Holston River below Cherokee Dam
Tailwater
Holston River below Cherokee Dam 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Stained
- Chartreuse Highest visibility in green-stained water. First pick for walleye, sauger, and crappie when stain sets in.
- Orange / flame red Sauger and walleye locate by sight even in stain. Bright contrast beats natural finishes head to head.
Best colors right now: olive, black, white
Good colors for stained water (fall): black wooly bugger, chartreuse egg, hot pink San Juan
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 stained water
ColorClearStainedMuddy
ChartreuseAvoidBestGood
Orange / flame redAvoidBestGood
Black / blueAvoidGoodBest
White / shadGoodGoodAvoid
Fire tigerAvoidGoodBest
PurpleGoodGoodAvoid
Natural / shadBestAvoidAvoid
Watermelon redBestAvoidAvoid
Hatch: 44% (midge) Light activity. Some bugs in the air, but fish aren't committed yet.
- 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
- + preferred time of day+14
- + barometric trend+6
- + hatch active+5
- + in season+5
- + cloud cover+4
- + solunar major window+4
- + wind speed+3
- + cloud preference+2
- + dissolved oxygen+2
- + new/full moon amplifier+1
- – dam generation running, capped at 45-40
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Stained
- Chartreuse Highest visibility in green-stained water. First pick for walleye, sauger, and crappie when stain sets in.
- Orange / flame red Sauger and walleye locate by sight even in stain. Bright contrast beats natural finishes head to head.
Best colors right now: olive, black, white
Good colors for stained water (fall): black wooly bugger, chartreuse egg, hot pink San Juan
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 stained water
ColorClearStainedMuddy
ChartreuseAvoidBestGood
Orange / flame redAvoidBestGood
Black / blueAvoidGoodBest
White / shadGoodGoodAvoid
Fire tigerAvoidGoodBest
PurpleGoodGoodAvoid
Natural / shadBestAvoidAvoid
Watermelon redBestAvoidAvoid
Hatch: 44% (midge) Light activity. Some bugs in the air, but fish aren't committed yet.
- 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
- + preferred time of day+6
- + barometric trend+6
- + hatch active+5
- + in season+5
- + cloud cover+4
- + solunar major window+4
- + wind speed+3
- + cloud preference+2
- + dissolved oxygen+2
- + new/full moon amplifier+1
- – dam generation running, capped at 45-30
Best window: morning
Bugs are hatching (fly). On rivers, try a Stimulator or Chubby Chernobyl with a rust Hare's Ear dropper and dead-drift across current. On lakes, twitch a perch-colored Game Changer along rocky banks at first light. Learn more: Dead drift and Topwater bass.
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.
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
Olive wooly bugger or black game changer. Dark silhouette first, drop to rust nymph if refusals.
In a few hours
Bugs are hatching (spin). River: tick a small brown jig with a smoke craw trailer along bottom seams. Lake: a tiny hair jig under a slip-bobber along rocky shore, or a Yellow Magic popper twitched slowly with long pauses. Learn more: Topwater bass.
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.
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: 1/16 oz brown jig + 2" smoke craw trailer (bottom-tick presentation), 3/8 oz inline spinner, 1/4 oz curly tail grub
Black and blue jig or chartreuse spinnerbait tight to cover. Stained fish hold on wood and rock edges.
In a few hours
Stained
- Chartreuse Highest visibility in green-stained water. First pick for walleye, sauger, and crappie when stain sets in.
- Orange / flame red Sauger and walleye locate by sight even in stain. Bright contrast beats natural finishes head to head.
Best colors right now: olive, black, white
Good colors for stained water (fall): black / blue jig, chartreuse / white spinnerbait
Bass see red and green well and chase high-contrast silhouettes in stain. Black and blue reads as a shad or bluegill profile when detail drops out.
Full color matrix for stained water
ColorClearStainedMuddy
ChartreuseAvoidBestGood
Orange / flame redAvoidBestGood
Black / blueAvoidGoodBest
White / shadGoodGoodAvoid
Fire tigerAvoidGoodBest
PurpleGoodGoodAvoid
Natural / shadBestAvoidAvoid
Watermelon redBestAvoidAvoid
Hatch: 44% (midge) Light activity. Some bugs in the air, but fish aren't committed yet.
- 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
- + preferred time of day+10
- + water temp in target range+7
- + hatch active+5
- + in season+5
- + barometric trend+5
- + cloud cover+4
- + solunar major window+4
- + wind speed+3
- + cloud preference+2
- + dissolved oxygen+2
- + new/full moon amplifier+1
- – dam generation running, capped at 45-16
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 | 10,676 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 2:00 PM | 0 | 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 | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sat 7:00 PM | 0 | 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 | 3,500 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 1:00 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 | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 7:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 8:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 9:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Sun 10:00 PM | 0 | Spill/Off | |
| Mon 12:00 AM | 4,000 | Spill/Off |
Next 24 hours · weather forecast
Scroll for hourly temperature, wind, and precipitation.
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Latest readings
Live telemetry| Air temp (°F) | 70.0°F |
|---|---|
| Cloud cover (%) | 92% |
| Dew point (°C) | 3.9°C |
| Relative humidity (%) | 32% |
| Chance of precipitation (%) | 2% |
| Barometric pressure (mb) | 1,026.0 mb |
| Rain past 6h (in) | 0.00 in |
| Wind direction | E (90°) |
| Wind (mph) | 10.0 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) | 3840.1 h ago openmeteo stale |
| Rain past 6h (in) | 5.1 h 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
Year-round on TVA tailwaters (Clinch, Holston, Watauga, S Holston)
BWO (fall)
Sizes 20–22
Recommended patterns:
RS2 #22, Parachute BWO #20
Weeks 36-46 (Sep-early Nov); cool overcast afternoons. Shop consensus.
Next few hours · best species
Prime windows for active feeding over the next 12 hours (EDT).
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 | 77°F | 52°F | 6 mph ENE | 74% | 5% | 1,026.3 mb | nws |
| Sun Nov 1 | 67°F | 55°F | 7 mph ENE | 95% | 19% | 1,028.2 mb | nws |
| Mon Nov 2 | 73°F | 53°F | 5 mph ENE | 73% | 22% | 1,025.7 mb | nws |
| Tue Nov 3 | 78°F | 50°F | 4 mph ENE | 41% | 1% | 1,021.1 mb | nws |
| Wed Nov 4 | 75°F | 58°F | 5 mph E | 79% | 59% | 1,014.7 mb | nws |
| Thu Nov 5 | 72°F | 58°F | 3 mph NNE | 96% | 69% | 1,012.0 mb | nws |
| Fri Nov 6 | 70°F | 54°F | 4 mph NW | 86% | 38% | 1,006.4 mb | nws |
| Sat Nov 7 | 67°F | 51°F | Calm | 63% | 15% | 1,010.2 mb | nws |
| Sun Nov 8 | 62°F | 49°F | 7 mph S | 58% | 12% | 1,009.6 mb | openmeteo |
| Mon Nov 9 | 52°F | 42°F | 10 mph W | 66% | 16% | 1,009.6 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
- BYRD BRANCH 36.1367, -83.4952 phone map Google OSM
- Beech Grove Access Area 36.3686, -83.4636 phone map Google OSM
- Black Oak Dock 36.1540, -83.4863 phone map Google OSM
- Boat Ramp 36.1558, -83.5135 phone map Google OSM
- Bridgeport 36.3522, -83.5196 phone map Google OSM
- Grainger County Park 36.2134, -83.4678 phone map Google OSM
- Greenlee Campground May Springs 36.2151, -83.4630 phone map Google OSM
- HWY 25-2 36.3902, -83.4498 phone map Google OSM
- Hwy 25E Bridge Access 36.4011, -83.4601 phone map Google OSM
- Hwy 92 Access 36.1677, -83.5040 phone map Google OSM
- Indian Creek Bridge 36.3763, -83.4438 phone map Google OSM
- LAMBDIN BRANCH 36.2407, -83.4370 phone map Google OSM
- Mossy Creek 36.1317, -83.5066 phone map Google OSM
- Oakland Hollow Access Area 36.1772, -83.4883 phone map Google OSM
- WA-NI Village Boat Dock 36.2219, -83.4516 phone map Google OSM