Watauga River

The SHO's sister tailwater.

The Watauga runs below TVA's Wilbur Dam — a re-regulation dam below Watauga Dam — for roughly 17 miles to its confluence with the South Holston. Cold tailwater releases keep it fishable year-round.

It fishes as a complement to the South Holston: bigger water in places, less crowded, and historically known for trophy brown trout. The two rivers are usually fished as a single trip.