Epic March Fishing on South Holston & Watauga – Trophy Browns Everywhere!
The first week of March brought incredible fishing to East Tennessee! Both the South Holston and Watauga Rivers produced non-stop action all day! Big trout were landed.
3/9/20252 min read
March Kicks Off with a Bang: High Water on the South Holston & Watauga Has the Browns Fired Up!
The South Holston Angler team has had an action-packed start to March! Guide trips are rolling in, and the fishing has been nothing short of phenomenal. This is shaping up to be one of the best early March bite windows we can remember. Not only are we landing plenty of wild trout, but we’re also getting shots at quality brown trout every day!
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South Holston & Watauga River Update: Spring Hatches Are Heating Up!
We kicked off the week with temperatures climbing close to the mid-60s! As conditions warmed, we noticed a shift in feeding behavior—egg patterns became less effective on the South Holston. However, one standout brown trout still had eggs in her!
On sunny days, small BWO nymphs fished behind an egg or worm pattern produced the best results. As the week progressed and colder temps with cloud cover moved in, the bite changed again. Surprisingly, scud and sowbug imitations became the go-to patterns, fooling plenty of fish in the slower runs
On the Watauga River, fish in the upper stretches were still willing to eat egg patterns. However, from Hunter Bridge boat ramp downstream, the bite shifted—caddis pupa imitations, BWO nymphs, and zebra midges became the most effective droppers behind an egg pattern.
Wilbur Dam has been cutting generation from 1-3 PM almost daily, creating a prime falling water bite. If you can time it right, this window offers an excellent opportunity to target trout on BWO dries.
What to Expect Moving Into Mid-March on the South Holston & Watauga Rivers
We're looking at several days in the 70s next week! Warmer temps should kick bug activity into high gear, setting up some incredible fishing conditions. TVA generation is expected to continue for the next few weeks, but that hasn’t slowed down the bite. We’re anticipating another fantastic week on the water. Click and scroll the gallery below for some highlight browns from last week’s trips!
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