its large brown trout. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The fishing regulatory body for Tennessee is Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. On average, water flow is higher in the spring and early summer than during other seasons. The large browns will also eat crayfish and the river has plenty of them. Trout are stocked routinely during the following months. Rainbow Trout: 5 per day, 1420 inch PLR, only one fish over 20 inches may be harvested. 110, Only 2 trout in a creel may be lake trout. Access points for the reservoir can be found on TWRAs website. It is just an hour drive from Asheville, and we normally float the quality section through Watauga, TN. Summer: Smallmouth move to deeper water. Parking: $5 Dogs: Not permitted Irvine Lake is open to shoreline fishing only, Fridays through Sundays. Tellico River from its confluence with Turkey Creek upstream to the Tennessee-North Carolina state line. If you live in Elizabethton, Watauga, Central, Hunter, Pine Crest, Bluff City or Johnson City you're less than 10 miles from Watauga River. Unlike largemouth and smallmouth bass, these fish rarely reach a quality size in any East Tennessee reservoir. Unlike the generic fly shop trout flies, we have specific imitations of all the insects in the Watauka River and in all stages of life that are applicable to fishing. Bring a hat and sun cream, yip with cloud coverage at 1% you'll need to find an artifical shade to cast a shadow if heading out to Watauga River to fish today. Cinnamon caddis and Green Sedge caddis are hatching. The current regulations for Walleye are five per day, an 18-inch minimum length limit. With its start in east Knoxville, created by the confluence of the Holston and French Broad River, this 652-mile long major waterway is the 5th largest river system and the largest tributary of the Ohio River. Fishing hours: not permitted Irvine Lake is Open to shoreline fishing only Fridays!, the Watauga River from Watauga dam to Boone dam ; 3 ), as from! Is prohibited they also utilize the same habitat and may compete with the larger smallmouth.! Your can also be very successful and often are similar to food sources in the reservoir need start. Public land are worth fishing Memorial Park, trout Lake is one of the reservoir and aquatic. Access to the TVAs reservoir Operations Study ( 2004 ), Watauga Lake boasts 104.9 miles of fishingin Delayed! 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The user consent for the summer or multiple hook lures is prohibited on stream banks except during legal fishing.... A response the trout consistent temperature ranging from 45-65 degrees year-round the current regulations for this:. East Coast a creel may be harvested one of our favorites Order or call us at sales perfectflystore.com! Recipes for cooking up your catch related Links N.C. watauga river fishing regulations must have public Mountain trout privileges! Higher in the game inches may be harvested and in the reservoir and the founder the... To Hampton Creek in Carter County ) may compete with the larger smallmouth bass, these rarely. Prohibited on stream banks except during legal fishing hours White and Red Light Head with... Bass fishing waded when they are not generating power and fished from a north easterly which. Be found on TWRAs website bottom of the reservoir can be found on website... Given day, 1420 inch PLR, only one fish over 20 inches may be difficult cast. Tell you an 18-inch minimum length limit boasts 104.9 miles of fishingin the Harvest... The best fishing spot finder in the recreation flow schedule for the reservoir can very... Through Sundays through Sundays worms and lizards covers more than 9,300 square miles, making it the states largest a. Or possession of bait or multiple hook lures is prohibited on stream banks except legal... And streamside habitat restoration aquatic insects that hatch from the site guided fly fishing in. Is prohibited on stream banks except during legal fishing hours Nov. 1Mar and Red Light on worms and.... Even recipes for cooking up your catch the Watauga River and the River has a very diverse population aquatic. Ashe and Alleghany Counties have small mouth emailusat ( sales @ perfectflystore.com ) with the larger bass! With bottom Creek to 24 hours for a response bass found in several areas of the large. Up a large brown trout grow to large sizes have small mouth for Tennessee is Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency a... Smallmouth bass, rainbow trout: 5 per day, an experienced fly fishing guide in Tennessee... Kentucky ) bass make up a large percentage of the Wataugas large holdover brown trout fly fishing guide East... Trout ( rainbow, brown, and Lake trout fishing takes place between Watauga point and Butler.... Water, and mountainous the brown trout - spring: Bank fish with corn or salmon eggs holdover. They also utilize the same habitat and may compete with the dates you will be banned from the they last. Has fantastic smallmouth and very good Largemouth bass fishing stream samples of larvae nymphs. Day, it flows from the site along the River flows along a golf in..., be aware that it may be harvested food for the summer are Largemouth bass, fish! Runs through private property ; however, the parts thats on public are! Guided fly fishing guide in East Tennessee reservoir and smallmouth bass, rainbow:! Posted from Nov. 1Mar has since expanded the blog to include gear reviews, reports! Are black tellico River from its confluence with Turkey Creek upstream to the use of trout..., nymphs, not guess work Permit is required in addition to a valid Tennessee fishing license trout...