Despite the threat of high water from hurricane Delta a group of us headed out to Bristol to enjoy a few days of fishing. The guides were able to effectively deal with the high water, and put everyone on fish!
We are leaving the planning info posted for reference. Check out the pictures!
This is the first planning heads up for all members of the club who expressed interest in our Fall trip to fish for some great trout and see some beautiful mountain scenery this fall. As of now the plans are to stay in the Bristol Hotel (is you choose), in Bristol VA checking in Sunday 10/11 and departing Friday 10/16 but the days are totally flexible depending on your personal desires. I’m in the midst of arranging a group discount and we are also getting a corporate rate through the Elk Creek Outfitters who will be our guide service.
If you check out the hotel website, you will find that this is by far the nicest hotel in Bristol and comes highly recommended by our guides. In is in the middle of Bristol, right on the state line and has a wonderful rooftop bar. More info to follow and of course you may stay elsewhere if you choose.
Per the head guide, we can float or wade, but the wading on the Watauga and the S. Holsten will be totally dependent on when the TVA decides to generate and releases water. Those of you who waded last year can attest to the fine fishing right below the damn and wier, but when the sirens sound and the lights flash, it’s time to snap off that last big lunker and get out of the water. There may be other smaller streams to fish in the area and I’ll be getting more info on that as well. I don’t know the price of a wading guide yet but the floating will be $500 per boat per day for two or $400 per boat for a single, plus the customary tip.
The Tennessee Wildlife people don’t release a schedule of when they stock the waters, but the boys at the outfitters think the second week of October to be better than the first. Also there should be more color in the trees, the water is cooler for better fishing and the leaf drop shouldn’t have started in earnest yet.
I will be sending out specific hotel cost info by Friday but what I’d like for you all to do now is check your calendar and still see if you’re able to go. Obviously with a group this size, getting guides and boast will require significant early notice of our intentions relative to needs for boats and guides. If you can let me know the dates you plan to fish and whether you plan to float or wade by early next week, it would be greatly appreciated.
All the financial aspects of the trip will be between you and Elk Creek and you and the hotel.
Looking forward to another great time in the mountains.
For those who want to wade fish for a day or to, Steve Moore provides this guidance:
I use a bike to fish Whitetop since is along the very nice VA Creeper Trail.
There are bike rentals all over the place in Damascus. Although you do not need a bike to fish Whitetop, having one allows you to get away from your perception of pressure.
Here is my typical three-day fishing plan:
Whitetop Day 1: 36.643561, -81.739306 (43 Minutes from Bristol)
Whitetop Day 2: 36.629534, -81.708564 (48 Minutes)
VA South Holston Day 3: Lower access: 36.7606739, -81.5373974 and walk to the special regulation section above the small dam (51 Minutes)
Potential Alternates for those who do not want to pay the added cost of the bike rental for Whitetop:
Day 1: Green Cove Creek (Also bike fishing along the VA Creeper Trail; I have not been): 36.648173, -81.672266 (54 minutes) [I have not fished this]
Day 2: Big Tumbling Creek (Fee fishing $8.00 daily charge): 36.922382, -81.840247 (fish section C upstream – shown in this video – https://youtu.be/AqUsxBsnpKs
General info: https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/blog/big-tumbling-creek-trout/)
Day 3: VA South Holston per above.
You can also open up the VA trout fishing map and look for wild trout streams. Also, Fly Fisher’s Guide to VA is a good reference.
http://www.dgif-virginia.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=441ed456c8664166bb735b1db6024e48
Another pay location is Crooked Creek near Galax – but it is not very scenic:
http://www.switchfisher.com/trout_content/virginia/carroll/crooked_creek/CrookedCreekLower.html
General info from the VA Fish folks here.
Info on Whitetop:
http://www.flyfisherman.com/south/tennessee/whitetop-laurel-creek/
http://www.perfectflystore.com/wwhitetolaurel.html
Hatch Chart
http://www.perfectflystore.com/hcwhitetoplaurelc.html
Info on Holston:
http://www.perfectflystore.com/wsofkholstenr.html
https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/waterbody/holston-river-south-fork/
You will need the more expensive annual trout stamp in addition to the 5 day and the national forest permit to fish Whitetop-Laurel
Here is the overview of Virginia streams in the area. Big Wilson is nice as well in the upper section – small water, a bit of a hike – http://switchfisher.com/trout_content/virginia/grayson/big_wilson/TroutHike-BigWilsonCreek.html