Logo
View Fishing Trips

Rivers We Fish

Float Trip Options

Tennessee

South Holston River

Watauga, South Holston’s sister river, is cold and fertile with trout. It has trophy browns but fewer fish. In April, caddis hatch offers dry fly fishing for 16- to 20-inch trout. Mayflies and nymphs sustain feeding through summer.

TARGET SPECIES
Wild Brown & Rainbow Trout
BEST SEASON
Year-Round (Sulphur Hatch Apr-Oct)
TRIP TYPE
Full-day and half-day float trips
Tennessee

Holston Proper

A productive smallmouth bass fishery offering strong currents and aggressive fish. With its dynamic flow and structure, it provides an exciting challenge for anglers looking for hard-fighting smallmouth in a more technical setting.
TARGET SPECIES

Smallmouth Bass, Carp

BEST SEASON
Year-Round (Sulphur Hatch Apr-Oct)
TRIP TYPE
Full-day and half-day float trips
Tennessee

Watauga River

Watauga, the South Holston’s sister tailwater, is rich in trout. It has bigger trophy browns, though fewer. The river hosts the Mother’s Day caddis hatch in April, making dry fly fishing to 16- to 20-inch trout common.

TARGET SPECIES

Wild Brown & Rainbow Trout

BEST SEASON

Year-Round (Dry fly fishing April–November)

TRIP TYPE

Full-day and half-day float trips

Virginia

new river

A renowned smallmouth bass fishery known for its clear waters, scenic surroundings, and consistent action. Anglers can expect steady bites and quality fish, making it a perfect destination for both beginners and experienced fishermen.

TARGET SPECIES

Smallmouth Bass, Carp

BEST SEASON

April through October

TRIP TYPE

Float trips, wade trips, and multi-day camping trips

Virginia

smith river

Smith River is a scenic freestone river with clear, steady waters flowing through forests and farmland. It offers excellent trout fishing, with wild brown and rainbow trout averaging 12–16 inches, and some over 20 inches.

TARGET SPECIES

Wild Brown & Rainbow Trout

BEST SEASON

April through October

TRIP TYPE

Float trips, wade trips, and multi-day camping trips

The "Grand Slam"

Catch a brook trout, a rainbow, and a brown in the same trip and you’ve completed
what we call the Grand Slam. It’s doable on a single long day if conditions
cooperate, but it’s most reliably accomplished on a two- or three-day wade trip that
hits multiple watersheds. If the Grand Slam is on your list, let us know when you
book and we’ll build the trip around it.
Learn about our multi-day trips

wade trip options

Whitetop Laurel Creek

Whitetop Laurel is a large creek in Virginia, rich with trout. The lower section runs through the National Forest, where we can fish and camp. Over 90% of trout caught are stream-born, with heavy insect hatches year-round.

TARGET SPECIES

Wild Brown & Rainbow Trout

BEST SEASON

April through October

South Fork Holston Wade Sections

The South Fork Holston offers wadeable water with quality wild trout. Wade trips let you target rainbows and browns in pocket water and riffles, all while enjoying the scenic Appalachian farmland.

TARGET SPECIES

Wild Brown & Rainbow Trout

BEST SEASON

April through October

Beaverdam Creek, Laurel Creek &
Upper South Fork Holston

Named waters on our USFS include smaller creeks with wild trout, heavy forest cover, and low pressure. Ideal for technical dry fly fishing and teaching new anglers.

TARGET SPECIES

Wild Brown & Rainbow Trout

BEST SEASON

April through October

Wilson Creek

An all-inclusive backpacking overnight wade trip in a scenic backcountry setting. Target native brook trout known for aggressively feeding on dry flies, while enjoying camping and guided fishing in a true wilderness experience.

TARGET SPECIES

Wild Brown & Rainbow Trout

BEST SEASON

April through October

How We Choose the River

We’ll pick the best river for your trip based on a few things:

01

WATER CONDITIONS

Flow, clarity, and temperature change daily. We monitor USGS gauges and dam releases to stay on fish.

03

EXPERIENCE LEVEL

We match the water to your skill—from beginner-friendly stretches to technical, tight water.

02

We draft a proposal

What’s hatching drives everything. We follow the food and fish where they’re actively feeding.

04

YOUR GOALS

Trophy fish, numbers, trout, or smallmouth—we choose the river that fits what you want out of the day.

Ready to Fish?

Call Chris at (828) 416-0159 or email chris@holstonriverflyfishing.com to book your trip. We’ll pick the right water and put you on fish.
BOOK your TRIP now
call (828) 416-0159