In Season Now: Bristol Fishing · Nov. 11
In peak season
- Fishing season open statewide Year-Round
- South Holston tailwater trout Year-Round
- South Holston spawning-area closures Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
From this page's species calendar. Check current TWRA size and creel limits before you fish.
HEREBristol
Bristol TN
Fishing
Report
Live conditions, species status, solunar ratings, water body profiles, TWRA regulations, and community fishing coverage for Sullivan lakes and rivers.
Bass: Hot Bite Crappie: Active Catfish: Active 5 Waters Profiled
First Look • Fishing Conditions
🌒
Waxing Crescent
Illumination: 6%
59°F
49°F
7 mph
1010
as of 5:55 PM ET
Good — increasing moonlight; fish feed actively in the morning and evening hours.
Sullivan • East Tennessee / Tri-Cities TN
Your Local Fishing Resource
HEREBristol is your local source for fishing reports, conditions, and TWRA regulations across Sullivan. Use the waters list to find lakes, rivers, and reservoirs near you, the regulations section for current limits, and the guides directory to book a trip.
Current Conditions • Bristol Waters
Species Status
Largemouth Bass
HOT
Fall feeding frenzy. Bass are chasing shad and blueback herring. Crankbaits and swimbaits dominate.
Top BaitCrankbait, Swimbait, Jig
Depth10-20 ft structure
Smallmouth Bass
FAIR
River smallmouth in deeper holes and pools. Slower presentations required.
Top BaitTube Jig, Crawfish Pattern, Ned Rig
DepthShoal tail-outs, 3-12 ft
Crappie
FAIR
Summer or late fall. Fish are deeper — target 12-20 ft brush piles with tube jigs.
Top BaitSmall Tube Jig, Live Minnow, Slip Float
Depth12-20 ft brush
Catfish
FAIR
Winter catfish are catchable but slower. Concentrate in deepest lake holes and river pools.
Top BaitCut Shad, Chicken Liver, Prepared Stink Bait
DepthChannel edges, 10-30 ft
Bluegill / Bream
FAIR
Bluegill in slower mode. Small jigs under a float near dock pilings and woody structure.
Top BaitCricket, Worm, Small Jig (1/32 oz)
DepthSpawning: 1-4 ft. Non-spawn: dock edges 4-10 ft
Trout
ACTIVE
Trout active in stocked waters. Cold water temperatures keep fish feeding.
Top BaitPowerBait, Night Crawler, Inline Spinner
DepthStocked areas — designated lakes and streams
Species status is based on seasonal patterns and current conditions for Sullivan waters. Always verify TWRA regulations for creel limits, size minimums, and any current advisories before heading out.
Report a Bite Update
First Look
Weather & Fishing Conditions
59F
Clear
Feels like 59°F
as of 5:55 PM ET
Wind
7 mph SSW
Humidity
33%
Pressure
1010 hPa
Est. Water Temp
49°F
Moon
Waxing Crescent
Sunrise / Sunset
7:01 am / 5:24 pm
Location
Bristol, TN
On-the-Water Tips
- Falling barometric pressure activates feeding. Fish are on the move — work moving baits and cover water quickly.
Solunar Index
Fishing Conditions Dashboard
Air Temperature
59°F
Too Hot — Dawn/Dusk
Wind Speed
7 mph
Light Breeze
Barometric Pressure
1010 hPa
Falling — Feeding!
Moon Phase
🌒
Good
Extended Outlook
5-Day Fishing Forecast
TONIGHT
Rain Showers Likely
59° / 49°
10 mph wind
FAIR
THU
Rain Showers Likely
54° / 36°
18 mph wind
FAIR
FRI
Rain Showers Likely
45° / 30°
13 mph wind
FAIR
SAT
Partly Sunny
44° / 26°
8 mph wind
FAIR
SUN
Sunny
49° / 27°
3 mph wind
FAIR
Lakes & Rivers
Water Body Profiles
5 fishing waters within Sullivan — with species, access, tips, and restrictions.
South Holston Lake
reservoir
Trout
Smallmouth Bass
Walleye
Angler Tip
Boone Lake
reservoir
Largemouth Bass
Crappie
Bluegill
Angler Tip
Watauga Lake
reservoir
Rainbow Trout
Lake Trout
Smallmouth Bass
Angler Tip
South Fork Holston River
river
Trout
Smallmouth Bass
Angler Tip
Beaver Creek
creek
Trout
Bluegill
Sunfish
Angler Tip
Did We Miss a Spot?
Know a Bristol-area fishing lake, pond, or river stretch that should be on this list? Let us know.
Report a Fishing SpotLocal Experts
Field Guides
No Bristol-area fishing guides are listed yet.
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I Fished Here
Beaver Creek
Waded a stretch of Beaver Creek near Bristol with the kids and they caught bream and small bass steadily on crickets under bobbers for a couple hours. Easy access, shallow and safe water, and a great low-key spot for introducing young anglers to fishing.
Species: Bluegill & Largemouth Bass
Lure/Bait: Crickets under slip bobber
Best Spot: Shallow riffles near the Beaver Creek greenway
South Holston River tailwater
Went back to the South Holston tailwater for an evening midge hatch and worked a zebra midge under an indicator through the deeper runs. Landed six trout in two hours, mostly rainbows in the 12 to 14 inch range plus one solid brown. This water fishes well any time of day if you match the hatch.
Species: Rainbow Trout
Lure/Bait: Size 18 zebra midge under indicator
Best Spot: Deep runs near Osceola Island
Wilbur Lake
Fished Wilbur Lake below Watauga Dam and picked up a handful of rainbows and one brown on small spinners worked along the rocky shoreline. Small lake but the scenery in the gorge below the dam is stunning, and it stays cool even midsummer.
Species: Rainbow & Brown Trout
Lure/Bait: 1/16 oz Panther Martin spinner
Best Spot: Rocky shoreline near the Wilbur Dam overlook
Boone Lake
Fished a main channel ledge on Boone Lake early and had a good largemouth bite using a Texas-rigged creature bait, five keepers before the bite slowed around 9am. Boone's recovering water levels have brought the fishery back strong in the last few seasons.
Species: Largemouth Bass
Lure/Bait: Texas-rigged creature bait, black/blue
Best Spot: Channel ledge near the Highway 421 bridge
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Community
Here We...
Reel Them In...
Big catches, personal bests, and tournament fish from Bristol anglers.
Trolled live shad along the deep channel edge near Piney Flats before the sun hit the water. The rod bent hard and stayed that way through a long, stubborn fight in that clear reservoir water. South Holston Lake's striper fishery keeps growing every season. Got him boatside, snapped a photo, and let him go.
Striped Bass 13 lb, 31 inches
Waded a gravel shoal on Beaver Creek not far from the Speedway with a small crawfish-colored crank bounced along bottom. She hit it hard against a submerged rock and came up thrashing in the shallow riffle. Beaver Creek's smallmouth fishery right in the Bristol city limits stays criminally underused.
Smallmouth Bass 3 lb 4 oz, 17 inches
Waded the short run below Watauga Dam into Wilbur Lake with a small Panther Martin cast tight to the bank. The take came fast in the swirling current near the powerhouse discharge. Wilbur's short stretch of water punches way above its size for trout fishing. Released her back near the rocks.
Rainbow Trout 16-inch rainbow
Cast Them Cold...
Your favorite post-fishing spots. Where do you go when the rods are stowed?
Trailered off South Holston Lake near Piney Flats and drove across to 620 State on the Virginia side of the line. Local draft, upscale pub feel, striper stories rolling into the evening. The Bristol twin-state bar scene never disappoints after a good day on the lake.
620 State — Local draft
Off Beaver Creek near the Speedway and into downtown Bristol for Blackbird Bakery. Cold brew coffee, fresh pastries, small-town bakery charm. A smallmouth morning close to the Speedway deserves a laid-back finish like this.
Blackbird Bakery — Cold brew coffee
Waded out of Wilbur Lake below the dam and drove to State Line Bar & Grill, straddling the Tennessee-Virginia border on State Street. Sweet tea, a burger, and the novelty of standing in two states at once. Wilbur Lake mornings deserve a stop with this much character.
State Line Bar & Grill — Sweet tea
Coverage
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TWRA Regulations
License requirements, bag limits, and size limits for Sullivan waters. Always verify current regulations at tn.gov.
TN Fishing Licenses
Bag & Size Limits — Bristol Waters
Regulations shown are for general reference (checked 2026-10-16). Special rules apply on many individual lakes and rivers. Always verify current rules with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency at tn.gov before keeping fish.
Spawn Timing & Key Dates
Season Calendar
Year-Round
Fishing season open statewide
TWRA: season open year-round in all waters except where closed, within 100 yards below dams, and listed exceptions.
Jun 12, 2027
Bobby Wilson Free Fishing Day
No license needed on public waters.
Jun 12 – 18, 2027
Free Fishing Week (ages 15 and under)
Kids fish free all week.
Year-Round
South Holston tailwater trout
South Holston Dam to Boone Reservoir: 16–22 in protected length range, 7 trout, only 1 over 22 in. Snagging prohibited year-round.
Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027
South Holston spawning-area closures
Closed to all fishing: Hickory Tree Bridge to Bottom Creek, and Boy's Island to first island above Webb Road Bridge.
Spawn timing is approximate and based on typical Sullivan water temperature patterns. Actual timing varies by year and water body. TWRA trout stocking schedules are published annually — visit www.tn.gov for exact dates and stocking locations.
Questions and Answers
Fishing FAQ
Common questions about fishing in the Bristol area, answered.
-
All anglers age 13 and older need a Tennessee fishing license. Licenses are available at tn.gov/twra or from authorized license agents.
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Sullivan has multiple public fishing lakes. Consult TWRA for a full lake-by-lake breakdown covering largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, bluegill, and bream.
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The best crappie fishing in Sullivan is during the spring spawn, which typically runs from late March through April when water temperatures reach 55-65 degrees F. Fish move into shallower water (2-6 feet) around structure, brush piles, and bridge pilings. A second run occurs in fall (October-November) when fish stage deeper at 12-18 feet as water cools.
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Yes — kayak fishing is well-suited for Bristol lakes, especially smaller electric-only water bodies. State-park lakes often offer kayak and canoe rentals and allow human-powered craft without a boating permit. Local rivers frequently offer scenic float trips combining paddling and bass fishing. Consult TWRA for blueway maps and put-in/take-out points.
-
Rivers near Bristol typically hold a diverse bass fishery — largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass, and rock bass in rocky shoals. Catfish (channel, blue, flathead) are common. Consult TWRA for stocking history and fly-fishing recommendations. Wade fishing at road crossings and kayak floats are the most productive approaches.
-
TWRA stocks select Sullivan waters with trout, typically in spring and fall when water temperatures are suitable. Stocking locations and schedules are posted annually on the TWRA website at https://www.tn.gov/twra — search for the freshwater trout stocking report. The standard trout bag limit is 5 per day during stocking season. Check the current TWRA schedule for specific lakes and streams stocked near Bristol.
FISHING NEWS NEAR BRISTOL TN
Fishing coverage from the 10 closest HERE cities.