Fishing Tennessee's Watauga River
Enjoy Great Trout Fishing in Appalachia
The Watauga River offers excellent trout fishing. Approximately 60 miles long, it runs from its origins on Grandfather Mountain in western North Carolina into northeastern Tennessee. Water level and velocity vary significantly from day to day. At some points, the river is so shallow that even the lightest of boats will scrape the rocky river bottom. Other places are so deep that one cannot touch bottom with a nine-foot fly rod. The Tennessee Valley Authority has impounded the river, creating Watauga Lake. The Appalachian Trail crosses the Watauga River at the Watauga Dam. Below the dam, kayakers enjoy whitewater adventure.
Surface Flies with Nymph Droppers Entice Trout
The Watauga’s trout are quick to bite on tiny nymphs suspended from surface flies. The droppers should be weighted to get them down into feeding range. Occasionally a trout will take the surface fly, but most of the hits will come from below. Casting from a drift boat and allowing the fly to dead drift will let the nymph tumble naturally along the substrate and into the waiting mouth of a hungry trout. The successful angler must keep a sharp eye on the surface fly and assume that every twitch is evidence of a fish taking the nymph. Frequent applications of floatant are essential to keep surface flies riding high on the water.
Catch Rainbows and Browns with Streamers
Streamers such as Woolly Buggers and baitfish imitators are good choices for fishing the river’s deeper pools. Stripping these quickly and diagonally to the current will bring on definite hits that are in marked contrast to the delicate twitches that occur when trout inhale the tiny nymphs.
Most of the trout anglers reel in while fishing the Watauga are rainbows between six and ten inches in length. Although small, these fish put up fights that make a 3-wt. fly rod dance. The little ones are frequent, but that doesn’t mean the big ones aren’t there. When a large trout is hooked, the angler must resist the temptation to try and muscle it to the net. The trout should be allowed to make a few runs, gradually tiring and coming in close enough to be netted gently. The fish are lovely, gleaming silver with the trademark iridescent rainbow lateral stripe. An occasional brown will delight the fisherman with its beautiful deep red and dark spots on a rich, brown background, and shining brook trout are also among the fish Watauga anglers may catch.
Drift Boats, Personal Watercraft, and Riverside Lodging Provide Best Fishing Access
Due to the extreme shallowness of parts of the river, light watercraft are a must. There are rapids at various points along the river, so anglers need to be proficient at handling their boats. Drift boats with shallow draws will work well until the river reaches its lowest depths in summer. Kayaks, small pontoons, and other personal craft will be the best choice then. Anglers can also choose to wade, but much of the river is bounded by private land, so access is limited without a boat. Even when equipped with boats, fishermen who do not access the river from private launch areas will be at a disadvantage, since they will find it challenging to make it to some of the Watauga’s choicest areas ahead of the guides who bring clients from riverside lodges and cabins.
Among these lodgings is Watauga River Lodge and Outfitter. Until recently, this establishment was a riverside campground, but at present it is a comfortable and convenient fishing lodge. The rustic log lodge building can accommodate up to twelve anglers. A separate cabin with complete kitchen sleeps four. Guests in the main lodge do not have individual kitchens, but a well-equipped camp kitchen is available streamside. Anglers and guides are on the river early enough to beat the fishermen who must launch from public access points upstream. However, accommodations at the lodge are only available to fishermen who engage the guides. Although this is sad news for kayakers and those seeking a riverside bed & breakfast, it creates a great fish camp atmosphere for the serious anglers who stay there. Meredith Valley Cabins and Watauga River Cabins also offer streamside access, and there is a full hook-up RV pad at Watauga River Cabins.
A lush riparian corridor provides the Watuaga River with fish-harboring shade and beautiful scenery, including many varieties of water fowl. Early morning mist on the river gives way to bright sunshine and sparkling water. The sandstone and limestone that forms the river’s substrate lines the bank at places with interesting rock formations. Trout fishermen cannot fail to enjoy a trip to Tennessee’s Watauga River.
Morning Mist on the Watauga River
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