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The SoHo. Wild browns and the famous sulphur hatch. The river tops out around 10 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
On the chart, South Fork Holston River draws 243 acres inside 29.7 miles of shoreline. A development index of 13.6 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. All of it is shallow-zone water — under ~15 ft across the entire basin, so the food chain has the run of the place. Tip to tip the water measures near 10 mi with a 1.8-mi widest point. The water lies in Sullivan County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Watauga River, 10 mi south of here.
Spring puts rainbow trout in skinny water — 3 to 10 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 10 ft. South Holston Dam tailrace is the standout, a dam tailrace at roughly 9 ft, rated prime for spring rainbow trout. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | South Holston Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | South Holston Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | South Holston Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 10 ft | dawn | South Holston Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Come spring, look for brown trout tight to the bank in 1 to 10 ft. Through summer count on 3 to 10 ft; the winter hold is 1 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it South Holston Dam tailrace: a dam tailrace around 9 ft that scores prime in spring. Best bite is after dark and early morning. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | South Holston Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | night & dawn | South Holston Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dusk & dawn | South Holston Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 10 ft | dawn | South Holston Dam tailrace (9 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Count 8 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, South Holston Dam tailrace, sits near 9 ft.
Access data: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency — Access Sites. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Tennessee waters are set by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency — and special regulations can apply to South Fork Holston River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Tennessee fishing regulations →
South Fork Holston River is about 10 ft (3 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target rainbow trout, brown trout on South Fork Holston River.
South Holston Dam tailrace is the top-rated area: a dam tailrace in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on South Fork Holston River is regulated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Check the official Tennessee regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Watauga River 10 mi · Boone Lake 11 mi · South Holston Lake 11 mi, TN/VA · Watauga Lake 14 mi · Hidden Valley Lake 25 mi, VA · Laurel Bed Lake 38 mi, VA · John W. Flannagan Reservoir 50 mi, VA · Lake James 54 mi, NC · Rural Retreat Lake 56 mi, VA · W. Kerr Scott Reservoir 56 mi, NC · French Broad River 60 mi, NC · Fishtrap Lake 65 mi, KY
See how South Fork Holston River stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Tennessee · best brown trout lakes in Tennessee
Browse all Tennessee fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.