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Charity Rutter
Charity with a nice Holston
River Bow!
Charity with a nice Holston
River Bow!
Risers!
Fishing rising to midges on the
Holston River.
Fishing rising to midges on the
Holston River.
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River Information
Species: Rainbow and Brown Trout, Smallmouth and Carp
Angler Type: Wade or Boat
Access Type: Public and Private
General Flies:
Suggested Gear:
Access 1: Dam
GPS Coordinates: N 36°10.077' W 083°30.163'
Access 2: Tampico (Private)
GPS Coordinates: N 36°11.619' W 083°33.970'
Access 3: Indian Cave
GPS Coordinates: N 36°09.550' W 083°36.083'
Access 4: Nance's Ferry
GPS Coordinates: N 36°07.714' W 083°38.401'
Float Times
Access 1 to Access 2:
Access 2 to Access 3:
Fishing and River Description:
The Holston River tailwater below Cherokee Dam is one of Tennessee’s
premier fly fishing destinations. However, the river has little notoriety among fly
fishers because few are aware of it. Rainbow and brown trout are common and
smallmouth bass and red-eyes, sometimes called rock bass, are also present
and become dominant as you go further downstream.
Wading the Holston River
Fly fishers aren’t as aware of the Holston River as they are the South Holston,
Watauga, Clinch, and Hiwassee tailwaters because of access issues. Public
access is extremely limited on this tailwater. The best access point for waders
is at the Nance’s Ferry boat ramp. Shallow riffles are wadeable for a good way
upstream. This is essentially a winter and spring trout fishing spot though.
Water temperatures in the summer are generally too warm for trout, but fishing
for smallmouth bass and carp can be excellent.
The other public access for wading anglers is at Cherokee Dam. Fly fishers will
want to walk downstream to productive shoals for the best fishing on this
section of the river. Indian Cave is a public access point a little more than half
way between the dam and Nance’s Ferry but there is very little water for the fly
fisher without a boat. Unfortunately, other access points to the river require
landowner permission.
Species: Rainbow and Brown Trout, Smallmouth and Carp
Angler Type: Wade or Boat
Access Type: Public and Private
General Flies:
Suggested Gear:
Access 1: Dam
GPS Coordinates: N 36°10.077' W 083°30.163'
Access 2: Tampico (Private)
GPS Coordinates: N 36°11.619' W 083°33.970'
Access 3: Indian Cave
GPS Coordinates: N 36°09.550' W 083°36.083'
Access 4: Nance's Ferry
GPS Coordinates: N 36°07.714' W 083°38.401'
Float Times
Access 1 to Access 2:
Access 2 to Access 3:
Fishing and River Description:
The Holston River tailwater below Cherokee Dam is one of Tennessee’s
premier fly fishing destinations. However, the river has little notoriety among fly
fishers because few are aware of it. Rainbow and brown trout are common and
smallmouth bass and red-eyes, sometimes called rock bass, are also present
and become dominant as you go further downstream.
Wading the Holston River
Fly fishers aren’t as aware of the Holston River as they are the South Holston,
Watauga, Clinch, and Hiwassee tailwaters because of access issues. Public
access is extremely limited on this tailwater. The best access point for waders
is at the Nance’s Ferry boat ramp. Shallow riffles are wadeable for a good way
upstream. This is essentially a winter and spring trout fishing spot though.
Water temperatures in the summer are generally too warm for trout, but fishing
for smallmouth bass and carp can be excellent.
The other public access for wading anglers is at Cherokee Dam. Fly fishers will
want to walk downstream to productive shoals for the best fishing on this
section of the river. Indian Cave is a public access point a little more than half
way between the dam and Nance’s Ferry but there is very little water for the fly
fisher without a boat. Unfortunately, other access points to the river require
landowner permission.
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Floating the Holston River
Floating the river allows greater access, but again, access is still very limited.
The public boat ramps on the river are found at Cherokee Dam, Indian Cave, and
Nance’s Ferry. Floating the Holston tailwater presents more obstacles than
other big trout rivers in Tennessee. The river features several long, slow
stretches that can exhaust those rowing drift boats. For that reason, the float
from Cherokee Dam to Indian Cave can be a long one. Private river accesses
are a necessity to make this section of the river an enjoyable float.
The float from Indian Cave to Nance’s Ferry is the most workable for most
anglers. There is one flat stretch of water at least 2 miles long that can take its
toll on rowers. Small motors will make the task easier on any stretch of the river,
but be sure your boat has the appropriate registration. TWRA agents patrol the
river and regularlygive citations to boats with trolling motors but no numbers. Fly
fishers who float the river may find a good schedule that gives them a rapid rise
in water levels at the end of the day and have an easy coast to Indian Cave or
Nance’s Ferry.
The river has a few small rapids and numerous rocks and ledges. There is
nothing dangerous for an experienced oarsman, but several spots that have the
potential to scar a boat with a novice at the oars.
Water Levels & Generation
Like other tailwaters, it’s imperative that fly fishers are aware of generation
schedules. Cherokee Dam regularly releases large quantities of water and it’s
up to the angler to know when that will happen. Typical flows on the river when
generators aren’t running is about 300 cubic feet per second. Periods of
minimum flow, most common in late winter and spring, feature a “pulse”
schedule where the dam will release water every 5 hours. This will not impact
anglers fishing at Nance’s Ferry but will certainly cause a dramatic rise of the
river in the first 2 or 3 miles downstream of the dam.
There is only water water level worth fishing, and that’s the minimum flow.
Fishing isn’t much at higher levels and not usually worth the effort. The pulse of
high water near the dam will usually put fishing off for 45 minutes to an hour.
Cherokee Dam can generate in excess of 16,000 cfs and this will certainly have
an effect on the river downstream. When the schedule calls for “2 or more
generators” expect the water to rise in about 3-4 hours at Indian Cave and
approximately 5 hours at Nance’s Ferry. These times are variable depending on
just how much water is generated which generally isn’t known.
Hatches
There are a few basic hatches for fly fishers to imitate on the Holston River.
Midges, caddis, craneflies, and sulphur mayflies are the most common insects
fly fishers will see on the river. Midges are most important in the winter months
and early spring. Small larva and pupa patterns #18-20 will consistently fool
trout. Dry flies should be no larger than a #20 and aren’t usually as consistent at
fooling fish. As the year progresses trout will still feed on midges, but larger
insects will often get their attention. Craneflies often show up in early spring and
will get the trout rising. A #16-18 sulphur colored cranefly pattern dry fly will do
well.
Caddis are the main event for fly fishers on the Holston. The hatch starts slowly
in late March and builds through April, usually peaking in late April or early May.
Caddis continue to be present into the summer and a few even continue into the
fall. The best dry fly patterns are tan or gray. Elk Caddis and X-Caddis in #16-18
are best. Flies are smaller earlier in the year and larger species hatch as the
season progresses.
Sulphurs often hatch in May and June. They may hatch mid-day but are often
more prevalent in the evening. Fish #14-18 Comparaduns and Parachutes.
Again, several species hatch here so an assortment of sizes is required to have
the appropriate one on any given day.
Smallmouth Bass
The Holston River tailwater is an extremely prolific smallmouth bass fishery and
there are far more miles of productive bass water than trout water. In the
summer months the best bass fishing is from Indian Cave all the way to the
confluence of the French Broad at Knoxville. A variety of flies will consistently fool
bass but poppers are a favorite with fly fishers.
Poppers that chug and pop will call bass out from under boulders and snags.
Strikes are often explosive and that adds to the excitement. Sneaky Petes are a
type of popper that isn’t particularly noisy, but dives underwater then bobs back
to the surface. These are valuable when the fish seem to spook off of
conventional poppers.
Sculpin, crayfish, and minnow patterns are extremely effective, particularly in
swifter currents. It’s extremely important for these flies to go deep and we often
use sink tip fly lines to be sure the get deep and stay deep.
Floating the river allows greater access, but again, access is still very limited.
The public boat ramps on the river are found at Cherokee Dam, Indian Cave, and
Nance’s Ferry. Floating the Holston tailwater presents more obstacles than
other big trout rivers in Tennessee. The river features several long, slow
stretches that can exhaust those rowing drift boats. For that reason, the float
from Cherokee Dam to Indian Cave can be a long one. Private river accesses
are a necessity to make this section of the river an enjoyable float.
The float from Indian Cave to Nance’s Ferry is the most workable for most
anglers. There is one flat stretch of water at least 2 miles long that can take its
toll on rowers. Small motors will make the task easier on any stretch of the river,
but be sure your boat has the appropriate registration. TWRA agents patrol the
river and regularlygive citations to boats with trolling motors but no numbers. Fly
fishers who float the river may find a good schedule that gives them a rapid rise
in water levels at the end of the day and have an easy coast to Indian Cave or
Nance’s Ferry.
The river has a few small rapids and numerous rocks and ledges. There is
nothing dangerous for an experienced oarsman, but several spots that have the
potential to scar a boat with a novice at the oars.
Water Levels & Generation
Like other tailwaters, it’s imperative that fly fishers are aware of generation
schedules. Cherokee Dam regularly releases large quantities of water and it’s
up to the angler to know when that will happen. Typical flows on the river when
generators aren’t running is about 300 cubic feet per second. Periods of
minimum flow, most common in late winter and spring, feature a “pulse”
schedule where the dam will release water every 5 hours. This will not impact
anglers fishing at Nance’s Ferry but will certainly cause a dramatic rise of the
river in the first 2 or 3 miles downstream of the dam.
There is only water water level worth fishing, and that’s the minimum flow.
Fishing isn’t much at higher levels and not usually worth the effort. The pulse of
high water near the dam will usually put fishing off for 45 minutes to an hour.
Cherokee Dam can generate in excess of 16,000 cfs and this will certainly have
an effect on the river downstream. When the schedule calls for “2 or more
generators” expect the water to rise in about 3-4 hours at Indian Cave and
approximately 5 hours at Nance’s Ferry. These times are variable depending on
just how much water is generated which generally isn’t known.
Hatches
There are a few basic hatches for fly fishers to imitate on the Holston River.
Midges, caddis, craneflies, and sulphur mayflies are the most common insects
fly fishers will see on the river. Midges are most important in the winter months
and early spring. Small larva and pupa patterns #18-20 will consistently fool
trout. Dry flies should be no larger than a #20 and aren’t usually as consistent at
fooling fish. As the year progresses trout will still feed on midges, but larger
insects will often get their attention. Craneflies often show up in early spring and
will get the trout rising. A #16-18 sulphur colored cranefly pattern dry fly will do
well.
Caddis are the main event for fly fishers on the Holston. The hatch starts slowly
in late March and builds through April, usually peaking in late April or early May.
Caddis continue to be present into the summer and a few even continue into the
fall. The best dry fly patterns are tan or gray. Elk Caddis and X-Caddis in #16-18
are best. Flies are smaller earlier in the year and larger species hatch as the
season progresses.
Sulphurs often hatch in May and June. They may hatch mid-day but are often
more prevalent in the evening. Fish #14-18 Comparaduns and Parachutes.
Again, several species hatch here so an assortment of sizes is required to have
the appropriate one on any given day.
Smallmouth Bass
The Holston River tailwater is an extremely prolific smallmouth bass fishery and
there are far more miles of productive bass water than trout water. In the
summer months the best bass fishing is from Indian Cave all the way to the
confluence of the French Broad at Knoxville. A variety of flies will consistently fool
bass but poppers are a favorite with fly fishers.
Poppers that chug and pop will call bass out from under boulders and snags.
Strikes are often explosive and that adds to the excitement. Sneaky Petes are a
type of popper that isn’t particularly noisy, but dives underwater then bobs back
to the surface. These are valuable when the fish seem to spook off of
conventional poppers.
Sculpin, crayfish, and minnow patterns are extremely effective, particularly in
swifter currents. It’s extremely important for these flies to go deep and we often
use sink tip fly lines to be sure the get deep and stay deep.
Ian and Charity Rutter
provided this report for the
Holston. Be sure to check out
their website and Ian's book
Tennessee Tailwaters.
provided this report for the
Holston. Be sure to check out
their website and Ian's book
Tennessee Tailwaters.
| Contributor |
| Access 1 |
| Access 2 |
| Access 3 |
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