South Holston and Watauga River Fishing Report: November 2025
November is here! The rivers are changing daily, and the pre-spawn bite is in full swing. Here's what you need to know as we approach the end of the year.
11/14/20253 min read
November Fly Fishing on the South Holston and Watauga River has arrived!
Fall has officially rolled in, we've seen a noticeable spike in brown trout activity. With the spawn only weeks away, these fish have been letting their guard down to bulk up before the "big dance."
To make matters even better, the South Holston River experienced an epic shad kill through late October. This phenomenon made for some of the best streamer fishing we've experienced in years! While the aggressive shad bite has since slowed, there is still plenty of great fishing to look forward to.
Check out ninety-six-year-old Harry keeping the rod bent on his annual fall trip! Harry has been fishing with the South Holston Angler for ten years now, and he currently brings his entire family along on his trips.
Keep in mind that gift certificates for guided fly fishing trips make great presents as the holidays are quickly approaching!
November officially kicks off the pre-spawn bite on the Watauga River!
As we move through the month, expect brown trout to begin moving away from their summer holding patterns and toward their spawning areas. Fishing immediately above or below shallow gravel beds could be a great strategy for finding large brown trout staging up before the spawn.
Check out Harold's new personal best rainbow!
The Best flies for Watauga River in November include:
#20-24 BWO nymph
#20-22 Pheasant Tail
#20 Zebra Midges
#14 Glo Bug (Egg Pattern)
The South Holston River recently experienced a significant shad kill.
Guides first began noticing the baitfish flowing through the dam around October 10th, and by the end of the month, it was obvious the brown trout were heavily keying into these high-protein fish snacks.
Take a look at Paul's "shad-fed" brown trout!
As of mid-November, the recent shad kill has tapered off.
The South Holston Dam is currently releasing mostly low flows. Unless East Tennessee gets significant rainfall, we should expect these lower flows to continue until further notice. This is fantastic news for all of our wade-fishing anglers!
Take a look at Collean's monster brown trout she caught while nymphing on her recent fall trip!
The Best Flies for the South Holston River in November include:
#20-22 BWO Nymph's
#18-24 Zebra Midges
#18-20 Scuds
Glo Bug (Egg Patterns)
What to Expect Moving Forward into November
Low flows are likely to continue on both rivers through November, creating optimal conditions for all wade anglers.
However, we are going to start noticing brown trout spawning on both rivers. Please make every effort to avoid wading on top of the spawning beds (redds). These areas are typically shallow gravel that appears to have been recently flipped over in an oval pattern. Redds are recognizable by their lighter color on the river bottom and can range in size from a trash can lid to a small car.
Fall and early winter can be a phenomenal time to fly fish in Tennessee. Interested in a guided fly fishing trip? Call John at 423-946-6665.
Here's a couple more highlights from recent trips!
Mike's midge game was on Point!
Collean's nymphing led to this 23" Brown Trout!
Check Out Other Fishing Reports!
Learn More about the South Holston & Watauga River!!
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