South Fork of the Holston River Sections A, B, and C

Stream Category: A

Wild Trout: Rainbow and Brown

Stocked Trout: Rainbow and Brown, 

Other Species of Note: None

Gear:

Dry Flies: Adams, Terrestrials 

Nymphs: Prince, Hares Ear, Pheasant Tails, Squirmy Wormies, Mop Flies

Streamers: Minnow Patterns, Wooly Buggers

Waders: Yes

Net: Yes

Wading Stick: No

Casting: Overhead, Roll, and Tuck 

About:

The stocked section of the East Fork of the Holston River Sections A,B, and C might be one of the prettiest trout streams in the state of Virginia. Just like it’s non-stocked section, this stream is a popular destination for it is abundance of trout (wild and stocked). Not to mention the state loves to put lunkers in this section. I can not stress enough how awesome the fishing is on this stream. Honestly I often drive two hours at the least very least to fish this stream, it is that good. Another benefit to this section are that the stockers are often dumb like stockers are, unlike their wild brethren upstream,  and will hit just about anything.

The stream is also very clean to be a stocked streamed, and there are plenty of pull off areas for your vehicles (even large trucks). Fishing this stream is very easy, use nymphs and streamers. But to get the big boys to play you sometimes to have to use a nice sized streamer to get them angry enough to strike.

 

Because this section is connected to the wild area, this stream often will have trout in it even when you would think it would be fished out. Just be patient and you should catch something. if youre not patient then head on up to Buller for the wild section, just be mindful of the special regulations.

 

Directions:

Middle Fork of the Holston Marion

Stream Category: A

Wild Trout: None

Stocked Trout: Rainbow, Brown, and Brook

Other Species of Note: None

Gear:

Dry Flies: Adams, Terrestrials 

Nymphs: Prince, Hares Ear, Pheasant Tails, Squirmy Wormies, Mop Flies

Streamers: Minnow Patterns, Wooly Buggers

Waders: Yes

Net: Yes

Wading Stick: No

Casting: Overhead, Roll, and Tuck 

About:

Unlike the Middle Fork of the Holston River Upper A, the Marion section is downright amazing. It has a little bit of everything for everyone; it has ample parking, very large holes and flats, nice ripples, and plenty of fishable area. The downside is that it is smack dab in the middle of Marion, which means this area receives a ton of pressure. So if you are planning on fishing this area you better make sure that you are keeping up with VDGIF stocking website.

Fishing the river will be like fishing any other stream, I would stick to nymphs and streamers, however you could possible get away with some dry flies and terrestrials (hoppers and such before the October frost). The state seems to like stocking big fish in this area as well, so make sure you bring a net, also because of its slippery freestone bottom I would carry a wading stick.

 

So if you are in Marion you are presented with a big quagmire, fish this section or the East Fork of the Holston near Buller fish hatchery or below that in the stocked area. Reastically, it will just come down to if this area has already been fished out or not. The fish in this area are a lot easier to catch, but because of the pressure it receives it will not take long for it to be fished out. I would at least check the water here before deciding to go on towards the East Fork.

 

Directions:

Middle Fork of the Holston Upper A

Stream Category: B

Wild Trout: None

Stocked Trout: Rainbow

Other Species of Note: None

Gear:

Dry Flies: None

Nymphs: Prince, Hares Ear, Pheasant Tails, Squirmy Wormies, Mop Flies

Streamers: None

Waders: No

Net: No

Wading Stick: No

Casting: Tuck 

About:

The Middle Fork of the Holston River Upper A should really be considered to be a headwater or a very small creek, instead of stream/river. This area is very hard to get to because of overgrowth and vegetation. However even though this area is laborious to get to it still has some decent fishing-that is if you are a spin fisherman. Sadly this is just not a great place to fly fish, in fact it is a nightmare because of the area you are left to fish.

This is a very small freestone stream, that does have a decent amount of fish (if you get to them before the spin fishermen do). If you do decided to fish this stream use a small rod and set it up as you would a nymphing rod. Tuck casts will be your friend. Honestly if you are in this area there are a plethora of other parts of the Holston, and other streams, that will treat you a lot better.

 

Directions:

South Fork Holston River (Buller Dam)

Stream Category: A

Wild Trout: Very Probable

Stocked Trout: Rainbow

Other Species of Note: Brook Trout

Gear:

Dry Flies: Adams, Caddis

Nymphs: Pheasant tail, Prince, Hares Ear, Stonefly patterns, Copper John, Perdigon, Squirmy Wormy, Mop, Hot Spot Flies

Streamers: Sex Dungeon, Kreelex, Wooly Buggers

Waders: Yes

Net: Yes

Wading Stick: No

Casting: Overhead, Roll, Spey, and Tuck

About:

 

Ok so what is so amazing about a hundred yard section of a river that has been damed? Well these fish are not bashful and they hit like a pitch hitter. Literally the section is like a very small pond that has an abundance of fish. You really don’t need waders, you can fish it from the banks with plenty of casting room. I actually highly recommend Switch or Spey techniques on this section, just because you can get so far across from this section of water and be proficient in covering all of the water. 

Now time for the controversy. According to VDGIF this section is only stocked with rainbow trout… I call bull shit on this! In all of my time fishing this area I have never caught a rainbow in this area, I have only caught huge brook trout. It could be that the GIS person put in the wrong species on the VDGIF website, or that the special regulation area above this area is producing wild brook trout that make their way into this pond like area. Either way there are brook trout in this area. 

Take a moment and observe if they are hitting top water, if they are put on a dry/dropper. If not fish deep with nymphs, and use moderate size streamers if you are fishing them. These fish hit with a purpose. 

Because of the dam and the special regulation area, many think that some of these fish are making their way over the dam into the other special regulation area. I myself know that there are definitely brook trout below the dam because I have caught them there. Are they wild or stocked? Who knows, either way be prepared to catch brook trout in this section. Cover every inch of this water, especially 10 feet off of the bank.

Additional comments:

Park at the parking lot at the dam and get to work. Also you will definitely be in bear country, be mindful of this. Also do not expect to get cell phone service, make sure you let someone know that you are going here and when you expect to be back. 

Directions:

South Fork of the Holston River

Stream Category: Special Regulation – Catch and Release Only

Wild Trout: Rainbow, Brown, and Brook

Other Species of Note: None

Gear:

Dry Flies: Unknown

Nymphs: Midges, Mop Flies, and Squirmmy Wormies

Streamers: Kreelex

Waders: Yes

Net: Yes (Big Net Preferred) 

Casting: Roll, Overhead, and Tuck

About:

What can I say about the South Fork of the Holston River; well besides (in my opinion) it is the best fishery that Southwestern Virginia has to offer. It is a prime example why every county that is able to support wild trout should have a catch and release stream available. Honestly, if every county had a stream like the South Fork of the Holston River, there would be a lot less bickering between the catch and release community and the put and take community. 

The only downside to this stream, unless you live close to Marion, Va, is that it is a haul to get there. From the Roanoke Valley, it takes a little under two and a half hours to get there. However those two and a half hours wasted driving are well worth it when you are able to catch citation size fish throughout the entire stream, not only are they citation sized but they are wild… yes wild. 

Now let us get down to basics of the stream, it is roughly a mile stretch of freestone creek. In certain places the stream might only be five feet wide, while others it could be ten to fifteen feet wide. For the most part you will not need anything but hip waders. Be prepared to do some very tight roll casting and have fun when your able to rip a good overhead cast, however mainly you will be doing a lot of tuck casting. This stream is a Euro-nympher’s dream come true here in Virginia.

As for the how to fish this creek: stock up on midges, these fish seem to love them – the smaller the better. In one section midges are almost all they will even consider eating, everything else spooks the bejesus out of them. But as you progress on downstream squirmy wormmies and mop flies produce quite often. You would think that other nymphs should work, but I am guessing after years of fishing pressure, these fish have become quite adept in telling the difference between a real nymph and a fake nymph. When it comes to streamers, the only streamer I have had consistent success with is the Kreelex, even then it only produces thirty percent of the time. Again these fish are intelligent. However if you hook into one of these fish be prepared for the battle of your life, I highly recommend using 5x tippet, anything smaller these fish will snap in a heartbeat. Also I recommend having a very large net with you, the smallest fish I have caught out of this stream has been eighteen inches long, well besides a few fingerlings. I know I have caught at least two citation rainbow trout in this area, and I have cussed myself for not having a measuring tape with me ever since. Also I know personally that this stream has held a state record brown trout in it, and as long as the stream is not abused this stream will definitely have a state record rainbow and brook trout one day in it. Luckily it is on state land and the VDGIF constantly patrols the area. 

Additional Notes: 

Parking is right front of the VDGIF Hatchery office. 

Directions: