Tennessee
Watauga River below Wilbur Dam
Current River Rating
Unavailable
Not enough local guidance to rate conditions.
Low confidence
Should I Go?
Not Enough Data
Timing Outlook
No reliable fishing window is available with the current data.
Why
- This river does not yet have enough local fishing guidance to assign a rating.
Cautions
- Water temperature is unavailable.
Current Readings
- Flow
- Not available
- Gage Height
- Not available
- Water Temperature
- Not available
- Latest current reading
- Not available
Monitoring temporarily unavailable. · USGS station 03484000 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Clear
Temperature
75°F
Feels like
79°F
Wind
4 mph E
Wind gust
4 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 3:45 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.00 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 4 AM
Clear
Temp 75°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Sat 8 AM
Clear
Temp 74°F
Chance 0%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Sat 12 PM
Clear
Temp 88°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 6 mph
Sat 4 PM
Partly cloudy
Temp 93°F
Chance 12%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 8 mph
Sat 8 PM
Showers
Temp 78°F
Chance 14%
Precip 0.15 in
Wind 6 mph
Sun 12 AM
Overcast
Temp 77°F
Chance 6%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Showers
High 93°F / Low 72°F
Chance 20%
Precip 0.15 in
Max gust 13 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Drizzle
High 87°F / Low 67°F
Chance 46%
Precip 0.02 in
Max gust 13 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Drizzle
High 82°F / Low 65°F
Chance 8%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 8 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Overcast
High 88°F / Low 61°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 6 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
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Fishing Overview
Watauga River below Wilbur Dam, Tennessee. Existing public Estimated-candidate identity. USGS 03484000 has no live IV in this audit and is not remapped onto NC Sugar Grove 03479000 or Elizabethton 03486000.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Watauga River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Watauga River below Wilbur Dam is the TWRA Wilbur Dam trout tailwater. StrikeTracks keeps this existing public identity and publishes complete static fishery. USGS 03484000 has no live IV in the 2026-08-23 audit, so the destination remains ESTIMATED_CANDIDATE. Distinct from North Carolina Watauga near Sugar Grove 03479000 and from deferred Watauga at Elizabethton 03486000. Flow Context remains default-deny. Hatch Match publishes general fly suggestions only.
Target species
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
TWRA Wilbur Dam rainbow trout. USGS 03484000 has no live IV; not remapped to Sugar Grove 03479000 or Elizabethton 03486000.
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
TWRA Wilbur Dam brown trout.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Tailwater
Wilbur Dam tailwater on the Watauga in Carter County, a Tennessee trout reach distinct from the North Carolina Sugar Grove pin and from Elizabethton.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Dry flies
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Spinning
- Streamers
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Public fishing is documented by TWRA Watauga / Wilbur Dam tailwater access. Catalog coordinates remain USGS 03484000. Do not treat Sugar Grove 03479000 or Elizabethton 03486000 as this identity.
Stocking information
TWRA stocks the Wilbur Dam tailwater. Confirm current official notices.
- Stocked
Rainbow Trout
Stocked · Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
- Stocked
Brown Trout
Stocked · Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Official sources
TWRA trout-tailwater rules change. 03484000 is not remapped onto 03479000 or 03486000. Confirm current TWRA trout regulations.
Hatch Match
General fly suggestions
- Parachute-style dryGeneral attractor dry family — not a claim that a named mayfly is hatching.
- Pheasant-tail-style nymphGeneral nymph family for trout rivers without destination hatch timing.
- Elk-hair-style dryGeneral dry/attractor family. Pattern choice only — not a report that caddis are hatching.
- Woolly-bugger-style streamerGeneral streamer family. Not a forage or insect Hatch event.
These are general fishing suggestions, not a report of insects currently hatching at this destination.
Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
Carter, Tennessee
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
River Details
County
Carter
Management Category
Inland trout tailwater
Regulation Scope
Watauga River below Wilbur Dam
Regulation Summary
Watauga River below Wilbur Dam: TWRA inland trout-tailwater rules. Confirm current official regulations.
Target Species
rainbow-trout, brown-trout
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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