Fishing Season: year round

South Fork Holston River - VA

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

40

Mountain Sports-Bristol Va's Tip of the Week

Mayfly and Stonefly patterns followed by a small pheasant tail is working well. Don't be afraid to throw terrestrials as summer wanes. Grasshoppers, Beetles, Ants, Inchworms etc...

Directions open in app

Map of South Fork Holston River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

South Holston River Company
Jimmy Cheers

5-Day Outlook as of 11/19/25

Winter in creeping in. Very Low flows as rainfall has lessened over the last month. Cooler weather patterns will have fish happy and hungry. Dry dropper rigs and tight line nymphing in the swifter water will get the job done! Using bigger bugs will work great. Bigger pheasant tails, girdle bugs, mop flies, and worms!

Techniques & Tips as of 11/19/25

The South Fork is a great river with many opportunities to fish different techniques. Nymphs, dries, streamers the choice is yours. A hopper dropper rig is very effective for this stretch.

Local Species Available year round

  • Fish Icon

    Trout

Mountain Sports-Bristol Va's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Shaky Worm N/A 8
Bead Head Rubber-Legged Orvis CJ N/A 14
Fly Formerly Known As Prince N/A 14
Hot Head Euro Pheasant Tail N/A 16
Adams Parachite N/A 14-18
Tellico Nymph yellow 12-16
Griffin's Stimicator N/A 12
March Brown N/A 10-14
Elk Hair Caddis olive 14-18
Squirmy Worm Red 12-14

Shaky Worm

This trout fishing worm pattern will make you a believer.

2.49

Item #0K7T

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Mountain Sports-Bristol Va's Recommended Gear

Description: About South Fork Holston River

The South Fork of the Holston is a fairly small river located in SWVA. It is home of the Virginia State record brown trout of over 15lbs. This river has a lot of Spring Fed influence which makes it a super trout fishery. On one section of the South Fork you might fish for rainbows in a fast riffle or go upriver and find Browns sipping on midges while the stream meanders through a meadow. This will be the coolest flowing water in the summer and warmest flowing water in the winter; great fishing year round!

Nearest Airport:

Tri Cities Regional Airport

Hatches:

Sulpher and nymph dropper rigs. BWO's on overcast day's.

Best Time to Fish:

mid day, evening

Best Stretch:

Buller Fish Hatchery and up river (upper regions)

Best Access:

Buller Dam parking Lot