Big Moccasin Creek

Type: Freestone river, Virginia (East)
Designation: Delayed Harvest
USGS gauges: None on it; nearest shown
Guides: None listed
Shops: None listed

Today on the Big Moccasin Creek

Caution: Rising water: fishable, but watch the level

Flow now: 212 ft³/s
Vs normal for Nov 5: Normal
Water temp: 63.1°F (17.3°C)
Trend: Rising over 24 h
Last reading: Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST

At N F HOLSTON RIVER NEAR GATE CITY, VA (USGS 03490000). No gauge on Big Moccasin Creek. Nearest: N F HOLSTON RIVER NEAR GATE CITY, VA (11.5 mi away), on the river it flows into. Big Moccasin Creek's own flow is not measured. Provisional USGS data

Regulations & access Guides & shops

Big Moccasin Creek is a freestone river in Virginia, listed as Delayed Harvest by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

More about the Big Moccasin Creek

The nearest USGS gauge on the same stream system is shown, labelled. No guide or shop nearby is listed yet; the nearest destination hub is Northeast Tennessee: the South Holston & the Watauga.

Updated 4 Nov 2026 · Sources: Delayed Harvest Waters, USGS Water Data

Representative photograph of similar water; not a photograph of this place. — Representative photograph, not this water.

Where it is

Big Moccasin Creek is a freestone river in Virginia. Our destination hub Northeast Tennessee: the South Holston & the Watauga is 27 mi away in a straight line (48 by road).

Nearest gauge (not on this water)

N F HOLSTON RIVER NEAR GATE CITY, VA

USGS 03490000 · NWS GATV2

No gauge on Big Moccasin Creek. Nearest: N F HOLSTON RIVER NEAR GATE CITY, VA (11.5 mi away), on the river it flows into. Big Moccasin Creek's own flow is not measured.

Caution: Rising water: fishable, but watch the level

Rising: discharge up 21.8% in 24 hours (174 to 212 ft³/s). Our rule of thumb: more than 10% (or 0.2 ft) in 24 hours, not a USGS class.
Flow 212 ft³/s: normal for Nov 5, over 65 years of USGS record. U.S. Geological Survey
If you're fishing for trout here: 63.1°F now, 63.5°F at most in 24 hours: under Virginia DWR's 68°F line. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

What the agencies suggest

Keep an eye on your surroundings. Stand back from the shoreline and be aware of surroundings Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.

Discharge: 212 ft³/s
Gauge height: 1.87 ft
Water temp: 63.1°F (17.3°C)

Reading Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST · provisional USGS data

Normal for Nov 5 Rising · 24 h Below NWS action stage

Discharge · last 7 days

Discharge, about hourly
Latest: 212 ft³/s at Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST

USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.

View data as a table

Discharge, last 7 days: readings, about hourly, newest first. USGS provisional data may be revised. Missing hours or days are not filled in.
Time	Discharge (ft³/s)	Gauge height (ft)	Water temp (°F)
Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST	212	1.87	63.1
Nov 5, 4:15 PM EST	212	1.87	63.3
Nov 5, 3:15 PM EST	215	1.88	63.5
Nov 5, 2:15 PM EST	215	1.88	63.3
Nov 5, 1:15 PM EST	215	1.88	63
Nov 5, 12:15 PM EST	215	1.88	62.6
Nov 5, 11:15 AM EST	215	1.88	62.1
Nov 5, 10:15 AM EST	219	1.89	61.5
Nov 5, 9:15 AM EST	219	1.89	61
Nov 5, 8:15 AM EST	219	1.89	60.8
Nov 5, 7:15 AM EST	215	1.88	60.6
Nov 5, 6:15 AM EST	215	1.88	60.6
Nov 5, 5:15 AM EST	215	1.88	60.6
Nov 5, 4:15 AM EST	215	1.88	60.6
Nov 5, 3:15 AM EST	215	1.88	60.8
Nov 5, 2:15 AM EST	212	1.87	60.8
Nov 5, 1:15 AM EST	208	1.86	60.8
Nov 5, 12:15 AM EST	201	1.84	60.8
Nov 4, 11:15 PM EST	198	1.83	61
Nov 4, 10:15 PM EST	194	1.82	61
Nov 4, 9:15 PM EST	191	1.81	60.8
Nov 4, 8:15 PM EST	180	1.78	60.8
Nov 4, 7:15 PM EST	180	1.78	60.8
Nov 4, 6:15 PM EST	177	1.77	60.8
Nov 4, 5:15 PM EST	174	1.76	61
Nov 4, 4:15 PM EST	174	1.76	61
Nov 4, 3:15 PM EST	171	1.75	61.2
Nov 4, 2:15 PM EST	167	1.74	61.2
Nov 4, 1:15 PM EST	167	1.74	61
Nov 4, 12:15 PM EST	164	1.73	61.2
Nov 4, 11:15 AM EST	164	1.73	60.8
Nov 4, 10:15 AM EST	164	1.73	59.9
Nov 4, 9:15 AM EST	167	1.74	59.4
Nov 4, 8:15 AM EST	167	1.74	59
Nov 4, 7:15 AM EST	167	1.74	59
Nov 4, 6:15 AM EST	167	1.74	59
Nov 4, 5:15 AM EST	167	1.74	59.2
Nov 4, 4:15 AM EST	167	1.74	59.4
Nov 4, 3:15 AM EST	167	1.74	59.4
Nov 4, 2:15 AM EST	167	1.74	59.4
Nov 4, 1:15 AM EST	164	1.73	59.4
Nov 4, 12:15 AM EST	164	1.73	59.2
Nov 3, 11:15 PM EST	164	1.73	59
Nov 3, 10:15 PM EST	164	1.73	59
Nov 3, 9:15 PM EST	164	1.73	59
Nov 3, 8:15 PM EST	164	1.73	59.2
Nov 3, 7:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59.4
Nov 3, 6:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59.5
Nov 3, 5:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59.7
Nov 3, 4:15 PM EST	161	1.72	60.1
Nov 3, 3:15 PM EST	161	1.72	60.1
Nov 3, 2:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59.7
Nov 3, 1:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59.4
Nov 3, 12:15 PM EST	158	1.71	58.8
Nov 3, 11:15 AM EST	161	1.72	58.1
Nov 3, 10:15 AM EST	161	1.72	57.2
Nov 3, 9:15 AM EST	161	1.72	56.7
Nov 3, 8:15 AM EST	161	1.72	56.5
Nov 3, 7:15 AM EST	164	1.73	56.7
Nov 3, 6:15 AM EST	164	1.73	56.8
Nov 3, 5:15 AM EST	164	1.73	57.2
Nov 3, 4:15 AM EST	164	1.73	57.4
Nov 3, 3:15 AM EST	164	1.73	57.6
Nov 3, 2:15 AM EST	164	1.73	57.7
Nov 3, 1:15 AM EST	164	1.73	57.9
Nov 3, 12:15 AM EST	161	1.72	58.1
Nov 2, 11:15 PM EST	161	1.72	58.1
Nov 2, 10:15 PM EST	161	1.72	58.3
Nov 2, 9:15 PM EST	161	1.72	58.5
Nov 2, 8:15 PM EST	161	1.72	58.6
Nov 2, 7:15 PM EST	161	1.72	58.8
Nov 2, 6:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59
Nov 2, 5:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59.4
Nov 2, 4:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59.7
Nov 2, 3:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59.9
Nov 2, 2:15 PM EST	164	1.73	59.7
Nov 2, 1:15 PM EST	164	1.73	59.5
Nov 2, 12:15 PM EST	164	1.73	58.8
Nov 2, 11:15 AM EST	164	1.73	58.1
Nov 2, 10:15 AM EST	164	1.73	57.6
Nov 2, 9:15 AM EST	164	1.73	57.2
Nov 2, 8:15 AM EST	164	1.73	57
Nov 2, 7:15 AM EST	167	1.74	57
Nov 2, 6:15 AM EST	167	1.74	57.2
Nov 2, 5:15 AM EST	167	1.74	57.2
Nov 2, 4:15 AM EST	167	1.74	57.6
Nov 2, 3:15 AM EST	167	1.74	57.7
Nov 2, 2:15 AM EST	167	1.74	57.7
Nov 2, 1:15 AM EST	167	1.74	57.9
Nov 2, 12:15 AM EST	167	1.74	57.9
Nov 1, 11:15 PM EST	167	1.74	57.9
Nov 1, 10:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.1
Nov 1, 9:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.1
Nov 1, 8:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.3
Nov 1, 7:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.3
Nov 1, 6:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.5
Nov 1, 5:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.6
Nov 1, 4:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.8
Nov 1, 3:15 PM EST	167	1.74	59
Nov 1, 2:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.8
Nov 1, 1:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.8
Nov 1, 12:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.5
Nov 1, 11:15 AM EST	167	1.74	58.1
Nov 1, 10:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57.6
Nov 1, 9:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57
Nov 1, 8:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57
Nov 1, 7:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57
Nov 1, 6:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57.2
Nov 1, 5:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57.4
Nov 1, 4:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57.6
Nov 1, 3:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57.7
Nov 1, 2:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57.7
Nov 1, 1:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57.7
Nov 1, 1:15 AM EDT	171	1.75	57.7
Nov 1, 12:15 AM EDT	171	1.75	57.7
Oct 31, 11:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	57.7
Oct 31, 10:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	57.7
Oct 31, 9:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	57.7
Oct 31, 8:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	57.9
Oct 31, 7:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	58.1
Oct 31, 6:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	58.3
Oct 31, 5:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	58.6
Oct 31, 4:15 PM EDT	167	1.74	58.5
Oct 31, 3:15 PM EDT	167	1.74	58.3
Oct 31, 2:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	58.1
Oct 31, 1:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	57.4
Oct 31, 12:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	56.7
Oct 31, 11:15 AM EDT	171	1.75	55.9
Oct 31, 10:15 AM EDT	174	1.76	55.4
Oct 31, 9:15 AM EDT	174	1.76	55.2
Oct 31, 8:15 AM EDT	174	1.76	55.2
Oct 31, 7:15 AM EDT	174	1.76	55.4
Oct 31, 6:15 AM EDT	177	1.77	55.8
Oct 31, 5:15 AM EDT	177	1.77	56.1
Oct 31, 4:15 AM EDT	177	1.77	56.5
Oct 31, 3:15 AM EDT	177	1.77	56.5
Oct 31, 2:15 AM EDT	177	1.77	56.7
Oct 31, 1:15 AM EDT	177	1.77	56.7
Oct 31, 12:15 AM EDT	177	1.77	56.7
Oct 30, 11:15 PM EDT	177	1.77	56.8
Oct 30, 10:15 PM EDT	177	1.77	56.8
Oct 30, 9:15 PM EDT	177	1.77	57
Oct 30, 8:15 PM EDT	177	1.77	57
Oct 30, 7:15 PM EDT	177	1.77	57.2
Oct 30, 6:15 PM EDT	177	1.77	57.6
Oct 30, 5:15 PM EDT	177	1.77	57.7
Oct 30, 4:15 PM EDT	177	1.77	57.7
Oct 30, 3:15 PM EDT	180	1.78	57.4
Oct 30, 2:15 PM EDT	180	1.78	57
Oct 30, 1:15 PM EDT	180	1.78	56.7
Oct 30, 12:15 PM EDT	180	1.78	55.8
Oct 30, 11:15 AM EDT	180	1.78	54.9
Oct 30, 10:15 AM EDT	184	1.79	54.3
Oct 30, 9:15 AM EDT	184	1.79	54
Oct 30, 8:15 AM EDT	180	1.78	54.1
Oct 30, 7:15 AM EDT	180	1.78	54.3
Oct 30, 6:15 AM EDT	184	1.79	54.7
Oct 30, 5:15 AM EDT	184	1.79	55
Oct 30, 4:15 AM EDT	184	1.79	55.4
Oct 30, 3:15 AM EDT	187	1.8	55.6
Oct 30, 2:15 AM EDT	187	1.8	55.8
Oct 30, 1:15 AM EDT	187	1.8	55.9
Oct 30, 12:15 AM EDT	184	1.79	56.1
Oct 29, 11:15 PM EDT	184	1.79	56.1
Oct 29, 10:15 PM EDT	184	1.79	56.1
Oct 29, 9:15 PM EDT	184	1.79	56.3
Oct 29, 8:15 PM EDT	184	1.79	56.3
Oct 29, 7:15 PM EDT	184	1.79	56.5
Oct 29, 6:30 PM EDT	184	1.79	56.8

What this level means general guidance

Normal for Nov 5: 123–427 ft³/s (middle half of 65 years of record). Now: 212 ft³/s, normal.

Normal for this date. 212 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 65 years of record (1932–2026): 10th 93, 25th 123, median 196, 75th 427, 90th 772 ft³/s.

Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 72 ft³/s, highest 1,130 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 21.8%, from 174 to 212 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.

Official flood stage · National Weather Service

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 1.87 ft stage, 214 ft³/s at Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST (NWS gauge GATV2; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).

Action stage: 10 ft
Minor flood: 12 ft
Moderate flood: 15 ft
Major flood: 18 ft

NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 9:17 AM EST. Highest point: 1.9 ft, 224 ft³/s on Nov 5, 1:00 PM EST (Below NWS action stage).

NWS forecast, highest value each day
Day	Stage	Flow
Thu, Nov 5	1.9 ft	224 ft³/s
Fri, Nov 6	1.9 ft	224 ft³/s
Sat, Nov 7	1.8 ft	190 ft³/s
Sun, Nov 8	1.7 ft	159 ft³/s
Mon, Nov 9	1.7 ft	159 ft³/s
Tue, Nov 10	1.7 ft	159 ft³/s

Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)

Conditions for fishing general guidance

Water temperature for trout, salmon and steelhead

Within Virginia DWR's comfort range. Water 63.1°F now; the highest in the last 24 hours was 63.5°F. Virginia DWR: trout “are most comfortable in highly oxygenated water that doesn’t exceed 68 degrees in temperature.” It also warns that “Trout become stressed in water temperatures in the mid- to upper-60s”: on warm days, “consider fishing early in the morning for a few hours and then quitting.”
Safe Practices for Summer Trout Fishing (7 June 2022) (Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources)

Species

This gauge is on our page for Big Moccasin Creek, but no agency page we read lists its species.

Safety

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 21.8%). 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.

Open the USGS gauge page

Checked Nov 5, 6:21 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.

Reading the gauges…

Check any river's flow

Follow Big Moccasin Creek 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

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.

Virginia public boating access sites

Big Moccasin Creek on the map

Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles

Restrooms Access map

Map of Big Moccasin Creek with 1 USGS gauge.

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles

Restrooms near Big Moccasin Creek

Restrooms within 2 miles of Big Moccasin Creek 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 Big Moccasin Creek

Tailwater 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 21 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Beaver Creek
Photo credit
The Smith River in the evening, Henry County, Virginia. Photo: MarmadukePercy, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Beaver Creek.
Beaver Creek
Virginia · about 15 mi
15cfsFlow now · normal for the date
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir
Photo credit
Lake Jocassee from a canoe, South Carolina. Photo: TimothyJ from Atlanta, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir.
Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir
Tennessee · about 15 mi
Special-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 22 mi
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not South Holston Reservoir
Photo credit
Sunrise over Lake Marion from Santee State Park, South Carolina. Photo: Andrew Parlette from Elkridge,MD, US, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not South Holston Reservoir.
South Holston Reservoir
Virginia · about 23 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Wolf Creek
Photo credit
The Jackson River in the Hidden Valley, Bath County, Virginia. Photo: Nyttend, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Wolf Creek.
Wolf Creek
Virginia · about 24 mi

Tailwater 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 21 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Beaver Creek
Photo credit
The Smith River in the evening, Henry County, Virginia. Photo: MarmadukePercy, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Beaver Creek.
Beaver Creek
Virginia · about 15 mi
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir
Photo credit
Lake Jocassee from a canoe, South Carolina. Photo: TimothyJ from Atlanta, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir.
Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir
Tennessee · about 15 mi
Special-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 22 mi
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not South Holston Reservoir
Photo credit
Sunrise over Lake Marion from Santee State Park, South Carolina. Photo: Andrew Parlette from Elkridge,MD, US, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not South Holston Reservoir.
South Holston Reservoir
Virginia · about 23 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Wolf Creek
Photo credit
The Jackson River in the Hidden Valley, Bath County, Virginia. Photo: Nyttend, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Wolf Creek.
Wolf Creek
Virginia · about 24 mi

Regulations

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

Official designation: Delayed Harvest

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.

Delayed Harvest
On the Delayed Harvest Waters list (Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, read 2026-10-20). All waters with this designation
- That portion of the stream from the VDOT foot bridge at the lower end of Gate City downstream to the Wadlow Gap Highway Bridge (Highway 58/421).

The water on the map

Measured from the NHDPlus High Resolution (flowlines and waterbodies) (U.S. Geological Survey, read 2026-11-04) for this water’s own mapped feature. Rounded figures; they describe the channel, not today’s conditions.

Length: 55.6 mi (53 in VA)
Drains: 93.2 sq mi
Drop: 900 ft · 16.2 ft/mi
Flows into: North Fork Holston River
Watershed: North Fork Holston

Guides and shops near Big Moccasin Creek

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

Guides

No guide within 40 miles yet.

All Virginia guides

Shops nearby

No shop nearby yet.

All Virginia shops

Species and hatches

The hatch and season chart for this water's region.

When the bugs come off

Regional hatch months: Southern Appalachians

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

January: 1 charted hatch
February: 3 charted hatches
March: 5 charted hatches
April: 8 charted hatches
May: 9 charted hatches
June: 8 charted hatches
July: 7 charted hatches
August: 5 charted hatches
September: 4 charted hatches
October: 3 charted hatches
November: 3 charted hatches
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

Southern Appalachians hatch chart

Plan your stay

Getting there

TRI · Blountville · 16 mi straight-lineFlights (opens in a new tab)
AVL · Asheville · 88 mi straight-lineFlights (opens in a new tab)
TYS · Knoxville/Maryville · 108 mi straight-lineFlights (opens in a new tab)

About this

Miles are straight-line distances, not drive times.
Airports: scheduled passenger service, from OurAirports (public domain) (2026-11-04).
Lodges are listed when their own website talks about fishing. Prices and availability are the lodge's own.

Northeast Tennessee: the South Holston & the Watauga

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 · 27 mi away in a straight line, 48 by road

Open the hub Plan a trip here

Gear checklist

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

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

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

Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Big Moccasin Creek.

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 12 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: a point on the mapped channel of “Big Moccasin Creek”, halfway along its length in Virginia, from the USGS high-resolution hydrography (NHDPlus HR), read 4 Nov 2026. It marks the water, not a particular access or reach. Water type is our own classification.

N F HOLSTON RIVER NEAR GATE CITY, VA

USGS 03490000 · NWS GATV2

No gauge on Big Moccasin Creek. Nearest: N F HOLSTON RIVER NEAR GATE CITY, VA (11.5 mi away), on the river it flows into. Big Moccasin Creek's own flow is not measured.

Caution: Rising water: fishable, but watch the level

Rising: discharge up 21.8% in 24 hours (174 to 212 ft³/s). Our rule of thumb: more than 10% (or 0.2 ft) in 24 hours, not a USGS class.
Flow 212 ft³/s: normal for Nov 5, over 65 years of USGS record. U.S. Geological Survey
If you're fishing for trout here: 63.1°F now, 63.5°F at most in 24 hours: under Virginia DWR's 68°F line. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

What the agencies suggest

Keep an eye on your surroundings. Stand back from the shoreline and be aware of surroundings Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.

Discharge: 212 ft³/s
Gauge height: 1.87 ft
Water temp: 63.1°F (17.3°C)

Reading Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST · provisional USGS data

Normal for Nov 5 Rising · 24 h Below NWS action stage

Discharge · last 7 days

Discharge, about hourly
Latest: 212 ft³/s at Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST

USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.

View data as a table

Discharge, last 7 days: readings, about hourly, newest first. USGS provisional data may be revised. Missing hours or days are not filled in.
Time	Discharge (ft³/s)	Gauge height (ft)	Water temp (°F)
Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST	212	1.87	63.1
Nov 5, 4:15 PM EST	212	1.87	63.3
Nov 5, 3:15 PM EST	215	1.88	63.5
Nov 5, 2:15 PM EST	215	1.88	63.3
Nov 5, 1:15 PM EST	215	1.88	63
Nov 5, 12:15 PM EST	215	1.88	62.6
Nov 5, 11:15 AM EST	215	1.88	62.1
Nov 5, 10:15 AM EST	219	1.89	61.5
Nov 5, 9:15 AM EST	219	1.89	61
Nov 5, 8:15 AM EST	219	1.89	60.8
Nov 5, 7:15 AM EST	215	1.88	60.6
Nov 5, 6:15 AM EST	215	1.88	60.6
Nov 5, 5:15 AM EST	215	1.88	60.6
Nov 5, 4:15 AM EST	215	1.88	60.6
Nov 5, 3:15 AM EST	215	1.88	60.8
Nov 5, 2:15 AM EST	212	1.87	60.8
Nov 5, 1:15 AM EST	208	1.86	60.8
Nov 5, 12:15 AM EST	201	1.84	60.8
Nov 4, 11:15 PM EST	198	1.83	61
Nov 4, 10:15 PM EST	194	1.82	61
Nov 4, 9:15 PM EST	191	1.81	60.8
Nov 4, 8:15 PM EST	180	1.78	60.8
Nov 4, 7:15 PM EST	180	1.78	60.8
Nov 4, 6:15 PM EST	177	1.77	60.8
Nov 4, 5:15 PM EST	174	1.76	61
Nov 4, 4:15 PM EST	174	1.76	61
Nov 4, 3:15 PM EST	171	1.75	61.2
Nov 4, 2:15 PM EST	167	1.74	61.2
Nov 4, 1:15 PM EST	167	1.74	61
Nov 4, 12:15 PM EST	164	1.73	61.2
Nov 4, 11:15 AM EST	164	1.73	60.8
Nov 4, 10:15 AM EST	164	1.73	59.9
Nov 4, 9:15 AM EST	167	1.74	59.4
Nov 4, 8:15 AM EST	167	1.74	59
Nov 4, 7:15 AM EST	167	1.74	59
Nov 4, 6:15 AM EST	167	1.74	59
Nov 4, 5:15 AM EST	167	1.74	59.2
Nov 4, 4:15 AM EST	167	1.74	59.4
Nov 4, 3:15 AM EST	167	1.74	59.4
Nov 4, 2:15 AM EST	167	1.74	59.4
Nov 4, 1:15 AM EST	164	1.73	59.4
Nov 4, 12:15 AM EST	164	1.73	59.2
Nov 3, 11:15 PM EST	164	1.73	59
Nov 3, 10:15 PM EST	164	1.73	59
Nov 3, 9:15 PM EST	164	1.73	59
Nov 3, 8:15 PM EST	164	1.73	59.2
Nov 3, 7:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59.4
Nov 3, 6:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59.5
Nov 3, 5:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59.7
Nov 3, 4:15 PM EST	161	1.72	60.1
Nov 3, 3:15 PM EST	161	1.72	60.1
Nov 3, 2:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59.7
Nov 3, 1:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59.4
Nov 3, 12:15 PM EST	158	1.71	58.8
Nov 3, 11:15 AM EST	161	1.72	58.1
Nov 3, 10:15 AM EST	161	1.72	57.2
Nov 3, 9:15 AM EST	161	1.72	56.7
Nov 3, 8:15 AM EST	161	1.72	56.5
Nov 3, 7:15 AM EST	164	1.73	56.7
Nov 3, 6:15 AM EST	164	1.73	56.8
Nov 3, 5:15 AM EST	164	1.73	57.2
Nov 3, 4:15 AM EST	164	1.73	57.4
Nov 3, 3:15 AM EST	164	1.73	57.6
Nov 3, 2:15 AM EST	164	1.73	57.7
Nov 3, 1:15 AM EST	164	1.73	57.9
Nov 3, 12:15 AM EST	161	1.72	58.1
Nov 2, 11:15 PM EST	161	1.72	58.1
Nov 2, 10:15 PM EST	161	1.72	58.3
Nov 2, 9:15 PM EST	161	1.72	58.5
Nov 2, 8:15 PM EST	161	1.72	58.6
Nov 2, 7:15 PM EST	161	1.72	58.8
Nov 2, 6:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59
Nov 2, 5:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59.4
Nov 2, 4:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59.7
Nov 2, 3:15 PM EST	161	1.72	59.9
Nov 2, 2:15 PM EST	164	1.73	59.7
Nov 2, 1:15 PM EST	164	1.73	59.5
Nov 2, 12:15 PM EST	164	1.73	58.8
Nov 2, 11:15 AM EST	164	1.73	58.1
Nov 2, 10:15 AM EST	164	1.73	57.6
Nov 2, 9:15 AM EST	164	1.73	57.2
Nov 2, 8:15 AM EST	164	1.73	57
Nov 2, 7:15 AM EST	167	1.74	57
Nov 2, 6:15 AM EST	167	1.74	57.2
Nov 2, 5:15 AM EST	167	1.74	57.2
Nov 2, 4:15 AM EST	167	1.74	57.6
Nov 2, 3:15 AM EST	167	1.74	57.7
Nov 2, 2:15 AM EST	167	1.74	57.7
Nov 2, 1:15 AM EST	167	1.74	57.9
Nov 2, 12:15 AM EST	167	1.74	57.9
Nov 1, 11:15 PM EST	167	1.74	57.9
Nov 1, 10:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.1
Nov 1, 9:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.1
Nov 1, 8:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.3
Nov 1, 7:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.3
Nov 1, 6:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.5
Nov 1, 5:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.6
Nov 1, 4:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.8
Nov 1, 3:15 PM EST	167	1.74	59
Nov 1, 2:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.8
Nov 1, 1:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.8
Nov 1, 12:15 PM EST	167	1.74	58.5
Nov 1, 11:15 AM EST	167	1.74	58.1
Nov 1, 10:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57.6
Nov 1, 9:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57
Nov 1, 8:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57
Nov 1, 7:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57
Nov 1, 6:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57.2
Nov 1, 5:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57.4
Nov 1, 4:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57.6
Nov 1, 3:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57.7
Nov 1, 2:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57.7
Nov 1, 1:15 AM EST	171	1.75	57.7
Nov 1, 1:15 AM EDT	171	1.75	57.7
Nov 1, 12:15 AM EDT	171	1.75	57.7
Oct 31, 11:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	57.7
Oct 31, 10:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	57.7
Oct 31, 9:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	57.7
Oct 31, 8:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	57.9
Oct 31, 7:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	58.1
Oct 31, 6:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	58.3
Oct 31, 5:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	58.6
Oct 31, 4:15 PM EDT	167	1.74	58.5
Oct 31, 3:15 PM EDT	167	1.74	58.3
Oct 31, 2:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	58.1
Oct 31, 1:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	57.4
Oct 31, 12:15 PM EDT	171	1.75	56.7
Oct 31, 11:15 AM EDT	171	1.75	55.9
Oct 31, 10:15 AM EDT	174	1.76	55.4
Oct 31, 9:15 AM EDT	174	1.76	55.2
Oct 31, 8:15 AM EDT	174	1.76	55.2
Oct 31, 7:15 AM EDT	174	1.76	55.4
Oct 31, 6:15 AM EDT	177	1.77	55.8
Oct 31, 5:15 AM EDT	177	1.77	56.1
Oct 31, 4:15 AM EDT	177	1.77	56.5
Oct 31, 3:15 AM EDT	177	1.77	56.5
Oct 31, 2:15 AM EDT	177	1.77	56.7
Oct 31, 1:15 AM EDT	177	1.77	56.7
Oct 31, 12:15 AM EDT	177	1.77	56.7
Oct 30, 11:15 PM EDT	177	1.77	56.8
Oct 30, 10:15 PM EDT	177	1.77	56.8
Oct 30, 9:15 PM EDT	177	1.77	57
Oct 30, 8:15 PM EDT	177	1.77	57
Oct 30, 7:15 PM EDT	177	1.77	57.2
Oct 30, 6:15 PM EDT	177	1.77	57.6
Oct 30, 5:15 PM EDT	177	1.77	57.7
Oct 30, 4:15 PM EDT	177	1.77	57.7
Oct 30, 3:15 PM EDT	180	1.78	57.4
Oct 30, 2:15 PM EDT	180	1.78	57
Oct 30, 1:15 PM EDT	180	1.78	56.7
Oct 30, 12:15 PM EDT	180	1.78	55.8
Oct 30, 11:15 AM EDT	180	1.78	54.9
Oct 30, 10:15 AM EDT	184	1.79	54.3
Oct 30, 9:15 AM EDT	184	1.79	54
Oct 30, 8:15 AM EDT	180	1.78	54.1
Oct 30, 7:15 AM EDT	180	1.78	54.3
Oct 30, 6:15 AM EDT	184	1.79	54.7
Oct 30, 5:15 AM EDT	184	1.79	55
Oct 30, 4:15 AM EDT	184	1.79	55.4
Oct 30, 3:15 AM EDT	187	1.8	55.6
Oct 30, 2:15 AM EDT	187	1.8	55.8
Oct 30, 1:15 AM EDT	187	1.8	55.9
Oct 30, 12:15 AM EDT	184	1.79	56.1
Oct 29, 11:15 PM EDT	184	1.79	56.1
Oct 29, 10:15 PM EDT	184	1.79	56.1
Oct 29, 9:15 PM EDT	184	1.79	56.3
Oct 29, 8:15 PM EDT	184	1.79	56.3
Oct 29, 7:15 PM EDT	184	1.79	56.5
Oct 29, 6:30 PM EDT	184	1.79	56.8

What this level means general guidance

Normal for Nov 5: 123–427 ft³/s (middle half of 65 years of record). Now: 212 ft³/s, normal.

Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 72 ft³/s, highest 1,130 ft³/s.

Official flood stage · National Weather Service

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 1.87 ft stage, 214 ft³/s at Nov 5, 5:15 PM EST (NWS gauge GATV2; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).

Action stage: 10 ft
Minor flood: 12 ft
Moderate flood: 15 ft
Major flood: 18 ft

NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 9:17 AM EST. Highest point: 1.9 ft, 224 ft³/s on Nov 5, 1:00 PM EST (Below NWS action stage).

NWS forecast, highest value each day
Day	Stage	Flow
Thu, Nov 5	1.9 ft	224 ft³/s
Fri, Nov 6	1.9 ft	224 ft³/s
Sat, Nov 7	1.8 ft	190 ft³/s
Sun, Nov 8	1.7 ft	159 ft³/s
Mon, Nov 9	1.7 ft	159 ft³/s
Tue, Nov 10	1.7 ft	159 ft³/s

Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)

Conditions for fishing general guidance

Water temperature for trout, salmon and steelhead

Within Virginia DWR's comfort range. Water 63.1°F now; the highest in the last 24 hours was 63.5°F. Virginia DWR: trout “are most comfortable in highly oxygenated water that doesn’t exceed 68 degrees in temperature.” It also warns that “Trout become stressed in water temperatures in the mid- to upper-60s”: on warm days, “consider fishing early in the morning for a few hours and then quitting.”
Safe Practices for Summer Trout Fishing (7 June 2022) (Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources)

Species

This gauge is on our page for Big Moccasin Creek, but no agency page we read lists its species.

Safety

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 21.8%). 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.

Open the USGS gauge page