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Appalachians

Watauga River (Tennessee)

Marginal1,860 CFSIntermediate

Live Conditions

Watauga River (Tennessee)At Elizabethton

Marginal
1,860CFS
Discharge
4.84ft
Gauge Height
Water Temp
Updated 1 hr agoView on USGS ↗

7-Day Flow

↓ Falling

RisingFallingStable

24-Hr Pressure

28.32 inHg · → High/stable

Falling (good)RisingHigh/stable

Local Weather

76°FPartly cloudy
Wind 2 mph28.32 inHg Low & stable

Tough conditions — fish deep

Today

🌧️

Rain

90° / 72°

0.87"

Tomorrow

🌦️

Drizzle

83° / 70°

Tue

🌧️

Rain showers

85° / 69°

0.17"

Wed

⛈️

Thunderstorm

86° / 67°

0.21"

Rain in forecast — expect rising, off-color water in 12–24 hrs.

Weather by Open-Meteo · No API key · Updated every 30 min

What should I fish today?

⚡ AI

AI-powered recommendation using today's live flow, temperature, and hatch data.

6

Time of Day

Using: 1,860 CFS · Tricos continuing. Caddis evenings. Terrestrials

What should I pack?

Rod, flies, tippet, and safety gear specific to today's Watauga River (Tennessee) conditions.

🪰 Hatch Calendar

Watauga River (Tennessee) · August · Late Summer

Full calendar →

Showing typical dates — water temperature data unavailable for live hatch predictions.

Select month

JanDec

Tricos continuing. Caddis evenings. Terrestrials (ants/beetles). Cold consistent tailwater stays prime when surrounding TN streams get hot.

TricoCaddisTerrestrials

River Map

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USGS Gauge (click for site ID)Fishing Access / SectionScroll to zoom disabled — use map controls

About Watauga River (Tennessee)

The Watauga tailwater below Wilbur Dam in Carter County is one of Tennessee's premier trout fisheries — dam-controlled cold water produces exceptional wild rainbow and brown trout. The lower gauge at Elizabethton reads conditions 12 miles below the dam; flows near the dam may differ during generation.

SulphurCaddisBlue-Winged OliveTricoMidge

Regulations

Delayed Harvest sections and Catch-and-Release zones below Wilbur Dam. Check TWRA for current regulations. TVA controls dam releases — check TVA.com for generation schedules.