Trips run year-round; both Tennessee and Virginia have no set fishing season.
Equipment provided for all trips includes:
The South Holston River is my home water and it sits at the base of Holston Mountain. The South Holston River is considered the best wild brown trout fishery east of the Mississippi River, offering 6,000 trout per river mile and containing an overall population of 84% Brown Trout / 16% Rainbow Trout. Every brown trout in the South Holston River is a stream-born, wild fish.
The Watauga River is also another river on which we operate trips. The Watauga is a tailwater created by Wilbur Dam and is considered the sister river of the South Holston, offering trophy trout fishing!
I also offer wade trips on the area’s surrounding mountain freestone streams which include: Whitetop Laurel Creek, Tennessee Laurel Creek, Beaver Dam Creek, South Fork of the Holston headwaters, and several other streams and bodies of waters we call “Location X.”
Average temperatures:
January high: 44.5°F
January low: 25.5°F
July high: 85.5°F
July low: 64.3°F
Annual precipitation: 41.4 inches
Annual snowfall: 16.2 inches
Elevation: 1,615 feet
On full-day trips we usually meet at 8am at Mountain Sports Ltd. and the conclusion of the day is typically around 6pm or until the fish stop biting!
Half day is 4 hours on the water and can be scheduled anytime during the day, or during peak fishing time.
Trout: year-round
Smallmouth bass: March through November
Q. Where is the nearest airport?
A. The nearest airport is Tri Cities Regional (airport code "TRI").
Q. Where is the closest town?
A. Closest city or township is Bristol, Virginia, which is where my home base (Mountain Sports Ltd.) is located. Bristol is 10 minutes from the South Holston River.
Q. Is a gratuity customary?
A. The fees listed do not include gratuities or fishing license. Just a note on guide gratuities: a gratuity (tip) is tradition in the fly-fishing world. The guideline is generally between 15 to 20 percent or more per day. Gratuities should be based on overall quality of service and experience.