Watauga’s Sycamore Shoals

The Watauga is a River that is destined to create those “Fishing Legends”, those “Memories”,

that are still being told decades later when friends swap stories while working a local

hole together, or when a father takes time to remind his son of a “Better Time”. When

ever I’m sitting alone on my back deck and I’m thinking about East Tennessee, the

Smokey Mountains and the Watauga River thoughts of my Best Friends come into focus.

The Watauga and its sister River the S. Holston are arguably the finest cold-water fisheries east

of the Mississippi. Both rivers are Tail Race Rivers created decades ago by the (TVA)

Tennessee Valley Authority, to stop flooding and bring electricity to thousands of rural

Tennessee homes. The reservoirs are both bottom release dams releasing cold water

that allows for great fishing all year round but more appreciatively, those extremely hot

months of July and August. There’s the reason why someone like me hop in a car and

drive 9 hours south into a warmer climate to find colder water and more consistently

low temperatures.

 The Watauga and the Holston are together a cold-water fishery that require advanced planning.

Much like the Bonefishing Sportsman of the Bahamas must make certain to be aware of

the Tide Charts and the Cycles of the Moon, particularly the New Moon Tide fishermen

must be cognizant of the Dams generating schedule. High Tides peaking at the wrong

time of the day can have disastrous effects on a Bonefishing Vacation. Untimely releases

on the river can have the same effect on a tailrace river.

 A three-day trip on the Watauga can turn into , two days on the S. Holston and one day on the

Watauga. You can even add the Doe River into the mix when you have no float trip

planned and both rivers are releasing at the same time. The Watauga cannot be waded

anywhere when the Wilbur Dam is generating, so if it’s your pleasure to fish only the

Watauga you need to have a float trip planned.

 A good guide service is essential for a well-planned trip. We have used one guide service every

year that we have been making the trip. They have been guiding on both rivers for 18

years. For the first 6 they were the only ones on the river. Anyone else who is now

guiding on the river has probably cut his or her guide teeth working for Appalachian

Anglers of Boone North Carolina. A good guide service is a flexible guide service. They

have to be aware of the changes in the generating schedule and be able to totally alter

their plans on a moments notice. Another asset of a guide service is their relationship to

the property owners along the riverbanks. Both Rivers are considered “Recreation

Areas” and Vacation Homes abound and border most of the river front access. My wife

and I took a trip last September and we wished to do a float trip. The Watauga was too

high and muddy to float and the Holston was not generating. Hayden Copeland one of

the Copeland twins walked up to me and said change of plans. I know some river front

property owners that will allow me to take you on their property to get your wife on

some fish until the afternoon release and then we can float a half-day. If it weren’t for

his resourcefulness we would have been roaming the antique shops in Johnson City.

(Those that are intent to do it on their own, fear not the State of Tennessee has special

regulations areas and river accesses all along the river.) You can access the TVA

generating schedule by calling (800) 238-2264 and follow the prompts. The call number for the

Wilbur Dam is 42 and the S. Holston is 01. ( Caution: this author spent 9 months in rehab after

an unscheduled release on the S. Holston. The recorded message stated 11:59 PM, which to me

is midnight, but the dam released at 11:59 am (noon)).