Fly Fishing the South Holston River. Mike Adams

      South Holston River (Tennessee–Virginia)

       Location: The South Holston River (aka SoHo tailwater) is in upper east Tennessee near Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia. The water that flows into the South Holston Lake actually comes from Virginia. Central to several states in the region, it is within minutes of east Tennessee, southwest Virginia, and western North Carolina.

      The South Holston Dam was completed in 1950, creating South Holston Lake, which covers approximately 7,580 acres and is 13½ miles long, with 160 miles of shoreline. Stocking of the river with brown and rainbow trout began in 1954. Each year we see 90,000 to 100,000 rainbows introduced into the waters to supplement their population. Browns have not been stocked in these incredible waters since 2003. To date, the largest brown caught was 43 inches, with an approximate weight of 33 pounds. The best news is that it was caught and released!

      A 2006 survey showed 37 percent of all fishing on the SoHo is fly fishing. The river is a tremendous economic resource for the surrounding area. Nearby Bristol Motor Speedway hosts two of NASCAR’s biggest races annually, and many race fans come early during race weeks to experience the SoHo’s great fishing. You have your choice of floating or wading. As on all tailwaters, you need to be aware of the release schedule from the dam. Go online at tva.com to get the projected water flow.