The Watauga River is a freestone river in North Carolina, listed as Delayed Harvest by North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
1 USGS gauge on the water reports flow. 7 guides and 2 shops nearby are listed here; the nearest destination hub is Northeast Tennessee: the South Holston & the Watauga.
Watauga River is a freestone river in North Carolina. Our destination hub Northeast Tennessee: the South Holston & the Watauga is 23 mi away in a straight line (36 by road) and lists it among its waters.
Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.
Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.
Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of Watauga River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Watauga River with 1 USGS gauge, and shops and guides with an exact address within 40 miles.
Restrooms within 2 miles of Watauga River in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
No restroom mapped within 2 mi yet — add one you know.
Campgrounds, fishing access sites and boat ramps often have one that isn't on the map yet.
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Laurel CreekThe South Toe River, Yancey County, North Carolina. Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Laurel Creek.
North Carolina · about 1 mi
Wild Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Dutch CreekThe French Broad River in Henderson County, North Carolina. Photo: Pollinator (English Wikipedia), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Dutch Creek.
North Carolina · about 4 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Pond CreekBradley Creek, a stream in the Mills River watershed in Pisgah National Forest, about three miles from the North Mills River (not the North Mills itself). Photo: Will Thomas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Pond Creek.
North Carolina · about 4 mi
Wild Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Shawneehaw CreekThe Davidson River at Davidson River Campground, Pisgah National Forest. Photo: USDA / Lance Cheung, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Shawneehaw Creek.
North Carolina · about 5 mi
Wild Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Howard CreekThe Tuckasegee River from Old River Road, Bryson City. Photo: Matthew T. Bradley, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Howard Creek.
North Carolina · about 7 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Elk RiverThe Oconaluftee River in Cherokee, North Carolina. Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Elk River.
North Carolina · about 8 mi
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout.
On the Delayed Harvest Trout Waters list (North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, read 2026-10-16). All waters with this designation
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
5 guides name it on their website
Banner Elk, NC · 4 mi
Float trips · Wade trips · South Holston & Watauga
Names this water
Boone, NC · 8 mi
Float trips · Wade trips · South Holston & Watauga
Names this water
Linville, NC · 12 mi
Float trips · Wade trips · South Holston & Watauga
Names this water
Linville, NC · 12 mi
Float trips · Wade trips · Watauga & South Holston
Names this water
Asheville, NC · 59 mi
Float trips · Wade trips · Henry's Fork & Watauga
Names this water
What 6 nearby guide websites mention: what guides advertise, not a survey or a promise of what you will catch.
Named on 6 nearby guide websites
17 hatches charted for the region, not measured on this water. From North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
Midges (all year) · Blue-winged olive (February to March, May, October to December) · Early black stonefly (February to March, October to December) · Blue Quill (March to April) · Quill Gordon (March to April) · Black caddis (April to May) · and 11 more on the chart
Elizabethton sits on the Watauga River below Watauga and Wilbur dams in the north-east corner of Tennessee; the South Holston River runs south-west from South Holston Dam past Bluff City toward Kingsport, and Johnson City and Bristol, on the Virginia line, are the nearby cities.
Destination hub · 23 mi away in a straight line, 36 by road
What to bring on a guided float fishing trip: rain gear, polarized sunglasses, sun protection, a dry bag and your license. Most guides supply rods and flies. Estimated prices and where to buy.
Usually supplied by the guide; a 9′ 5–6 weight if you bring your own · Trout on most western float rivers
Open the checklistSeams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Watauga River.
No stories from here yet.
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the USGS gauge WATAUGA RIVER NEAR SUGAR GROVE, NC. Water type is our own classification.
Warning: Rising fast: be careful, conditions are changing
No water temperature here.
At WATAUGA RIVER NEAR SUGAR GROVE, NC (USGS 03479000) Provisional USGS data
USGS 03479000 · NWS SGWN7
What the agencies suggest
Stand back from the shoreline and be aware of surroundingsRhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Wading and boating should be avoided if waters are running high and muddy and the streambed is not visiblePennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST · provisional USGS data
Above normal for Nov 5 Rising · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 6:30 PM EDT to Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST; ranging 60.1 to 517 ft³/s; latest 203 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST | 203 | 2.16 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 PM EST | 216 | 2.2 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 PM EST | 226 | 2.23 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 PM EST | 240 | 2.27 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 PM EST | 255 | 2.31 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 PM EST | 274 | 2.36 |
| Nov 5, 11:15 AM EST | 293 | 2.41 |
| Nov 5, 10:15 AM EST | 314 | 2.46 |
| Nov 5, 9:15 AM EST | 339 | 2.52 |
| Nov 5, 8:15 AM EST | 371 | 2.59 |
| Nov 5, 7:15 AM EST | 404 | 2.66 |
| Nov 5, 6:15 AM EST | 444 | 2.74 |
| Nov 5, 5:15 AM EST | 486 | 2.82 |
| Nov 5, 4:15 AM EST | 517 | 2.88 |
| Nov 5, 3:15 AM EST | 439 | 2.73 |
| Nov 5, 2:15 AM EST | 223 | 2.22 |
| Nov 5, 1:15 AM EST | 153 | 1.99 |
| Nov 5, 12:15 AM EST | 94.9 | 1.75 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 PM EST | 81 | 1.68 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 PM EST | 75.4 | 1.65 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 PM EST | 71.8 | 1.63 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 PM EST | 68.3 | 1.61 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 PM EST | 68.3 | 1.61 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 PM EST | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 PM EST | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 PM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 PM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 PM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 4, 11:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 4, 10:15 AM EST | 60.1 | 1.56 |
| Nov 4, 9:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 4, 8:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 4, 7:15 AM EST | 60.1 | 1.56 |
| Nov 4, 6:15 AM EST | 60.1 | 1.56 |
| Nov 4, 5:15 AM EST | 60.1 | 1.56 |
| Nov 4, 4:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 4, 3:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 4, 2:15 AM EST | 60.1 | 1.56 |
| Nov 4, 1:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 4, 12:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 PM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 3, 11:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 3, 10:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 3, 9:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 3, 8:15 AM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 3, 7:15 AM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 3, 6:15 AM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 3, 5:15 AM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 3, 4:15 AM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 3, 3:15 AM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 3, 2:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 3, 1:15 AM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 3, 12:15 AM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 PM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 PM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 PM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 PM EST | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 PM EST | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 PM EST | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 PM EST | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 PM EST | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 PM EST | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 PM EST | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 PM EST | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 PM EST | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 11:15 AM EST | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 10:15 AM EST | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Nov 2, 9:15 AM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 2, 8:15 AM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 2, 7:15 AM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 2, 6:15 AM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 2, 5:15 AM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 2, 4:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 2, 3:15 AM EST | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Nov 2, 2:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 2, 1:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 2, 12:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 PM EST | 60.1 | 1.56 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 PM EST | 60.1 | 1.56 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 PM EST | 60.1 | 1.56 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 PM EST | 60.1 | 1.56 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 PM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 PM EST | 60.1 | 1.56 |
| Nov 1, 11:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 10:15 AM EST | 60.1 | 1.56 |
| Nov 1, 9:15 AM EST | 60.1 | 1.56 |
| Nov 1, 8:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 7:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 6:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 5:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 4:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 3:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 2:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM EST | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 1:15 AM EDT | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Nov 1, 12:15 AM EDT | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 PM EDT | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 PM EDT | 61.7 | 1.57 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 PM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 PM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 PM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 PM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 PM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 PM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 PM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 PM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 PM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 PM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 11:15 AM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 10:15 AM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 9:15 AM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 8:15 AM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 7:15 AM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 6:15 AM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 5:15 AM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 4:15 AM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 3:15 AM EDT | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Oct 31, 2:15 AM EDT | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Oct 31, 1:15 AM EDT | 63.3 | 1.58 |
| Oct 31, 12:15 AM EDT | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 PM EDT | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 PM EDT | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 PM EDT | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 PM EDT | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 PM EDT | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 PM EDT | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 PM EDT | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 PM EDT | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 PM EDT | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 PM EDT | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 PM EDT | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 PM EDT | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Oct 30, 11:15 AM EDT | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Oct 30, 10:15 AM EDT | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Oct 30, 9:15 AM EDT | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Oct 30, 8:15 AM EDT | 64.9 | 1.59 |
| Oct 30, 7:15 AM EDT | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Oct 30, 6:15 AM EDT | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Oct 30, 5:15 AM EDT | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Oct 30, 4:15 AM EDT | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Oct 30, 3:15 AM EDT | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Oct 30, 2:15 AM EDT | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Oct 30, 1:15 AM EDT | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Oct 30, 12:15 AM EDT | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Oct 29, 11:15 PM EDT | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Oct 29, 10:15 PM EDT | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Oct 29, 9:15 PM EDT | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Oct 29, 8:15 PM EDT | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Oct 29, 7:15 PM EDT | 66.6 | 1.6 |
| Oct 29, 6:30 PM EDT | 68.3 | 1.61 |
Normal for Nov 5: 45–152 ft³/s (middle half of 86 years of record). Now: 203 ft³/s, above normal.
Above normal for this date. 203 ft³/s is between the 75th and 90th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 86 years of record (1941–2026): 10th 30, 25th 45, median 74, 75th 152, 90th 287 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 22 ft³/s, highest 1,110 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Rising over 24 hours: discharge up 212.8%, from 64.9 to 203 ft³/s. Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 2.16 ft stage, 190 ft³/s at Nov 5, 5:30 PM EST (NWS gauge SGWN7; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
Forecasts are not available. Only observed stages are available for this point.
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. NC Wildlife Resources Commission publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a North Carolina rule, with N.C. Cooperative Extension's own figure added: 68°F and 70°F.
This gauge is on our page for Watauga River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Rising water. Rising over the last 24 hours (discharge up 213%). Keep your way back to the bank in sight and watch the level while you fish. “Rising” is our rule of thumb: more than 10% in discharge or 0.2 ft of gauge height in 24 hours, not a USGS or NWS class.
Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Checked Nov 5, 6:18 PM EST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Laurel CreekThe South Toe River, Yancey County, North Carolina. Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Laurel Creek.
North Carolina · about 1 mi
Wild Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Dutch CreekThe French Broad River in Henderson County, North Carolina. Photo: Pollinator (English Wikipedia), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Dutch Creek.
North Carolina · about 4 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Pond CreekBradley Creek, a stream in the Mills River watershed in Pisgah National Forest, about three miles from the North Mills River (not the North Mills itself). Photo: Will Thomas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Pond Creek.
North Carolina · about 4 mi
Wild Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Shawneehaw CreekThe Davidson River at Davidson River Campground, Pisgah National Forest. Photo: USDA / Lance Cheung, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Shawneehaw Creek.
North Carolina · about 5 mi
Wild Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Howard CreekThe Tuckasegee River from Old River Road, Bryson City. Photo: Matthew T. Bradley, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Howard Creek.
North Carolina · about 7 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Elk RiverThe Oconaluftee River in Cherokee, North Carolina. Photo: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Elk River.
North Carolina · about 8 mi
