It’s a fishing day

South Holston River fishing conditions · Tennessee

Today, 1 pm–9 pmRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 68.

Log a trip here
Right now: 58 for rainbow trout, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 583 am
  2. 58
  3. 58
  4. 586 am
  5. 58
  6. 58
  7. 589 am
  8. 53
  9. 58
  10. 5812 pm
  11. 68
  12. 68
  13. 683 pm
  14. 68
  15. 68
  16. 686 pm
  17. 68
  18. 68
  19. 589 pm
  20. 53
  21. 53
  22. 53Tue
  23. 58
  24. 58
  25. 683 am
  26. 68
  27. 68
  28. 586 am
  29. 58
  30. 53
  31. 539 am
  32. 53
  33. 53
  34. 5312 pm
  35. 58
  36. 68
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
0 mph

From the

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:45 am

Sky
Clear

No rain expected

Air
43°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Tennessee regulations for these waters.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

68MarginalToday, 1 pm–9 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

7 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Tennessee: 7 trout a day combined, no statewide minimum (only 2 may be lake trout). Tailwater rules: Clinch 14–20" protected; South Holston 16–22" protected; Watauga Quality Trout Area 14" and 2 a day; Hiwassee delayed harvest Oct 1–Feb 28; Caney Fork 5 a day with a 14–20" protected range and a 24" brown trout minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Tennessee

More on rainbow trout

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

60MarginalToday, 1 pm–9 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Brown trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Brown trout feeds less actively under bright moon. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

7 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Tennessee: 7 trout a day combined, no statewide minimum (only 2 may be lake trout). Tailwater rules: Clinch 14–20" protected; South Holston 16–22" protected; Watauga Quality Trout Area 14" and 2 a day; Hiwassee delayed harvest Oct 1–Feb 28; Caney Fork 5 a day with a 14–20" protected range and a 24" brown trout minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Tennessee

More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.43 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:45 am
  • Sunset today6:38 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:50 am–8:50 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:30 pm–2:30 pm
  • Minor solunarTonight 6:10 pm–7:10 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

Tennessee TWRA report, Oct 11

Names brown trout, rainbow trout, which people fish for here. It covers the whole state, so it may not describe these waters.

Read it at Tennessee TWRA

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

A celebrated northeast-Tennessee tailwater below South Holston Dam, renowned for its prolific sulphur hatch and dense wild brown trout. Cold, even flows and limestone richness make it one of the premier dry-fly rivers in the Southeast.

TN: all trout from 16 to 22" must be released; 7 a day with only 1 over 22". Two spawning areas close to all fishing Nov 1–Jan 31. Wade during low generation — check the TVA release schedule.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Watauga River16 mi · TennesseeBest today 2 pm–4 pm
78Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at South Holston River?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at South Holston River you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at South Holston River?

South Holston River is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at South Holston River?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at South Holston River against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does South Holston River have?

South Holston River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. TN: all trout from 16 to 22" must be released; 7 a day with only 1 over 22". Two spawning areas close to all fishing Nov 1–Jan 31. Wade during low generation — check the TVA release schedule.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at South Holston River?

state agency regulations apply at South Holston River. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is South Holston River tidal water?

No. South Holston River is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.