One of the inevitable frustrations connected with fishing tailwaters anywhere focuses on stream flow. Depending on the dam and how many gates it has, this can range from little more than a trickle to a raging torrent. On Tennessee’s trout-holding tailwaters, flyfishermen generally fare much better when the water is “off” (i.e., when the dam gates are closed and turbines are not turning). The resultant low water levels make wade-fishing possible, produce many of the heaviest insect hatches, and allow the angler to stalk feeding trout. Conversely, flyfishermen must either say “forget it” when all turbines are operating or else opt for float-fishing trips of the sort once more commonly associated with Mackenzie boats on Western rivers. Obviously spin- and bait-fishermen are somewhat more flexible and thus less affected by stream flow, but even for them knowledge of generation schedules is important.

While the TVA never makes guarantees about its release schedules, as a service to anglers and others, it does have a toll-free telephone number that provides information on water flow for the previous eight hours. It is given in cubic feet per second on an hour-by-hour basis.

That phone number is (800) 238-2264. After the recording answers, punch 4 to access release data, and then enter the two-digit number for individual dams. For Apalachia Dam (Hiwassee River) that number is 22; for Fort Patrick Henry Dam (South Holston River) it is 04; for South Holston Dam (also the South Holston River) it is 01; Norris Dam (Clinch River) it is 17; for Watauga Dam (Watauga River) it is 02; for Wilbur Dam (also Watauga River) it is 42; for Tim’s Ford (Elk River) it is 50; and for Center Hill (Caney Fork) it is 37.

The rivers given above and the numbers for release information take us to the heart of the matter, Tennessee’s prime trout-holding tailwaters. The first four — the South Holston, Watauga, Clinch and Hiwassee — are in East Tennessee. They range southward from the Tri-Cities area to Knoxville on down to the little crossroads of Reliance north of Chattanooga. The last two, the Elk and Caney Fork rivers, are in the middle part of the state, quite convenient to Nashville. In other words, all these tailwaters are relatively close to major population centers, but they are large and fertile enough to take the kind of fishing pressure lick this guarantees yet still retain a solid kick.

In every instance, there are public access points, both in the form of launch areas for watercraft and for wading fishermen when the water is off. A careful look at the fishing regulations and other information available from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will help you in this regard.

There are also special regulations areas, such as artificial lures or catch-and-release only, on some tailwaters, and awareness of that is important. Then, too, keep in mind that stretches of these tailwaters run through private property. You are fine as long as you are in a boat, but once you go ashore, you could be trespassing. As in all areas of sport, courtesy, common sense and knowledge of the regulations will serve you well. If in doubt on something, check with a local sporting goods store or outfitter. All of these tailwaters are of sufficient importance and renown to attract such operations.