Caney Fork (Buffalo Valley → Betties Is.)
Tailwater
Caney Fork (Buffalo Valley → Betties Is.) Conditions
Wade Safe · Low Generation
Flow / Discharge
Unmeasured Reach
Local Hydrology
Water Temp
Pending Telemetry
Thermal Lag Model
Generation State
Generators Idle
TVA Schedule Log
Barometer Trend
—
NWS Station Barometer
What to throw right now
Per-species breakdown & tactics
Pick a fish, then Fly, Spin, or Colors. Your last pick is remembered.
Best window: last light
Bugs are hatching (fly). Use a light fly rod with floating line and a thin tippet. Match the bug stage: emerger in the film first, dun on top next, spinner at last light. Cast a few feet above the rise and use a dead-drift so the fly floats naturally. Set the hook with a gentle strip, not a big rod lift. Learn more: Dead drift.
ON THIS WATER (Caney Fork (Buffalo Valley → Betties Island)): Cold tailwater below Center Hill Dam, 53°F year-round from hypolimnetic release. Float fish only — boat launches at Buffalo Valley, takes out at Betties Island. TVA generation rules everything; CHECK THE SCHEDULE before you launch.
Generation OFF: wade the gravel flats between the islands and sight-fish risers with a #18 Sulphur Comparadun + #20 Zebra Midge dropper. The fish key on the seams along the inside of every bend. Generation ON (float): swing a #6 weighted Wooly Bugger from a drift boat through the deep cuts on river-left below Buffalo Valley ramp.
From a boat or stable bank perch: 6-7 wt sink-tip line, 4-6 ft fluoro tippet to a weighted streamer or beadhead bugger. Cast quartering downstream, mend hard upstream once, then strip-pause-strip through the seam. The fly needs to track in the bottom third of the column; if it skates near the surface during generation you'll get nothing. Drop a split shot 6" above the fly if the sink-tip isn't getting there.
ON THIS WATER (Caney Fork (Buffalo Valley → Betties Island)): Cold tailwater below Center Hill Dam, 53°F year-round from hypolimnetic release. Float fish only — boat launches at Buffalo Valley, takes out at Betties Island. TVA generation rules everything; CHECK THE SCHEDULE before you launch.
Generation OFF: wade the gravel flats between the islands and sight-fish risers with a #18 Sulphur Comparadun + #20 Zebra Midge dropper. The fish key on the seams along the inside of every bend. Generation ON (float): swing a #6 weighted Wooly Bugger from a drift boat through the deep cuts on river-left below Buffalo Valley ramp.
From a boat or stable bank perch: 6-7 wt sink-tip line, 4-6 ft fluoro tippet to a weighted streamer or beadhead bugger. Cast quartering downstream, mend hard upstream once, then strip-pause-strip through the seam. The fly needs to track in the bottom third of the column; if it skates near the surface during generation you'll get nothing. Drop a split shot 6" above the fly if the sink-tip isn't getting there.
Flies: Wooly Bugger #6 (weighted), Sculpin Streamer #6
Match the hatch by stage. Emerger first, dun second, spinner at last light.
In a few hours
Bugs are hatching (spin). Use an ultralight rod with light fluoro. Two easy rigs: (1) a tiny olive-and-yellow spinner cast upstream and retrieved just fast enough to spin through the seam; (2) a small beadhead Pheasant Tail or Zebra Midge hung under a tiny pencil bobber and drifted naturally — often better once trout lock onto one bug. Learn more: Dead drift.
ON THIS WATER (Caney Fork (Buffalo Valley → Betties Island)): Cold tailwater below Center Hill Dam, 53°F year-round from hypolimnetic release. Float fish only — boat launches at Buffalo Valley, takes out at Betties Island. TVA generation rules everything; CHECK THE SCHEDULE before you launch.
Generation OFF: 1/16 oz white grub on 4 lb fluoro cast across the gravel runs, retrieved slow enough to spin the blade. Generation ON: heavier 1/4 oz white jig under a slip float set to 4-5 ft, drifted from the boat through the slack pockets behind islands.
Medium-action spinning rod, 8-10 lb braid + 6 lb fluoro leader. Use the heaviest jighead that still lets the lure breathe (1/4 oz minimum during generation; 3/8 oz if the flow is heavy). Cast across-current and slow-roll back with the rod tip down. Fish the slack-water pockets behind boulders + dam piers; trout stack there during high flow waiting for food.
ON THIS WATER (Caney Fork (Buffalo Valley → Betties Island)): Cold tailwater below Center Hill Dam, 53°F year-round from hypolimnetic release. Float fish only — boat launches at Buffalo Valley, takes out at Betties Island. TVA generation rules everything; CHECK THE SCHEDULE before you launch.
Generation OFF: 1/16 oz white grub on 4 lb fluoro cast across the gravel runs, retrieved slow enough to spin the blade. Generation ON: heavier 1/4 oz white jig under a slip float set to 4-5 ft, drifted from the boat through the slack pockets behind islands.
Medium-action spinning rod, 8-10 lb braid + 6 lb fluoro leader. Use the heaviest jighead that still lets the lure breathe (1/4 oz minimum during generation; 3/8 oz if the flow is heavy). Cast across-current and slow-roll back with the rod tip down. Fish the slack-water pockets behind boulders + dam piers; trout stack there during high flow waiting for food.
Lures: Small bead-head nymph (#14-18 Pheasant Tail / Zebra Midge) under a pencil bobber, 3/8 oz inline spinner, 1/4 oz curly tail grub
Small bead-head nymph under a pencil bobber, or olive spinner through seams.
In a few hours
Clear
- Natural / shad Disappears correctly in clear water. Invisible for the wrong reason once stain cuts visibility.
- Watermelon red The clear-water bass standard. Red flake reads as craw without spooking pressured fish.
Best colors right now: olive, black, white
Good colors for clear water (fall): olive, sulphur yellow, natural pheasant tail
Trout key on size and drift first, color second. In clear water naturals win. In stain, go dark or bright so the fly reads against the murk.
Full color matrix for clear water
ColorClearStainedMuddy
Natural / shadBestAvoidAvoid
Watermelon redBestAvoidAvoid
White / shadGoodGoodAvoid
PurpleGoodGoodAvoid
Black / blueAvoidGoodBest
ChartreuseAvoidBestGood
Fire tigerAvoidGoodBest
Orange / flame redAvoidBestGood
Hatch: 61% (BWO (fall)) Active hatch. Fly imitations and small surface bugs are working.
- Generation high-water is the most dangerous time on a TN tailwater. Watch the schedule, never wade during a release, and step back from the bank when the siren sounds.
Conditions Match Breakdown
- + water temp in target range+22
- + hatch active+7
- + preferred time of day+6
- + in season+5
- + barometric trend+4
- + wind speed+3
- + cloud cover+2
- + cloud preference+2
- + dissolved oxygen+2
- + flow band+2
- – dam generation running, capped at 45-5
- – unsafe wading flow, capped at 50-15
Best window: morning
Bugs are hatching (fly). Use a light fly rod with floating line and a thin tippet. Match the bug stage: emerger in the film first, dun on top next, spinner at last light. Cast a few feet above the rise and use a dead-drift so the fly floats naturally. Set the hook with a gentle strip, not a big rod lift. Learn more: Dead drift.
ON THIS WATER (Caney Fork (Buffalo Valley → Betties Island)): Cold tailwater below Center Hill Dam, 53°F year-round from hypolimnetic release. Float fish only — boat launches at Buffalo Valley, takes out at Betties Island. TVA generation rules everything; CHECK THE SCHEDULE before you launch.
Generation OFF: drift a two-fly nymph rig (#16 Pheasant Tail / #20 Zebra Midge) under a small Thingamabobber through the deep slots between gravel bars. Fish stack at the heads of the slots. Generation ON (float): high-stick a heavy nymph rig through the slack behind boulders on river-right.
From a boat or stable bank perch: 6-7 wt sink-tip line, 4-6 ft fluoro tippet to a weighted streamer or beadhead bugger. Cast quartering downstream, mend hard upstream once, then strip-pause-strip through the seam. The fly needs to track in the bottom third of the column; if it skates near the surface during generation you'll get nothing. Drop a split shot 6" above the fly if the sink-tip isn't getting there.
ON THIS WATER (Caney Fork (Buffalo Valley → Betties Island)): Cold tailwater below Center Hill Dam, 53°F year-round from hypolimnetic release. Float fish only — boat launches at Buffalo Valley, takes out at Betties Island. TVA generation rules everything; CHECK THE SCHEDULE before you launch.
Generation OFF: drift a two-fly nymph rig (#16 Pheasant Tail / #20 Zebra Midge) under a small Thingamabobber through the deep slots between gravel bars. Fish stack at the heads of the slots. Generation ON (float): high-stick a heavy nymph rig through the slack behind boulders on river-right.
From a boat or stable bank perch: 6-7 wt sink-tip line, 4-6 ft fluoro tippet to a weighted streamer or beadhead bugger. Cast quartering downstream, mend hard upstream once, then strip-pause-strip through the seam. The fly needs to track in the bottom third of the column; if it skates near the surface during generation you'll get nothing. Drop a split shot 6" above the fly if the sink-tip isn't getting there.
Flies: Wooly Bugger #6 (weighted), Sculpin Streamer #6
Match the hatch by stage. Emerger first, dun second, spinner at last light.
In a few hours
Bugs are hatching (spin). Use an ultralight rod with light fluoro. Two easy rigs: (1) a tiny olive-and-yellow spinner cast upstream and retrieved just fast enough to spin through the seam; (2) a small beadhead Pheasant Tail or Zebra Midge hung under a tiny pencil bobber and drifted naturally — often better once trout lock onto one bug. Learn more: Dead drift.
ON THIS WATER (Caney Fork (Buffalo Valley → Betties Island)): Cold tailwater below Center Hill Dam, 53°F year-round from hypolimnetic release. Float fish only — boat launches at Buffalo Valley, takes out at Betties Island. TVA generation rules everything; CHECK THE SCHEDULE before you launch.
Generation OFF: small Mepps #00 cast quartering up and swung through the seam at the head of each pool. Generation ON: switch to a 1/4 oz curly-tail grub fished from the boat in 4-8 ft of slack behind midstream cover.
Medium-action spinning rod, 8-10 lb braid + 6 lb fluoro leader. Use the heaviest jighead that still lets the lure breathe (1/4 oz minimum during generation; 3/8 oz if the flow is heavy). Cast across-current and slow-roll back with the rod tip down. Fish the slack-water pockets behind boulders + dam piers; trout stack there during high flow waiting for food.
ON THIS WATER (Caney Fork (Buffalo Valley → Betties Island)): Cold tailwater below Center Hill Dam, 53°F year-round from hypolimnetic release. Float fish only — boat launches at Buffalo Valley, takes out at Betties Island. TVA generation rules everything; CHECK THE SCHEDULE before you launch.
Generation OFF: small Mepps #00 cast quartering up and swung through the seam at the head of each pool. Generation ON: switch to a 1/4 oz curly-tail grub fished from the boat in 4-8 ft of slack behind midstream cover.
Medium-action spinning rod, 8-10 lb braid + 6 lb fluoro leader. Use the heaviest jighead that still lets the lure breathe (1/4 oz minimum during generation; 3/8 oz if the flow is heavy). Cast across-current and slow-roll back with the rod tip down. Fish the slack-water pockets behind boulders + dam piers; trout stack there during high flow waiting for food.
Lures: Small bead-head nymph (#14-18 Pheasant Tail / Zebra Midge) under a pencil bobber, 3/8 oz inline spinner, 1/4 oz curly tail grub
Small bead-head nymph under a pencil bobber, or olive spinner through seams.
In a few hours
Clear
- Natural / shad Disappears correctly in clear water. Invisible for the wrong reason once stain cuts visibility.
- Watermelon red The clear-water bass standard. Red flake reads as craw without spooking pressured fish.
Best colors right now: olive, black, white
Good colors for clear water (fall): olive, sulphur yellow, natural pheasant tail
Trout key on size and drift first, color second. In clear water naturals win. In stain, go dark or bright so the fly reads against the murk.
Full color matrix for clear water
ColorClearStainedMuddy
Natural / shadBestAvoidAvoid
Watermelon redBestAvoidAvoid
White / shadGoodGoodAvoid
PurpleGoodGoodAvoid
Black / blueAvoidGoodBest
ChartreuseAvoidBestGood
Fire tigerAvoidGoodBest
Orange / flame redAvoidBestGood
Hatch: 61% (BWO (fall)) Active hatch. Fly imitations and small surface bugs are working.
- Generation high-water is the most dangerous time on a TN tailwater. Watch the schedule, never wade during a release, and step back from the bank when the siren sounds.
Conditions Match Breakdown
- + water temp in target range+22
- + hatch active+7
- + in season+5
- + barometric trend+4
- + wind speed+3
- + cloud cover+2
- + cloud preference+2
- + dissolved oxygen+2
- + flow band+2
- – dam generation running, capped at 45-5
- – unsafe wading flow, capped at 50-21
Dam generation & flow schedule
Gen off, wadeable
Gen on, high flow
Now marker
24h release schedule (table)
| Time | Flow (cfs) | State | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 2:00 PM | 250 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 2:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 3:00 PM | 250 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 3:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 4:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 5:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 6:00 PM | 3,735 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 7:00 PM | 3,735 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 8:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 9:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 10:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 11:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 12:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 1:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 2:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 3:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 4:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 5:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 6:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 7:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 8:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 9:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 10:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 11:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 12:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 1:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 2:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 3:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 4:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 5:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 6:00 PM | 3,735 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 7:00 PM | 3,735 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 8:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 9:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 10:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 11:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Mon 12:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Mon 1:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Mon 2:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Mon 3:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Mon 4:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Mon 5:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Mon 6:00 AM | 0 | Spill/Off |
Next 24 hours · weather forecast
Scroll for hourly temperature, wind, and precipitation.
8PM
66°
5
SE
7% rain
9PM
64°
5
SE
6% rain
10PM
63°
5
SE
11PM
62°
5
SE
12AM
61°
5
SE
1AM
61°
5
SE
1AM
60°
5
SE
7% rain
2AM
59°
5
S
14% rain
3AM
58°
5
S
17% rain
4AM
57°
5
SE
21% rain
5AM
56°
5
SE
23% rain
6AM
55°
5
SE
45% rain
7AM
53°
5
SE
53% rain
8AM
56°
10
SE
56% rain
9AM
59°
10
SE
63% rain
10AM
61°
10
SE
63% rain
11AM
63°
10
SE
61% rain
12PM
61°
10
SE
58% rain
1PM
63°
10
SE
51% rain
2PM
64°
10
SE
47% rain
3PM
63°
5
SE
44% rain
4PM
64°
5
SE
37% rain
5PM
59°
5
SE
34% rain
6PM
58°
5
SE
24% rain
Latest readings
Live telemetry| Air temp (°F) | 69.0°F |
|---|---|
| Cloud cover (%) | 96% |
| Dew point (°C) | 8.3°C |
| discharge cfs | 331 cfs |
| gage height ft | 5.99 in |
| Relative humidity (%) | 45% |
| Chance of precipitation (%) | 4% |
| Barometric pressure (mb) | 1,025.8 mb |
| Rain past 6h (in) | 0.00 in |
| Wind direction | ESE (113°) |
| Wind (mph) | 5.0 mph |
Reading freshness
Source update lag| Barometric pressure (mb) | 6 min ago openmeteo |
|---|---|
| Wind (mph) | 6 min ago nws |
| Cloud cover (%) | 6 min ago nws |
| Air temp (°F) | 6 min ago nws |
| Rain past 24h (in) | 3841.1 h ago openmeteo stale |
| Rain past 6h (in) | 6 min ago nws |
Hatch matcher · this month
Active aquatic insect emergences & suggested imitations.
Midge
Sizes 18–24
Recommended patterns:
Zebra Midge #20, Griffith's Gnat #20, WD-40 #20
Tailwater staple; year-round on Caney Fork
BWO (fall)
Sizes 20–22
Recommended patterns:
RS2 #22, Parachute BWO #20
Cool overcast afternoons
Next few hours · best species
Prime windows for active feeding over the next 12 hours (CDT).
7-day forecast
Composite spot scores over the coming week.
10-day weather & pressure outlook
NWS forecast where it reaches, Open-Meteo beyond it. Days run midnight to midnight, spot time.
| Day | High | Low | Wind | Cloud | Rain % | Pressure | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Oct 31 | 79°F | 52°F | 4 mph ESE | 88% | 9% | 1,025.1 mb | nws |
| Sun Nov 1 | 65°F | 53°F | 7 mph SE | 96% | 63% | 1,027.0 mb | nws |
| Mon Nov 2 | 73°F | 51°F | 6 mph SE | 83% | 22% | 1,023.7 mb | nws |
| Tue Nov 3 | 77°F | 56°F | 11 mph SSE | 49% | 22% | 1,018.7 mb | nws |
| Wed Nov 4 | 71°F | 61°F | 10 mph SSE | 97% | 74% | 1,012.4 mb | nws |
| Thu Nov 5 | 70°F | 56°F | Calm | 96% | 59% | 1,010.7 mb | nws |
| Fri Nov 6 | 68°F | 50°F | 4 mph NW | 63% | 23% | 1,008.4 mb | nws |
| Sat Nov 7 | 68°F | 45°F | Calm | 75% | 4% | 1,010.8 mb | nws |
| Sun Nov 8 | 56°F | 48°F | 8 mph WSW | 82% | 10% | 1,009.6 mb | openmeteo |
| Mon Nov 9 | 54°F | 41°F | 4 mph WNW | 53% | 13% | 1,011.1 mb | openmeteo |
Trends · 7 days
Hover chart points for telemetry details. Gold dot represents latest reading.
Barometric pressure (mb)
Water temperature (°F)
Fishing regulations (TWRA)
Statewide creel and length limits. Confirm the current rule on TWRA before you keep a fish.
These are statewide defaults only. Many waters have their own creel, size, or season rules that override this list. Check the water you are fishing on TWRA before you go.
TWRA fishing regulations · Water-specific exceptions
Statewide defaults (19 rules)
| Species | Rule |
|---|---|
| Alligator Gar | No harvest allowed. Must be returned to water immediately. |
| Black Bass (includes Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted Alabama And Coosa) | No more than 5 black bass per day in any combination may be taken. | None |
| Catfish | Only one (1) catfish over 34 inches may be harvested per day. No harvest limit on catfish less than 34 inches. |
| Crappie | 15 | 10 inches |
| Lake Trout | Only 2 of your 7 total trout may be lake trout. | None |
| Muskellunge | 1 | 36 inches |
| Paddlefish | Paddlefish may be harvested from April 24 through May 31. Daily creel limit is 2 fish per day with no size limit. Culling is prohibited. Exceptions on Center Hill, Cherokee, and Watts Bar reservoirs. |
| Redear Sunfish (shellcracker) | 20 | None |
| Redear Sunfish Or Shellcracker | 20 | None |
| Region 1 Crappie Exception: Unless Otherwise Noted For Specific Waters. | 30 | None |
| Rock Bass Or Redeye And Shadow Bass | 20 | None |
| Sauger Or Sauger/walleye Hybrids | 10 | 15 inches |
| Shovelnose Sturgeon | No harvest allowed. Must be returned to the water immediately. |
| Skipjack Herring | 100 | None |
| Striped Bass Or Hybrid Striped Bass (any Combination) | 2 | 15 inches |
| Trout (all Trout Species Combined) | 7 | None |
| Walleye | 5 | 16 inches |
| White Bass | 15 | None |
| Yellow Bass, Bluegill, Warmouth, Bream, Bullheads, Pickerel, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, And Nongame Species | no limit | None |
Access points & navigation
Surge travel from dam:
9–13 min arrival window (≈0.5 mi downstream)
Next surge window here:
Sun 6:08 PM – 6:12 PM
· in 23h
High confidence
Water can rise several feet fast, with little or no downstream warning — leave the water at the first sign of rising flow.
Field reports & historical notes
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