Best Trout Fishing in Northeast Tennessee

If you're looking to set your hook into some rod bending brown trout, monster rainbow trout or even the fickle and weary brook trout to make your fly reel sing in delight, look no farther than the stretch of the Watauga River just below the Wilbur Dam in Elizabethton, Tennessee. While standing in one place on the river, you have an equal opportunity to hook into any one of the three different species of trout that cohabitate within the same stretch of water. There is public access and public parking that is free of charge off the Wilbur Dam Road. Here are the directions:

From Stony Creek Rd (TN-91) going towards Shady Valley, travel 3.3 miles.
Turn Right on Blue Springs Rd (there is a gas station on the right far corner that's a good place to stock up on last minute snacks). Travel .1 mile.
Veer off to the right onto Siam rd and travel .8 miles.
Turn right on Steel Bridge Rd (you will know it is the right road because of the one lane steel bridge that crosses the river) and travel .8 miles. Just after the bridge you will find a small bait shop on the right but don't expect to find a large assortment of fly fishing equipment there.
Turn right onto Wilbur Dam Rd and follow it until you see the large cement dam on the left. Before the dam is a sharp turnoff to the left and at the bottom you will find parking. This is your entrance point into the river.

Before we go any further, it is important to note that the Watauga River is a regulated river which means that the flow of water is controlled by the release of water from the Wilbur Dam. Water can rise very rapidly in this river so it is important to check frequently for water release information. This information can be found at the TVA web site at http://lakeinfo.tva.gov/htbin/lakeinfo?site=WIH&DataType=All&SUBMIT=View+data. In addition, I also like to call the lake information line at 800-238-2264 (toll-free) press 4 for water release schedule and press 42 for Wilbur Dam while I'm driving there to get up to the minute information. Keep in mind that the water release schedule is subject to change without notice. They generally sound a horn to warn of the water release but again, you can never be too cautious. Keep an eye on the water flow out of the dam and pay attention to the sound. If it gets louder or starts to "rumble", it is probably a good time to get out of the river. I also like to pick a rock somewhere near the shore that has about an inch sticking out. I watch that rock every so often to see if the water begins to rise. In any case, try not to get yourself into a position in the river that would take more than 30 seconds to wade out because the water does come up quickly and is nearly impossible to wade even with one generator running.

The current prices of a Tennessee fishing license as well as a trout stamp (you must have this in your possession along with a state issued photo I.D. card) can be found on the web site, http://www.tennessee.gov/twra. This web site also lists the creel and size limits for the various species of fish.

With all of that out of the way, let's look at the good stuff. Fly fishing and bait fishing are both prevalent on the river, however I prefer to fly fish. The easiest "rig" to fly fish with on any of the northeast Tennessee rivers is the Blue Wing Olive Dunn with a Pheasant Tail dropper fly hung 10 - 12 inches below. In faster water, I will use a bead head Pheasant Tail. This combination is effective throughout most of the year and will draw hits at almost any time of the day. Pay special attention to hatches throughout the day as the fish will turn off to almost anything else but what is hatching. These hatches are seasonal so depending on the time of year, do some research or call one of the local fly tackle shops and they will be happy to help you out with some of the more effective flies of the season.

Bait fishermen (so I'm told) have pretty good luck using a combination of pink salmon eggs with either corn or cheese. I've watched more than one group of kid fishing on the bank with night crawlers pull out some nice trout as well.

There are several accommodations available to suit your needs along the river and within close proximity. If you prefer to camp, follow the Wilbur Dam Rd up to the Wilbur Dam campground which is a public campground. Camping fees are minimal but this campground tends to fill up quickly on weekends and holidays in the summer. There are also cabins available for rent along the river on Steel Bridge Rd called Bee Cliff Cabins. You can find rates and make reservations at the web site www.beecliffcabins.com or call them at (423) 542-6033.

As a final note, there are several rafting companies that use the public access and the river throughout the summer so if you arrive at 11:00 in the morning, don't expect to find a wide selection of parking and be prepared to share the river with 20 to 200 boisterous white water adventure seekers. It is a public river and everyone has the right to enjoy it as they see fit. I try to keep this in mind when I am planning a trip so that I can wrap up with my fishing and be clear of the traffic jam of vans and boat hauling trailers by 10:30 AM. You can catch plenty of fish by that time if you arrive at first light and in the off season, it is as peaceful and tranquil as some of the most remote mountain streams that I've fished.

Enjoy the river, enjoy the fish, and enjoy the sights and sounds that nature has to offer. Good luck on your next fishing trip and follow the above mentioned safety tips concerning the water flow of the river. Have a safe and successful fishing adventure and remember to leave no trace.