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Wilbur Reservoir

Type
Tailwater, Tennessee (South)
Designation
Tailwater trout fishery
USGS gauges
None on it; nearest shown
Guides
5 nearby
Shops
None listed

Today on Wilbur Reservoir

Reading the gauge…

Regulations & access Guides & shops

Wilbur Reservoir is a tailwater in Tennessee, listed as Tailwater trout fishery by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (official Tennessee Fishing Guide, eRegulations edition).

More about Wilbur Reservoir

The nearest USGS gauge on the same stream system is shown, labelled; Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (official Tennessee Fishing Guide, eRegulations edition) lists 1 species. 5 guides nearby are listed here; the nearest destination hub is Northeast Tennessee: the South Holston & the Watauga.

Updated · Sources: Tailwater Trout (TWRA-stocked tailwaters below dams), Tailwater Trout (TWRA-stocked tailwaters below dams), USGS Water Data

Representative photograph of similar water; not a photograph of this place.
Representative photograph, not this water.
Where it is

Wilbur Reservoir is a tailwater in Tennessee. Our destination hub Northeast Tennessee: the South Holston & the Watauga is 5 mi away in a straight line.

Nearest gauge (not on this water)
Reading the gauges…

Check any river's flow

Follow Wilbur Reservoir for flow alerts

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.

Follow this water

Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.

Where to fish

About this

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.

Tennessee fishing and boating locations

Wilbur Reservoir on the map

About this

Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles

Map of Wilbur Reservoir: gauges, shops and guides

RestroomsAccess map

Map of Wilbur Reservoir with 1 USGS gauge, and shops and guides with an exact address within 40 miles.

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles

Restrooms near Wilbur Reservoir

Restrooms near Wilbur Reservoir

Restrooms within 2 miles of Wilbur Reservoir 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.

More water near Wilbur Reservoir

  • The Watauga River at Sycamore Shoals, a broad, calm river between bare autumn treesTailwater trout fishery
    Photo credit

    The Watauga River at Sycamore Shoals, Elizabethton, Tennessee. Photo: Jan Kronsell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Watauga River

    Tennessee · about 6 mi

  • Green water churning out of the South Holston Dam powerhouse into the river below the grassy dam faceTailwater trout fishery
    Photo credit

    South Holston Dam releasing into the South Holston River tailwater, near Bristol, Tennessee. Photo: Tennessee Valley Authority, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    South Holston River

    Tennessee · about 13 mi

  • Water spilling over the mill dam on the Little Pigeon River in Pigeon Forge, with the Smokies beyondDelayed HarvestRepresentative photo · not Doe River
    Photo credit

    The West Prong of the Little Pigeon River at the Old Mill dam, Pigeon Forge. Photo: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Doe River.

    Doe River

    Tennessee · about 5 mi

  • Little River near its source at Three Forks, a small boulder stream in deep forestWild Trout WaterRepresentative photo · not Laurel Fork
    Photo credit

    Little River at Three Forks, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo: Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Laurel Fork.

    Laurel Fork

    Tennessee · about 6 mi

  • Lake Jocassee's calm water with wooded mountains on the far shoreSpecial-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not South Holston Reservoir
    Photo credit

    Lake Jocassee from a canoe, South Carolina. Photo: TimothyJ from Atlanta, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not South Holston Reservoir.

    South Holston Reservoir

    Virginia · about 12 mi

  • A boat on hazy Lake Greenwood with wooded points on either sideSpecial-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Boone Reservoir
    Photo credit

    Lake Greenwood, South Carolina. Photo: JCMLuis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Boone Reservoir.

    Boone Reservoir

    Tennessee · about 13 mi

Regulations

About this

Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.

Official designation: Tailwater trout fishery

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.

Guides and shops near Wilbur Reservoir

About this

Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.

Guides

All Tennessee guides

Shops nearby

No shop nearby yet.

All Tennessee shops

How these are chosen

Guides whose own website names this water come first, nearest first. After them, fly-focused guides within 40 miles whose website does not name it. Distances are straight-line.

Shops: fly shops first. A distance is shown when the shop’s website gives its location (within 60 miles); otherwise the shop is in one of the towns within 25 miles of the water.

Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories.

Species and hatches

About this

The species the agency lists here; presence varies by reach and season.

Listed by the state agency

When the bugs come off

Regional hatch months: Southern Appalachians
About this chart

17 hatches charted for the region, not measured on this water. From North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

  1. January: 1 charted hatch
  2. February: 3 charted hatches
  3. March: 5 charted hatches
  4. April: 8 charted hatches
  5. May: 9 charted hatches
  6. June: 8 charted hatches
  7. July: 7 charted hatches
  8. August: 5 charted hatches
  9. September: 4 charted hatches
  10. October: 3 charted hatches
  11. November: 3 charted hatches
  12. December: 3 charted hatches

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

Northeast Tennessee: the South Holston & the Watauga

About this

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 · 5 mi away in a straight line

Open the hubPlan a trip here

Fish these abroad

About this

Matched on the fish the agencies list for both waters first, then the same water type, an official designation or flagship listing on both, and a similar mapped size where USGS hydrography covers both.

At most two waters per country. A shared fish is a listing, not a promise: presence varies by reach and season.

Like the Wilbur Reservoir? Same fish, overseas.

  • The Meander River curving between willows and parkland at DeloraineFlagship water
    Photo credit

    The Meander River in Deloraine, Tasmania. Photo: Gary Houston, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Meander River

    Tasmania, Australia

    Same fish: rainbow trout · also a tailwater

  • The straight, turquoise Tekapo–Pukaki canal running between gravel banks toward distant hillsFlagship water
    Photo credit

    The Tekapo–Pukaki hydro canal, Mackenzie Country, Canterbury. Photo: Avenue, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Hydro Canals

    Canterbury, New Zealand

    Same fish: rainbow trout · also a tailwater

  • The Grand River running wide and blue between grassy, wooded banks north of ParisTailwater
    Photo credit

    The Grand River just north of Paris, Ontario, looking upstream. Photo: JustSomePics, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Grand River

    Ontario, Canada

    Same fish: rainbow trout · also a tailwater

  • The lower Clutha River's channels winding across green farmland towards the seaTailwater
    Photo credit

    The lower Clutha River / Mata-Au and Inch Clutha from Kaitangata. Photo: Andrewrutherford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Lower Clutha River / Mata-Au

    Otago, New Zealand

    Same fish: rainbow trout · also a tailwater

  • The wide, calm Río Toltén past rounded boulders on the bank, low hills beyondTailwaterRepresentative photo · not Río Calcurrupe
    Photo credit

    The Río Toltén at Pocoyán. Photo: Maxbalter, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Río Calcurrupe.

    Río Calcurrupe

    Los Ríos, Chile

    Same fish: rainbow trout · also a tailwater

  • The South Esk River running dark and still between steep rocky wallsTailwaterRepresentative photo · not Brumbys Creek
    Photo credit

    The South Esk River, Tasmania. Photo: Michael Coghlan from Adelaide, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Brumbys Creek.

    Brumbys Creek

    Tasmania, Australia

    Same fish: rainbow trout · also a tailwater

Fish it when it's winter here

Southern seasons open while ours close.

  • Lake Taupō's blue water framed by yellow kōwhai and bush, hills across the lakeFlagship water
    Photo credit

    Lake Taupō. Photo: Ériugena, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Lake Taupō

    Waikato, New Zealand

    Season open all year · DOC

  • Penstock Lagoon's open water below a shoreline of tall eucalyptsFlagship water
    Photo credit

    Penstock Lagoon, Central Highlands, Tasmania. Photo: Mike Cline, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Penstock Lagoon

    Tasmania, Australia

    Season open Aug–May · Inland Fisheries Service

  • The clear turquoise Río Limay flowing past green willows and rock outcropsTailwater
    Photo credit

    The Río Limay, Argentina. Photo: P. Hughes, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Río Limay

    Río Negro, Argentina

    Season open Nov–May · Patagonian fishing regulation

  • The broad blue-green Río Puelo between forested banks, mountains beyondFreestone riverRepresentative photo · not Río Petrohué
    Photo credit

    The Río Puelo at Las Gualas, Cochamó. Photo: Nicolás from seno de reloncaví, Chile, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Río Petrohué.

    Río Petrohué

    Los Lagos, Chile

    Season open Nov–May · SERNAPESCA

  • The Río Simpson running past the edge of Coyhaique under cliffs and hills in AysénLake or reservoirRepresentative photo · not Lago Llanquihue
    Photo credit

    The Río Simpson passing Coyhaique, Aysén. Photo: Manxuc, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Lago Llanquihue.

    Lago Llanquihue

    Los Lagos, Chile

    Season open Nov–May · SERNAPESCA

  • Lago Nahuel Huapi's blue water and wooded islands below snow-capped Andes, framed by conifersLake or reservoir
    Photo credit

    Lago Nahuel Huapi from Llao Llao. Photo: David, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Lago Nahuel Huapi

    Río Negro, Argentina

    Season open Oct–May · Patagonian fishing regulation

  • The braided Oreti River across green farmland, mountains on the horizonFlagship waterRepresentative photo · not Mataura River
    Photo credit

    The Oreti River near Lumsden, Southland. Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons Not Mataura River.

    Mataura River

    Southland, New Zealand

    Season open Oct–Apr · Fish & Game NZ

  • Old timber pilings reflected in the still water of Great Lake, a low wooded shore beyondFlagship water
    Photo credit

    Great Lake, Tasmania. Photo: Peripitus, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Yingina / Great Lake

    Tasmania, Australia

    Season open all year · Inland Fisheries Service

Gear checklist

About this

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.

A woman rows a drift boat while a man stands in the bow and casts

Guided float trip

Usually supplied by the guide; a 9′ 5–6 weight if you bring your own · Trout on most western float rivers

Open the checklist
Videos for this water (5)

Watch: reading a trout stream

About this

Seams, 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.

  • How I Learned to Read Water (Fly Fishing)Embedded from YouTube · Mad River Outfitters · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
  • How To Read The Water with Tom RosenbauerEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
  • Reading the Water to Successfully Locate TroutEmbedded from YouTube · Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube

Not sponsored All videos on reading water

Watch: nymphing basics

About this

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.

  • 90° Nymph RigEmbedded from YouTube · Huge Fly Fisherman · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
  • Casting with an Indicator & Better Nymphing TechniquesEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube

Not sponsored All videos on nymphing

Fish Tales

About this

Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Wilbur Reservoir.

No stories from here yet.

Write the first story Share your day

Sources for this page

Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.

Something wrong?

All 13 sources and dates

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 point for “Wilbur Lake” (reservoir) in the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Water type is our own classification.