South Holston & Watauga Fishing Report: August 2025

It's hard to believe August is almost over! 2025 has flown by, but there is still so much awesome fly fishing to look forward to.

When we say the South Holston and Watauga Rivers are year-round fisheries, we mean it. We're in the part of summer normally known as the "dog days," yet we're still seeing great fishing even on the hottest days. Why is that? The TVA dammed two rivers, creating lakes with depths around 250 feet! This means the water leaving the dam stays at a chilling 48-52 degrees, keeping the trout happy and active all summer long.

Here's a great late-summer view! Take a look at how many fish have condensed into this one hole. Ever heard the saying, "like shooting fish in a barrel"?

Seeing "pods" of fish like this is not uncommon in the late summer months. Hot, sunny days often cause trout to seek cover in deeper pools of the river. While areas like this are usually great for catching fish, these wild trout can get wise to our game after we've landed a few.

August fishing can also be humbling, which is why it's essential to practice casting long, light leaders before a guided trip. Low, clear water is fantastic for sight fishing, but it's crucial to be able to get your fly to the fish's feeding lane. When done correctly, August can reward the experienced angler.

We've already had several trips this month that have led to multiple fish over 20 inches! It's a game of patience—you have to go in with the mindset that you're hunting for the fish. Some will flee, some will watch, and some will eat. But while most other outfitters are slow this time of year, we take full advantage of what the rivers have to offer with very little fishing pressure.

Check out this father son duo from a recent trip! Both Baker, and Matt had the chance to land a big brown and they were successful!

Guide Joe Kostura still loves getting on the water whenever his schedule and family time allow. Without a doubt, he's one of the best in the business.

We've seen a big transition this month from Sulfurs to BWO nymphs and midges. Having a wide variety of sizes and colors is key to finding success. You might be surprised how little, subtle differences can make fish react in a completely different way.

Most of our guides are fishing #18-22 zebra midges. The most productive colors have been dark brown, olive, and grey. And while silver beads are the norm on midges, we've been having a lot of success lately fishing with copper and black nickel beads.

For those who have never fished for smallmouth, there's a common misconception that they're easy to catch and not very selective. That couldn't be further from the truth.

It’s the unique way these fish feed that makes them so much fun to target with a fly rod. Watching a smallmouth slowly sip a topwater fly is as good as it gets, and we've never had a trout angler who wasn't impressed by it.

Streamers are another awesome way to target them. This past month, we’ve had a lot of smallmouth eat micro streamers on a dead drift, with some of the fish visible the entire time. This style of fishing will definitely make you a better caster, and you'll feel truly rewarded for every fish that takes a well-presented fly.

This was John's first time fly fishing for smallmouth in Tennessee. The morning started a little slow, but as the afternoon temperatures increased, so did the fish activity! By the end of the trip, John was thoroughly impressed, and these three fish were the highlights. Way to go, John!

We've had a lot of fun this August! The July rain has kept the rivers full and cold, making this one of the best late summers we've seen in years.

With September and October just around the corner, now is the time to get out there. The fishing has been really good, and we believe that as temperatures become steadily cooler, it's going to kick off an even better bite.

Call John at (423) 946-6665 to book your trip. We look forward to hearing from you!

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