Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, for us and for the entire region, as we struggle through this very difficult time. As you have seen on the news, there are areas that are completely devastated by this storm, but fortunately, Tailwaters Lodge and the Bristol area did not suffer the brunt of Hurricane Helene.
TVA is generating at an elevated level to begin drawing down the lake and we’ve been informed by our guides that the river is fishing pretty well. Given the increased generation, it is unlikely that the river will provide many wade opportunities in the next several weeks. That being said float opportunities abound!
Many thanks to everyone working tirelessly to get immediate relief to those in need. The Northeast Tennessee Disaster Relief Center has been set up at Bristol Motor Speedway as a collection and distribution hub to assist residents of Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Washington, and Unicoi Counties. They are looking for volunteers and donations and have even set up an Amazon wishlist with the most urgent/in need supplies.
We consider ourselves truly blessed to have come through, and look forward to welcoming our lodgers to this place of respite.
- The Tailwaters Lodge Team -
Premier Lodging & Guide Service on the South Holston River
The South Holston River is deemed a premier trout fishing river that begins as a tailwater (water emanating from the bottom of the dam) of the South Holston Lake. The cold, deep waters emanating from the dam ensure good fishing conditions year-round. When the TVA is not generating, the river is ideal for wade fishing, seldom finding water over waist-deep. The river is approximately 80 yards wide and our river frontage abuts the TVA river frontage offering approximately one-mile of wade-able river to fish. During times of water generation, the river is ideal for float fishing with a guide. They know the river and will offer an exciting fishing experience. Biologists say that the river fish population exceeds 8,500 trout per mile. Brown trout, which are the majority of the trout, are wild-trout (no longer stocked), while rainbow trout are stocked each year, though very plentiful.
We have partnered with the South Holston River Company, an Orvis endorsed guide service, to offer our lodgers the best fishing experience possible during their stay. To learn more about the partnership, click here.
Fishing
Tailwaters Lodge is beautifully located on 540’ of the South Holston River, a tailwater just below the South Holston Dam, a prime spot for wade-fishing for wild brown trout and plentiful rainbow trout. And, the property abuts the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) public lands offering an additional mile of ideal wade fishing! You can also book a guided float as part of your lodging reservation with our partnered guide service South Holston River Company for no additional fee.
River Water Temperature Gauges
Trout love cold water! Three temperature gauges have been installed by The Blue Ridge Guide Association and Overmountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited on the South Holston and Watauga river. There is a station located on our property, one near Big Springs boat ramp, and one in Bluff City to give a real time report of the South Holston's water temperature. As members of the Blue Ridge Guide Association, we are working with TVA to keep the water flowing so it keeps the water cold and the fish happy.